David R. Walker

Archive for the ‘Christopher Landon’ Category

Drop

Director: Christopher Landon

Cast: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Reed Diamond, Ed Weeks, Travis Nelson, Ben Pelletier, Gabrielle Ryan  

Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Film Rating: 7 out of 10

Horror director Christopher Landon who helmed the 2017 film Happy Death Day returns with a more psychological thriller in his new film Drop starring The White Lotus star Meghann Fahy as single mother Violet who decides to step out of her comfort zone and go on a date with the incredibly handsome photographer Henry played by Brandon Sklenar (Midway, It Ends with Us).

Violet leaves her 5 year old son in the capable hands of her sister Jen played by Violett Beane. Violet wears a fabulous red dress and is ready for a night on the town in downtown Chicago at the exclusive restaurant Palette on the 38^th floor of a skyscraper.

As she patiently waits for Henry to arrive, she receives digital drop images which threaten her night out. A cyber stalker starts commanding her to do specific things one of which is to kill her date. If Violet doesn’t comply then the cyber stalker will instruct a professional killer played by Ben Pelletier to kill her son Toby.

From a visual perspective Drop is a fascinating film in which the director and a very creative production designer namely Susie Cullen create a restaurant which becomes a character of its own. Drop makes use of the concept of urban cinema to a maximum.

Palette is the chic downtown restaurant to bring your date to, a sleek 5 star gourmet experience with gorgeous lighting affording an expansive view of Chicago. A place with creepy waiters and lots of single men hanging around using their smartphones. Anyone could be a killer.

As Violet tries to navigate an extremely tricky evening, Henry soon realizes that the first date jitters are far more serious especially when the sleazy piano man Phil played by Ed Weeks suddenly collapses after too many martinis.

Much like director Mark Myclod’s bizarre 2022 thriller The Menu starring Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy, Drop works on multiple levels as a Hitchcockian thriller about a traumatized woman who is desperate to save her son while trying to uncover who is really threatening as well as a tailored narrative about how woman can feel vulnerable in any given situation.

In a pure character switch, the heroine is the one who saves the hero while the villain remains out of sight right until dessert is served.

Drop is captivating, engaging and exciting. A clever psychological thriller whose only downfall was a script that needed some character nourishment in terms of a decent back story. Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar do their best in a psychological thriller about first dates which crash and burn.

If you enjoy a good psychological thriller, then catch Drop in cinemas now. Drop is rated 7 out of 10 and is worth seeing especially for those wanting to dive back into the dating pool.