"Drop" is another winner from director Christopher Landon and Blumhouse

When it was announced that director Christopher Landon was leaving the seventh installment of the Scream franchise and putting the third entry of Happy Death Day on hold, horror fans were taken aback. Fortunately, the director delivers another entertaining film to tide his fans over with Drop, produced by Universal Pictures and Blumhouse. Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach pen the screenplay, and the movie stars Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy.

Violet (Fahy) is a domestic abuse survivor and recently widowed mother to Toby (Jacob Robinson). She has decided to go on her first date in years while her sister  Jen (Violett Beane) babysits. When she arrives at the upscale restaurant, she gets support from bartender Cara (Gabrielle Ryan). She is relieved that her date, Henry (Brandon Sklenar), is more charming and handsome than expected.

However, their chemistry begins to curdle as Violet becomes irritated and then terrorized by anonymous drops on her phone. Violet is instructed to tell nobody and follow instructions, or the hooded figure she sees on her home security cameras will kill Jen and Toby. However, Violet's unseen tormentor's final directive is to kill Henry.

After the first trailer for "Drop" was released and I discovered that the film was rated PG-13, I was reminded of the summer of 2005 and the Rachel McAdams-led Wes Craven thriller "Red Eye." For the most part, "Drop" follows a similar path, substituting a plane for a restaurant setting. Since I didn't watch "White Lotus," Meghann Fahy was somewhat of a newcomer to me in the film, allowing me to identify with her character.

The film commences with Violet surviving a domestic incident involving her husband. Subsequently, it transitions several years forward as she prepares for her first date with a man with whom she has communicated for several months. The actress, Fahy, adopts a relatable approach to the character of Violet, incorporating nuances that enhance her believability.

In addition, Brandon Sklenar, who recently garnered acclaim for his performance in "It Ends With Us," portrays a character that embodies the "knight in shining armor" trope. This characterization is adequate and displays strong chemistry with Fahy. Notably, the film integrates contemporary elements, such as smartphones, while drawing inspiration from Hitchcock, enriching its narrative foundation.

That being said, "Drop" is a film that I suggest viewers watch without any prior knowledge. There are many twists and turns as Violet tries to escape her predicament, but the person sending the drops is always one step ahead. Part of the enjoyment comes from watching Violet get outsmarted.

The film mainly belongs to Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar, who play the most significant roles. However, the supporting cast also contributes meaningfully to the overall storyline. While the cinephile in me could analyze the film's flaws, I won't dwell on them. There are enough entertaining moments where the positives outweigh the negatives, making this film worthy of my recommendation.

Final Grade: B

"Drop" has select sneak previews tonight and opens in theaters tomorrow.