'Drop' Is a Dinner Date From Hell—With a Side Order of Murder
Online dating can be a challenging, albeit awkward process. Add to the mix a creepy stalker who's blowing up your phone and demanding you murder the person you're on said date with, and you've got a real recipe for disaster. The recently debuted thriller, Drop, is that kind of terrifying for Violet (Meghann Fahy) and her date, Henry (Brandon Sklenar), a pretty chill guy who somehow sticks it out for the most erratic first dinner date of all time.
Truth be told? Henry's patient demeanor makes him appear to be that guy you may actually want to see again. That's big coming from a hot mess who might as well be the inspiration behind Taylor Swift's "The Bolter." (I have been known to hop off the subway at a random stop to flee a bad date.)
One (of many) pesky little issue about this date? If Violet doesn't add a little poison to Henry's tequila, her stalker's henchman, who's already in her house, will go after her son instead.
This article contains mild spoilers for Drop and domestic violence discussions.
Drop Is a First Date From Hell
Drop almost entirely takes place in a ritzy restaurant while Violet's stalker watches her every move. Yet despite the limited set variation, the film is high-stakes intensity during its 90-minute run. That's right—we've got a movie that doesn't last two hours.
That said, in my opinion, the date portion could have trimmed off 15 minutes in favor of a longer action-packed ending. I don't want to go on my own first dates for that long, so I felt a bit antsy during the more mundane get-to-know-you moments. After all, I get bored and bail on The Bachelor the minute hometowns happen. (Did I mention I'm jaded? I'm here for the drama.)
When Henry and Violet start trauma dumping on each other, I couldn't help thinking of every Bachelor one-on-one date where the bachelorettes share deep-seated trauma that ends in a teary rose. No shade, though—I 100% do this, too—just not on national TV, of course. While this portion of the date is challenging to watch, it's also one of the more impactful bits of the film.
How Drop Addresses Domestic Violence
Going into Drop, I didn't expect the film to tackle domestic violence in such a well-thought-out and realistic way.
During the movie, it's learned that Violet's late husband was physically and emotionally abusive. In an effort to address her demons, Violet began working with domestic violence survivors. One powerful scene comes early when she tells a survivor, "We need to hear your voice, not his." She also has the woman picture herself before the abuse, and says, "Now, try to tell me she's worthless."
Though Violet coaches victims to stop placing blame on themselves, she still holds herself accountable for her own abuse and calls herself a bad mother.
Fast-forward to her dinner date, where Henry seems to be a great listener with timely first-hand advice. It turns out, Henry's had run-ins with abusers, too, and points out to Violet, "Abusive people make us feel crazy." His focus on finding hope likely gives Violet the strength to finally forgive herself by fighting for her son, Henry, and herself during the rest of the night.
Meghann Fahy told Variety, "[The subject of abuse is] something that Chris and I spoke about at length before and while we were filming. It was really important for us to handle that as delicately and thoughtfully as we could. So we had conversations with people who were able to weigh in and keep us in a space where we felt like we were being really honest. I love that she becomes her own hero by the end of the movie. You see her break out of her shell in this beautiful way."
My Thoughts on the Film
Despite the movie's intensity, plenty of moments add much-needed levity. Not only does the pianist honor Violet's jokey request to play "Baby Shark," but Drop also features puns like, "A shot never killed anyone," "What's your poison," and, "I guess I killed the mood for the evening." A little creative wit is always appreciated on a dinner date—especially this one.
The film style drew me in by heightening the tension and adding a voyeuristic edge to the shots. The camera frequently pans out and creeps up on Violet, building a tangible, unsettling layer during Violet's plight to figure out who's threatening her son.
I'm always game for a deep, unique, and impactful premise. If watching an hour-long date can hold the attention of someone who finds it difficult to actually stay on a date that long, I feel anyone can enjoy it. That said, shaving off some awkward first date chatter could have made way for an even longer epic finale.
The twists are more potent than the poisoned tequila, and be forewarned—they will make you want to immediately ditch your dating apps and never accept an airdrop ever again.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-779-7233 or use the website's chat function.
