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One trend I can totally get behind is the return of '90s-style, nonsensical action films - and 'Drop' is a perfect example of just how fun that can be. It's full of high-stakes chaos, tech-fuelled paranoia, and a plot that spirals in the best kind of way.

The social commentary lands surprisingly well, with the AirDrop-as-menace angle tapping into real digital-age fears. And I loved the video game-esque text placements on screen - bold, stylised, and just the right kind of over-the-top.

The acting? A bit cringe, yes - but intentionally so. Meghann Fahy really leans into the melodrama, and Brandon Sklenar does a great job playing the increasingly bewildered date. Special shoutout to Violett Beane, whose dry delivery added just the right bite.

But a bone to pick: that child actor... GOD AWFUL. It's even more glaring when you think about someone like Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence' - proof that you can cast a young actor who brings genuine weight to the screen. This kid just wasn't it. Still, if you're after a chaotic, neon-tinged thrill ride with something to say, 'Drop' is a blast.

Although admittedly fairly forgettable, 'Drop (2025)' is a really solid thriller that benefits from a lack of self-awareness and a stylistic execution. Set mostly in a single location, the narrative mixes the anxiety of a first date with the horror of a hostage situation (the former can often feel like the latter, am I right?). Having the lead character be a survivor of domestic abuse adds another layer of cruelty to the lack of control she has over her situation, while also allowing for catharsis if she's able to work through her trauma and emerge victorious. The theme is dealt with gently but directly, never feeling exploitative because it ultimately seems like an attempt at healing rather than a cheap way to increase the suspense of the central situation. Said situation is undeniably silly, but the film treats it with enough sincerity that you don't feel strange about doing the same. It has comedic moments, some of which are genuinely funny, but its humour never undercuts its narrative. It never feels embarrassed of itself, never feels the need to crack wise to let us know it knows it's actually rather absurd. It remains tense and engaging for its relatively brisk duration, even if it does feel like it spins its wheels a bit in its midsection. Christopher Landon directs the heck out of it, playing with focus and lighting to convey stress and hopelessness, using controlled but chaotic camerawork to compound violence, and splashing text across the screen to make its virtual elements feel as real as everything else that threatens to tear its protagonist's world apart. Add to that a delightfully classic yet pulpy score from Bear McCreary, and you get an atmospheric and absorbing little thriller that keeps you hooked for its duration. Its characters are well-rounded, portrayed by charismatic actors who all understand the assignment, and its plot escalates in a satisfying way. It's tightly written, with a couple of crowd-pleasing one-liners and an escalating sense of suspense, and confidently crafted, with crisp cinematography and convincing set design. It isn't the sort of thing that sticks with you for too long, but it does exactly what it needs to and keeps you on the edge of your seat for its majority. It's an enjoyable experience that does quite a lot with quite a little. It's pretty darn good.

I wouldn't say to Drop everything to see this, but if you're feeling nostalgia for the 90s Suspense-Action popcorn flicks, this is for you.

Definitely reminded me of an old favorite of mine, Nick of Time, starring Johnny Depp/Christopher Walken from 1995. Both movies put innocent people in extraordinary circumstances to save their loved ones. So, if you even remember that low-key (for Depp) thriller, and liked it, this would make a great double-feature.

First dates are killer. A recently widowed mother agrees to a first date with a gorgeous hunk of a man. Unfortunately, things go sideways when she receives instructions on her phone from someone nearby, in the restaurant...and her date, her son and her chances of a second date might be in grave trouble.

It's not perfect, by any means. I should've known who was sending the messages from the get-go, and you might figure it out immediately. Yeah, yeah, I didn't think too hard and everyone's a red herring. I just laid back and left my brain at the door to have fun.

And it was suspenseful to see how she'd save her son (who's being watched over by a goon at her home,) her date (whose life is in her hands) and how she'd escape this terrible mess she's been targeted for. And when the heat does kick up in the last 15 minutes, it is a ton of fun.

Not an award-winner and hardly original at all. Still, I had a good time. Some of the artsy camera work was cool, but honestly it was so little of it, I'm not sure why they chose to experiment for just about 20 seconds of film in different scenes.

If you do like Nick of Time, Red Eye, Don't Say a Word, I guess the original Saw, and any others where someone's kidnapped/held hostage so someone can be the unwilling assassin, this is yet another one. And recommended.

