I’ll be honest—I walked into Drop expecting something dumb. The premise sounded like the kind of tech-gimmick thriller that shows up, fizzles out, and gets buried on streaming. But instead, I was utterly hooked. Christopher Landon delivers a real-time, edge-of-your-seat experience that turns a seemingly simple setup into something nerve-racking, intense, and surprisingly bright.
The brilliance of Drop lies in that simplicity. The entire film unfolds in real-time, with the clock ticking down as Violet (Meghann Fahy) finds herself trapped in a situation that grows increasingly tight by the second. There’s a claustrophobic energy here—think Rear Window by way of modern dating culture—that keeps you in Violet’s rising panic. It’s relentless in the best way.
Fahy’s performance is what really anchors the film. She plays Violet as someone just barely holding it together. She’s torn between her gut instincts and the terrifying possibility that she might be wrong. Her fear feels real, but so does her strength. There’s a grounded, emotional honesty in her performance that makes every moment feel earned. Opposite her is Brandon Sklenar as Henry, her date for the night, who brings just the right amount of charm and low-key unease. Their chemistry keeps you guessing: is he trustworthy or part of something much darker?
Beyond the tension, Drop also taps into something more current—a quiet commentary on how much of our lives we’ve handed over to tech. The app at the center of the story feels unnervingly plausible, and the way it fuels the story is both modern and deeply unsettling.
While Drop might not have flashy action or high-budget spectacle, but it doesn’t need it. What it does have is precision, tension, and a standout lead performance that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. What could’ve been forgettable is, instead, an unexpectedly compelling thriller—and one of the year’s biggest surprises.
Movie Review: 4/5 atoms
Video
Drop is available on Ultra HD Blu-ray in a native 4K, HEVC / H.265, Dolby Vision/HDR10 presentation with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Whites are bold and clean, with crisp detail especially noticeable during light-to-mid brightness transitions—city skyline shots at night shimmer beautifully, popping against deep, inky black levels that never falter. Whether you’re watching a quiet moment in Violet’s shadowy house or a tense exchange in the dim corners of a restaurant, the black levels pull you in without crushing any details. Colors lean naturally muted, reflecting the film’s moody, low-lit environments, but never feel flat or washed out. What truly stands out here is the clarity—every frame looks sharp, refined, and artifact-free, with no visible compression issues to break the spell. It’s a clean, elegant transfer that complements the film’s claustrophobic intensity perfectly.
Video Review: 5/5 atoms
Audio
Drop is available on Ultra HD Blu-ray with a Dolby Atmos or a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio presentation if Atmos is not supported. This review will cover the Blu-ray’s Dolby Atmos mix. Drop may appear quiet on the surface, but its Atmos mix is surprisingly active and richly layered, making the most of its dialogue-driven setup. Dynamic panning brings the film to life with constant motion—voices, subtle sounds, and environmental cues move through your space with precision, never calling too much attention to themselves but always working in the background to deepen immersion. Overhead channels get some love, too, especially in the film’s final act, where restaurant ambiance—clinking silverware, shifting chairs, murmured conversations—rises and fills the room, almost as if the sound is bouncing off the ceiling.
The surround channels enhance the setting rather than overpower it, providing just the right amount of spatial detail, such as catching snippets of another table’s conversation in a crowded bar. Bear McCreary’s moody score blends seamlessly with the mix, and there’s a surprising amount of low-frequency energy (LFE) presence rumbling underneath it all, giving the film a low-end pulse that keeps the tension simmering. It’s an unexpectedly rich soundscape for such an intimate thriller, and it pays off.
Audio Review: 4.5/5 atoms
Special Features
Drop has no bonus features on the Ultra HD disc. However, the following bonus features can be found on the HD Blu-ray disc:
- A Recipe for Thrills: Making Drop
- A Palate for Panic
- Killer Chemistry
- Feature Commentary with Director Christopher Landon
Features Assessment
The bonus features on Drop are a mixed bag. A Recipe for Thrills offers a solid overview of the film’s inspirations and behind-the-scenes origins. At the same time, A Palate for Panic focuses on the film’s single, pressure-cooker setting—a restaurant built entirely from scratch—and gives some nice insight into the production design. Killer Chemistry dives into the dynamic between Violet and Henry, exploring the characters and the actors who bring them to life. But the real highlight is the feature-length commentary with director Christopher Landon. He shares thoughtful observations about key creative decisions and how they constructed certain scenes.
Special Features Review: 3/5 atoms
Overall, Drop is a tense, real-time thriller elevated by Meghann Fahy’s gripping lead performance and a smartly contained setup. The Ultra HD presentation is sharp and immersive, with excellent contrast and impressive detail even in the darkest scenes, and the Dolby Atmos track is quietly effective. Also, the special features are light, with only the director’s commentary standing out among mostly forgettable extras.
Overall Review: 4/5 atoms
Drop is now available in stores on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
This Blu-ray was provided by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for review purposes.
