Drop

by Mike McGranaghan

Calling a thriller Hitchcockian has become a cliché. Drop really earns the descriptor, though. It’s the sort of tense “wrong person at the right time” story that Hitch perfected the formula for. This latest effort from Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon puts a modern spin on the formula, telling a tale that could only be told in our cell phone-obsessed era.

The hook is hard to resist. Single mother Violet (Meghann Fahy) goes on a first date with photographer Henry (Brandon Sklenar). As they dine in a fancy restaurant located at the top of a skyscraper, somebody repeatedly air drops messages onto Violet’s phone, informing her that she must murder Henry or her young son will be killed by the intruder who broke into her house. The sender is somewhere inside the restaurant, so she tries to do a little detective work to identify that person before time runs out.

Suspense is built by continually upping the pressure on Violet. The caller has access to everything she says and does; attempts to signal for help therefore have to be creative on her part. Each time she appears to make progress on that count, her plan is foiled. There’s also the fact that, in addition to figuring out who’s sending the air drops, Violet wants to determine what Henry has done to put a target on his back. The screenplay by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach includes plenty of twists and turns that keep you glued to the screen.

Suspension of disbelief is required when viewing Drop. This is a picture that could best be described as “realistic-ish.” Cell phone harassment and online stalking are real things that give the plot enough authenticity to strike a nerve, but they’re taken to extremes in order to deliver thrills. Landon gets the balance just right, creating an enjoyable nail-biting experience without tipping over into the realm of absurdity. Several times, I got that euphoric feeling that comes from having fun at a movie.

Expect Meghann Fahy’s career to kick up a level. She’s magnificent in the leading role. The actress, who previously appeared in The Unbreakable Boy and Your Monster, expertly conveys the internal stress Violent contends with during her ordeal. Just as importantly, she’s convincing at making the character sexy and flirty with Henry – at the unseen tormentor’s demand – while still letting the audience know the emotional toll this perilous situation is taking. The film would not work if Fahy’s performance was less sharp and appealing than it is.

Drop has moments of humor scattered throughout, along with an action-packed finale that pulls out all the stops. Sure, it’s a bit preposterous. We all need a rush of escapist entertainment now and again. This movie gives you 100 minutes of excitement that send you away on a high.

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