DROP (2025) – A thriller that is unworthy of the talents involved

The premise of “Drop” is so outlandishly preposterous, it must have been conjured up by a malfunctioning computer algorithm. Forget artificial intelligence; this movie feels more like artificial stupidity. The entire narrative hinges on Violet, a widowed mother, who nervously ventures into the world of blind dating after years of solitude. However, her date is conveniently entangled with a band of nefarious individuals who ingeniously manipulate Violet into performing errands for them to get something out of her date throughout the evening. These were done via text messages through the duration of the date with treats to harm her son as motivation for her to obey.

The entire debacle plays out like a comedy of errors, which I assure you, is entirely unintentional. Violet (played by the ever-talented Meghann Fahy) and her clueless date, Henry (portrayed by Brandon Sklenar), stumble through the evening’s chaotic events. Despite my initial inclination to avoid this train wreck based on its ludicrous plot and promotional material, I found myself drawn in by the presence of Meghann Fahy. Her stellar performance in “The White Lotus” Season Two, where she flawlessly embodied the cunning Daphne, had left me eager to see her in new roles. Alas, the character of Violet is so poorly developed, any actor could have delivered the same lackluster performance.

Fahy’s remarkable talents are woefully underutilized in this clichéd action thriller. The film’s climax, featuring her racing against time to save her loved one, is so absurdly illogical it further tarnishes the movie’s already dismal quality.

On a slightly brighter note, director Christopher Landon manages to deliver a visually engaging experience, despite the shoddy script. Known for his work in horror films like “Freaky,” “Happy Death Day,” and the “Paranormal Activity” series, Landon clearly has potential with some creative camera work – if only he had better material to work with. The film’s leads, Fahy and Sklenar, remain likable despite the cringe-worthy script and ridiculous antics they are made to do. With more substantial content, their careers could have a better opportunity to shine.

In conclusion, “Drop” flaunts the potential for something greater, but sadly, it remains buried beneath a mountain of mediocrity.