***

Final Thoughts: I've heard about this "Screen Unseen" thing movie theatres are doing whereas you buy a ticket for a movie that hasn't been released yet and all you know is the length and rating. I got my first email for one and had to attempt fate...at what they chose for me. Dear Lord, I was afraid it'd be a melodrama or family-friendly Romcom. I *HAD* hoped this would've been The Amateur or even, Mission: Impossible 7b, but, I'm fine with Drop. I saw the trailers, liked what I saw and did eventually want to see this. That said, the trailers pretty much give away everything...so I would avoid those if you wish to go in cold.

Bad day; first I sat through this tripe then I realised I was in agreement with a UK film critic. It really is poor, especially the first 75 minutes in which we're meant to feel tension but can't partly because the two main actors can't deliver any but also because the script is mediocre at best. There follows a better but not great 15-minutes when the pace is upped somewhat and the miscreant is identified, bringing some form of tension but sadly it descends into farce for the ending. Can't anyone in Hollywood shoot straight? Not that it matters because apparently a woman can be picked up one-handed by a guy with a knife on his shoulder. On the plus side, I enjoyed my nachos and sauces more than they enjoyed their meal.

Director Christopher Landon has made two of my favorite guilty pleasure films - "Happy Death Day" and "Happy Death Day 2U" - although I hesitate to even call them guilty pleasures as I find them to be genuinely enjoyable and high-quality movies. His 2020 slasher-comedy 'Freaky' was a fun pandemic-era release, boosted by Kathryn Newton's screen presence and Vince Vaughn's surprisingly great comedic timing. And so, when I discovered that he was directing "Drop," I knew I immediately wanted to check it out, and I did, with my father, during an early access screening. And honestly? It was pretty good.

"Drop" is probably Landon's best directed, most stylish film yet - visually, there is a lot of creativity at play here in terms of atmospheric lighting choices, creative and intrusive editing, and an excellent use of sound (or lack thereof) that highlights tension and underscores drama. There's a real flair here with visual moments that, honestly, I haven't been as emotionally impacted by since "Drive" - one specific scene involving a kiss between two characters was a highlight, as was a conversation where the sound drops to only focus on the words being said. More confident than ever, Landon pushes himself and takes risks here, because while "Drop" is a conventional enough thriller in terms of premise, the execution in both the way the film looks and in the themes it decides to cover are genuinely daring, with the opening scene setting the stage that, huh, maybe this wasn't quite the movie I thought it was going to be.

Before the airdrop shenanigans begin, "Drop" introduces Violet - Meghann Fahy - and Henry - Brandon Sklenar - who are about to go on the most... memorable... first date of all time. Though the the date may not go as planned, the uncomfortable and awkward situation that the characters are thrown in doesn't translate to an uncomfortable or awkward viewing experience because, luckily, Meghann and Brandon have phenomenal chemistry on screen. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that they were in a relationship in real life because they are magnetic to watch, with banter that keeps things fun even as tension starts to build. And it's not just in the things they say to each other, but in the little looks, the first date jitters, the small smiles - that kind of natural chemistry is hard to fake, and it makes their connection feel all the more believable. Of course, if you've seen the trailer, you know that all good things must come to an end, and so, when "Drop" decides to become a thriller, thrill it does.

Quickly turning into a breakneck, white knuckle roller coaster ride, "Drop" is a whodunnit - or more accurately, a who is doing it - that really keeps you guessing until the end of the film. Things just keep on escalating, with situations getting more bizarre and dire; the film keeps upping the stakes, but not so much so that things ever feel too ridiculous or unbelievable. As the characters are engaged in this mystery, you'll find yourself trying to actively solve it with them - who is doing this, why are they doing this, and how in the world will our characters ever manage to answer these questions without getting hurt, or worse? It's a very fun, twisty little story that starts intense and stays that way until the credits roll.

My only real complaint about this movie is that the overall resolution was just kind of, ehh - the explanation we do get isn't bad per se, it's just missing that extra pop, that emotional payoff that could've sent things over the top. I mean, I understand that it's probably difficult to think of a satisfactory and crowd pleasing explanation - I guarantee you that the premise for this movie was thought of first, and the "why" of it all was dreamt up in the writing room - but I was hoping for something that had a bit more of that je ne sais quoi. That said, "Drop" is all about the journey, and the journey is worth taking. I had a really great time with "Drop", and I can't wait to see this again at home on 4k. I highly recommend this, and I hope it makes a killing.