A common criticism of Hollywood in recent years is that the film industry keeps remaking and rebooting just about every franchise and every possible story idea. This criticism has some truth to it, but seeing the trailer for Drop makes this cynical outlook disappear as soon as one makes it through half of the trailer. A unique story idea, with some fancy camera work, and some old-fashioned thrills makes Drop seem quite promising.
The premise of the film is simple and yet brilliant: what would you do if you were blackmailed by a mysterious texter into killing your own date? Such is the premise of this thriller—a woman who goes on a first date with a promising man ends up being texted threats against her son. In order to save her son, she must kill her date. And perhaps the most challenging part is that she cannot mention one word to him, desperately trying to maintain the facade of calm and enjoying the evening. This has the perfect ingredients for an old-fashioned thriller.
Such is the premise of Drop, directed by Christopher Landon and to be released on April 11. What also makes this film exciting is its use of relatively unknown stars—there is something always refreshing about new stars making their splash in a new film. Starring Meghann Fahy as Violet, the terrorized widow and main protagonist, Brandon Sklenar as her date and prime suspect, and Violett Beane as her sister and babysitter to her young son. Drop has the potential to show what a truly great thriller can do with fresh talent. Director Christopher Landon has a promising history with thrillers, including 2007's Disturbia and several Paranormal Activity installments. From the looks of the trailer, he will not disappoint with this one.
Drop has the right original idea and promising new stars to go with it, but perhaps what is most exciting about Drop is its presentation of modern technology as a source of good, but also its potential for terror. Violet's smartphone is the source of her harassing messages from a mysterious hooded figure, which her date initially downplays as something that kids are doing for a laugh. A smartphone can be a way to find love, but also a way to find terror. It also paints the notion of constant surveillance in a different light. The audience witnesses how panic-inducing the situation is because Violet has access to the cameras from her phone, and then a killer terrorizing her young son while she can only sit and watch is nothing short of tense. We look forward to seeing how Drop delivers on April 11.