‘Drop’ Is Either Best – or Worst – First-Date Movie

Who hasn’t had an epically awful first date?

It can’t be worse than what our heroine endures in “Drop.” The thriller imagines a worst-case scenario with a twist sure to make audiences squirm.

Yes, everything that could go wrong does on this date from hell, but you can’t stop rooting for this couple to make it to Date No. 2.

That sets this lean shocker apart from lesser fare.

Violet (Meghann Fahy) is overdue for a romantic night on the town. She’s a widowed mom who always puts her adorable son Toby first. She’s been cyber-flirting with a photographer for weeks, and it’s finally time for them to meet.

That’s Henry (“Green and Gold‘s” Brandon Sklenar), a handsome gent who seems just as eager for romance. They’ve chosen a restaurant with a stunning view of downtown Chicago, so the mood is just right.

Except Violet’s phone won’t stop buzzing. She thinks it’s her sister, touching base about some minor toddler hiccup. Instead, it’s a series of “DigiDrops” (think AirDrops) from someone in the restaurant.

Look at your home security cameras on your phone’s app, the message tells her. She sees a masked man lurking within her house, mere yards away from Toby.

The stranger demands she do exactly what he requests or lil’ Toby won’t survive the night.

The trailer gives away even more of the story, suggesting it’ll be a loooong 60-plus minutes until we get either a reveal or a resolution. Director Christopher Landon (the excellent “Freaky“) keeps our interest while making the absurd events as rational as possible.

Yes, most men would have fled the restaurant after 15 minutes of Violet staring obsessively at her phone. The film acknowledges this while leaning, hard, on the couple’s chemistry. It pops off the screen.

Violet and Henry bring some serious Samsonite luggage to the date. Her past is cleverly revealed throughout the story, while we get glimpses of why he’s so hesitant. Violet’s back story is heavier, suggesting an imbalance that raises the emotional stakes.

That grounds a film that goes from surreal to absurd at warp speed. And we haven’t gotten to the third-act fireworks yet.

Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar answer our Very Important Questions about their latest film, #Drop, from @blumhouse, which *drops* into theaters April 11. pic.twitter.com/5eJrNEpWRn

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) March 18, 2025

Screenwriters Jillian Jacobs and Christopher Roach populate the restaurant with quirky characters, the kind that relieve tension while nudging the plot along. We meet a nervous, middle-aged man on his own blind date and a plucky bartender who serves as Violet’s counselor.

Plus, Violet’s server is a wannabe actor who thinks he’s “performing” for the new couple.

Funny. Engaging. And necessary given the tension in play with every new “DigiDrop.”

You can’t escape “Drop” without muttering, “Oh, come ON” at least once (it happened to this critic at the very end). The setup is improbable, and the execution is even more laughable.

That’s unfortunate, but from the start, we’re captive to the screenwriters’ knack for blending the preposterous with moments that feel all too real.

That mix makes “Drop” worth a reservation. Just know if you’re bringing a date the night can’t go any worse than what’s happening on screen.

HiT or Miss: “Drop” delivers head-smacking contrivances, but the core of the film is impossible to resist.

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