“Drop” into summer suspense!

4K ULTRA HD REVIEW / HDR SCREENSHOTS

"If you tell anyone, they will die." That's the text-threat single mother, Violet (Meghann Fahy), receives at a high-rise restaurant in Chicago. It demands she obey the sender's commands, or her young son, Toby (Brandon Sklenar), and sister Jen (Violett Beane) will be killed.

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4K screenshots courtesy of Universal Pictures via the Filmmaker’s Mode - Click for an Amazon purchase

“DROP”

4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray; 2025: PG-13 for strong violent content, some profanity, and sexual references; Digital copy via Amazon Video (4K), Apple TV (4K), Fandango Home (4K), Movies Anywhere (4K), YouTube (4K)

Best extra: Commentary by director Christopher Landon, son of TV star and director Michael Landon of “Little House on the Prairie”

CHRISTOPHER LANDON of “Happy Death Day” (2017) and “Freaky” (2020) wanted ‘Drop’ to be a love letter to Hitchcock and ‘90s thrillers.”

“Drop” is not the first homage to The Master of Suspense, and he won’t be the last. Some of the best are Brian DePalma’s “Dressed to Kill” (1980), is a salute to “Psycho”; Danny DeVito’s “Throw Mama from the Train” (1987) uses plot elements of “Stranger on a Train” to comic effect, and Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” (2010) shadows “Vertigo.”

The film was shot in Dublin, Ireland, which has a distinctive, historic look although the story is set in Chicago. It was difficult to find locations that were “passably American,” Landon says, but they persevered. He eventually used a convention center, creating a structure alongside. He is justifiably proud of the restaurant built within to house the action. He wanted the set to be a character, “a gilded cage” for Violet (Meghann Fahy), while using 100 extras as diners and wait staff. A real chef was hired to create the menu, and meals for the leads made in the set kitchen. Brandon Sklenar, cast as blind date Henry Campbell, enjoyed the food so much he was “constantly stuffing his face, and we couldn’t keep up with him,” Landon says with a laugh. “He even took some of the food home.” Artificial prop meals were designed for the extras so they would look the same, day after day of filming.

“The film really is a fairy tale reversed,” Fahy explains in the bonus feature “A Recipe for Thrills: Making ‘Drop.’” “But [Henry] doesn’t know it. The guy that [Violet’s] on the date with is the damsel in distress.”

(1) Having survived an abusive relationship, widowed mother Violet Gates becomes an online therapist. (2) "Did you mean to dress like a candy cane?" Jen asks as she gives her sister wardrobe advice while Violet prepares to go on her first date in five years. (3) "You're beautiful," Toby exclaims when he sees his mother dressed up to go out.

Violet is trying to date again after the death of her abusive husband five years ago. He is killed while trying to shoot their toddler son, Toby (Jacob Robinson).

Violet leaves Toby in the care of her younger sister, Jen (Violett Beane), who coaches her in the rules of modern dating – particularly how to dress. She nervously arrives at the exclusive high-rise restaurant, Palate, to meet Henry Campbell, a photojournalist. They’ve talked for some time online, but have never met.

Violet meets a variety of people in the restaurant as she makes her way to their reserved table. She then begins to receive “Digi-Drops” from a mysterious user. The content becomes threatening after Violet and Henry meet in person. Soon afterward, she receives a live video of a tall, sinister man dressed in black. He looms inside her home, threatening to hurt Jen and Toby. Violet is warned that if she doesn’t follow the sender’s commands, her loved ones will be killed.

Despite their instant, friendly connection, Henry becomes aware something’s up, thanks to the continuing Digi-Drops and Violet’s increasingly bizarre behavior. He’s no chump, trying to help her although confused as to what’s actually happening.

This is definitely a familiar Hitchcock trope copied many times in many films and TV shows. Violet has to use all her smarts and grit to save her family, Henry, and innocent bystanders. Or are they all that innocent?

“There is an unseen person in the restaurant, sort of the puppet-master,” Landon says. Violet’s trying to figure out who it is, while trying to maintain this first-date façade. Is it the bartender, is it the hostess, is it the waiter … or could it be Henry?

(1) Violet receives her first Digi-Drop as she enters Palate. (2) Entering the popular restaurant. (3&4) Violet meets two of Palate's staff, bartender Cara (Gabrielle Ryan) and pianist Phil (Ed Weeks), as she finds her way to her table.

VIDEO

Wow – “Drop” looks great in its TRUE 4K and HDR10 grading. Captured with 4.6K ARRI-ALEXA digital cameras (2.39:1 aspect ratio) from cinematographer Marc Spicer (“Furious 7”). It is a deceptively a bright film, without a trace of Hitchcock’s atmospheric shadows. There is outstanding clarity from close-ups to distance-shots, with a light wash of post-production film grain. The climatic “drop” is breathtaking. The Dolby Vision is very good, providing an expanded range of color in an almost you-are-there experience. Complexions appear natural, yet polished for an evening out. Would that we could all look that good!

Everything was encoded onto the smaller 66 GB disc, including the extras, since the running is only 95 minutes. Video bitrate varies widely from the lower 30 Megabits per second to over 90 Mbps, and mostly runs in the lower 50s. The peak HDR10 brightness hits 1000 nits, and the average at a low 76 nits.

“What was interesting was that it felt, in a strange way, like a bookend for me,” Landon says. “I wrote a film called ‘Disturbia’ (2007) – kind of like Hitchcock by way of John Hughes, but [“Drop”] felt like the evolution of that kind of film.”

AUDIO

A terrific Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers an expansive sound experience.  Dialogue is clean and clear, while effects and ambient sound surround the room from whispers to attacks and explosions.

The orchestral/electronic score comes from composer Bear McCreary (“Godzilla: Kings of the Monsters”), a musician Landon has worked with on previous films. It’s a strong  accompaniment with a number of licensed songs including “Day from Night” from Ages and Ages, “Hardly News” from Declan Welsh and the Decadent West” with a couple classics “Moon River” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.”

(1) New, exuberant waiter Walter (Jeffery Self) introduces himself to Violet and her date, photographer Henry Campbell (Brandon Sklenar). (2) Walter is determined to be funny and friendly, definitely a TMI kind of guy. (3-5) Henry enjoys meeting Violet, in person, for the first time. Violet receives more Digi-Drops, the latest showing a man in black lurking inside her home.

EXTRAS

There are three worthwhile featurettes in addition to Landon’s articulate commentary. “A Recipe for Thrills – Making Drop,” highlights the story and production, with Landon and cast sharing production details and anecdotes. “A Palate for Panic” goes into the details of creating the restaurant, with its working kitchen. “Killer Chemistry” explores the relationship between the two main characters.

“Violet and Henry have been face-timing for a few months,” Sklenar explains. “But this is ultimately their first encounter.”

“The relationship that develops between Violet and Henry is actually really sweet,” Fahy continues. “It makes it even harder for the audience to believe she may have to kill this guy who is perfect for her.”

Be aware that the violence, when it happens, is brutal. Think “John Wick”-style re: “Why aren’t they dead?” You’ll also be aware of “Drop’s” tropes. Just relax and enjoy. No, it’s not as well-tuned or surprising as “Happy Death Day” or Freaky,” but an entertaining summer thriller with a scoop of romance.

“It’s kind of like a roller coaster,” Landon says. “It’s a very gradual ascent to the top of the ramp. And once you get to the top, you hit that ‘Drop.’”

— Kay Reynolds and Bill Kelley III, High-def Watch producer

(1) Violet plays cat and mouse with her stalker, trying to discover the identity, while dodging his commands. (2) An explosion sends Violet hurtling out of a broken window.