Film Critique: 'Drop' Steers Clear of Predictability
Screen Time Terrors: A New Twist on Old Fear in 'Drop'
Let's face it - there's something unsettling about that constant buzz or ring from your smartphone. It's been a thorn in the side of horror movies for years, prompting filmmakers to concoct reasons like dead batteries or no service to keep characters isolated. But in movies like "Drop," that little device has been flipped on its head to deliver chilling suspense.
"Drop," directed by Christopher Landon ("Happy Death Day"), joins the ranks of classics like "When a Stranger Calls" and "Phone Booth" by centering its fright around threatening phone messages. The film follows Violet, a widowed mother, on her first date in years. With her phone acting as her constant companion, she finds herself embroiled in a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a mysterious caller threatening her son unless she follows their orders.
Set mainly in a swanky Chicago restaurant, "Drop" is a tight little thriller that's always moving and never overstays its welcome. Despite its familiarity with the high-concept, low-budget thriller genre, it's a gripping watch that keeps you on the edge of your seat. And at a lean 95 minutes, it knows when to call it quits.
As the game unfolds, it's anyone's suspect list. From fellow diners to the friendly bartender, everyone in the restaurant becomes a potential threat. With her captor lurking nearby, Violet is trapped at her table, her desperation to save her son palpable.
The film benefits greatly from the understated talents of Meghann Fahy ("The White Lotus") and Brandon Sklenar ("1923"), both of whom bring a captivating charm to their characters. As the plot thickens, there are, admittedly, some questions that arise. For instance, could Violet act so nonchalant about a masked gunman outside her home? Does the elaborate trap laid for her really fit the bill of the criminal mastermind behind it?
"Butt Dial" might make a fun title for a different film, but in "Drop," the villain is an invasion of personal space in the form of text messages. As the terror escalates, Violet becomes lost in the digital world, forgetting the power of silence or disconnecting from her phone. The film could be seen as a commentary on the isolation and disconnection that can come from excessive smartphone use, and the vulnerability that can result from over-reliance on technology.
The film offers a metaphor for modern-day fears, as we find ourselves held captive by our phones much like Violet. The bad guy, for nearly the entire movie, is nothing but text messages flashing across the screen. This film raises pervasive concerns about technology addiction, asking us if we've become so lost in our devices that we've missed the world around us.
"Drop," a Universal Pictures release, received a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language, and sexual references. With its introspective take on technology addiction and deft storytelling, "Drop" is a must-see for horror enthusiasts.
In the vein of films like "When a Stranger Calls" and "Phone Booth", "Drop" utilizes media, specifically threatening phone calls and messages, to create a tense atmosphere. The movie's story revolves around the 'movies-and-tv' genre, delivering enthralling entertainment by weaving a thriller around a widowed mother's predicament with a menacing caller.
