‘Drop’ Review: Meghann Fahy Gets Stalked by a Murderous Memelord in Christopher Landon’s Tense Tech Thriller
Meghann Fahy in 'Drop' Universal Pictures
Christopher Landon Delivers a Slick, Suspenseful Thriller That Turns Digital Paranoia Into a Nightmare
Technology and trauma collide in Drop, Christopher Landon’s pulse-pounding tech thriller that transforms an ordinary first date into a waking nightmare. Known for his inventive genre work in Happy Death Day and Freaky, Landon once again masterfully blends horror, suspense, and dark humor, crafting a film that feels like a modern answer to When a Stranger Calls, infused with today’s digital anxieties.
The film stars Meghann Fahy as Violet, a widowed mother still haunted by the violent death of her husband. After years of self-imposed isolation, she finally decides to step back into the dating world, agreeing to a romantic evening with Henry (Brandon Sklenar), a charming and seemingly perfect man she’s been flirting with online for months. But what starts as a promising night out quickly spirals into a nightmare when Violet begins receiving anonymous “drops” on her phone—cryptic memes, disturbing images, and increasingly threatening instructions. As the sinister messages escalate, she realizes that whoever is behind them has infiltrated her life in a terrifyingly intimate way, targeting not just her but her son, who is being held hostage at home.
Landon’s direction gives Drop an elevated Hitchcockian feel, transforming an extravagant rooftop restaurant into a psychological battlefield. The location becomes both a gilded cage and a pressure cooker, trapping Violet in an environment where every glance could be a threat, every whisper could hold a clue, and every moment without her phone could mean life or death for her child. Landon uses every inch of the space, shifting between sleek, voyeuristic wide shots that isolate Violet in the vast, impersonal luxury of her surroundings and tight, suffocating close-ups that intensify her rising panic.
The script by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach takes a relatively straightforward urban legend premise—threats from inside the house—and updates it for the modern world of digital anonymity. The “drops” sent to Violet’s phone serve as a sinister stand-in for the ever-present nature of online harassment, where tormentors can infiltrate lives in ways that feel deeply personal yet entirely untouchable. The film plays with this idea brilliantly, crafting a villain who isn’t just physically dangerous but psychologically omnipresent, always one step ahead.
While some of Drop’s twists can be predicted by savvy thriller fans, the film keeps its momentum with relentless pacing and escalating tension. Just when you think you have a handle on where it’s going, Landon and his team throw in a well-executed surprise that forces you to reassess everything you thought you knew. The final act, in particular, is a masterclass in sustained suspense, blending action, psychological horror, and genuine emotional stakes in a way that few modern thrillers manage to pull off.
A Career-Defining Performance for Meghann Fahy
Drop' Universal Pictures
At the heart of Drop is Meghann Fahy, delivering what may be the most commanding performance of her career. As Violet, she embodies a woman teetering on the edge of recovery, trying to reconcile her grief and rebuild a life for herself and her son. Fahy brings a raw, lived-in authenticity to the role, making Violet’s fear, resilience, and desperate determination feel utterly real.
Violet is a fascinating protagonist—strong, intelligent, but carrying an internalized guilt that makes her vulnerable. She’s a therapist who helps other women escape abusive relationships, yet she struggles to extend the same kindness and patience to herself. Fahy expertly balances this inner turmoil, making Violet a far more compelling and complex character than your typical horror heroine. She isn’t just trying to survive the night; she’s fighting for her own self-worth in the process.
Her chemistry with Brandon Sklenar is equally compelling. As Henry, Sklenar exudes just the right amount of charm and intrigue, making it easy to see why Violet would be drawn to him. Their initial conversations are playful, flirtatious, and filled with an undercurrent of unspoken understanding—two people who have both been through something and are cautiously hopeful about what might come next. This makes it all the more unsettling when the night takes its dark turn.
The supporting cast also shines, particularly Jeffrey Self in a standout comedic performance as an obliviously dramatic improv actor-turned-waiter. His character injects the film with moments of unexpected levity, walking the fine line between being hilariously cringeworthy and genuinely unsettling in his own right.
A Visually Striking, Tightly Executed Thriller
Beyond its performances, Drop is an absolute feast for the eyes. The cinematography, helmed by Toby Oliver (Get Out, Happy Death Day), utilizes the sleek, modern aesthetic of the restaurant setting to heighten the sense of unease. Neon lights cast eerie shadows, glass walls create reflections that distort reality, and subtle shifts in color temperature mirror Violet’s shifting state of mind.
One of the film’s most effective visual motifs is its use of phone screens as both a narrative device and a framing technique. The intrusive “drops” aren’t just seen by Violet—they’re displayed prominently on-screen, forcing the audience to experience the same unsettling digital invasion alongside her. This approach makes the threats feel immediate and inescapable, mirroring the way real-life online harassment seeps into every aspect of a person’s existence.
The sound design also plays a crucial role in building tension, from the unnerving chimes of incoming messages to the distant hum of city life outside the restaurant, a reminder that the rest of the world is blissfully unaware of the horror unfolding just a few stories above them.
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A Modern Thriller with Timely Themes
What sets Drop apart from other thrillers in its vein is its sharp commentary on modern anxieties. Landon and his team tap into the discomfort of living in an era where privacy is an illusion, where our online personas can be manipulated against us, and where trust—whether in people or technology—is increasingly fragile.
It’s also a film about reclaiming control. Violet isn’t just trying to escape her stalker; she’s fighting to redefine herself, to shed the guilt and fear that have kept her tethered to the past. In that sense, Drop isn’t just a survival story—it’s a story of rebirth, of finding the courage to live on your own terms, even in the face of terror.
At a tight 100 minutes, Drop is lean, relentless, and undeniably gripping. It delivers everything you want from a thriller—suspense, twists, high stakes—while also offering something deeper beneath the surface. It’s yet another win for Christopher Landon, proving once again that he has a unique gift for crafting horror films that are as smart as they are entertaining.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Watch the Trailer for Drop Below:
Drop
Festival: SXSW (Headliner)
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release date: April 11, 2025
Director: Christopher Landon
Screenwriters: Jillian Jacobs, Chris Roach
Cast: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Ed Weeks
Running time: 1 hr 40 mins
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