Why So Blu?

Drop (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than a quick and pulpy thriller.  Something that you can watch and wrap up in less than 100 minutes is preferable.  If it goes beyond that it’s still moving at a pace that’s fast and loose.  You are on the edge of your seat and hoping for the best for your protagonist.  These are the films I crave a lot of the time as a movie fan.  Drop joins the rank of “villain-on-the-phone” thrillers such as Cellular and Phonebooth this time using an app to create the tension.  So does Drop drop the ball or make its way into the ranks of great modern thrillers?

Film

Drop is a tightly wound, nerve-jangling thriller that takes a minimal premise and executes it with maximum tension. Set almost entirely during a single evening at a sleek restaurant, the film follows Violet, a widowed single mother trying to enjoy her first date in years—until a mysterious phone app begins delivering chilling demands: kill your date, or your son dies.

The brilliance of Drop lies in its simplicity. The entire film unfolds in real-time, with the clock ticking and every second adding pressure. There’s a claustrophobic intensity to the setting that keeps viewers locked into Violet’s panic. Every clink of a glass or flicker of a glance feels loaded with menace, and the film expertly uses this confined space to create an escalating sense of dread.

The lead performance by Meghann Fahy is raw and riveting. She plays Violet as a woman on the verge—torn between her instincts, her emotions, and an unthinkable choice. Her portrayal is grounded and emotionally believable, giving the audience someone to root for even as the situation spirals. Her chemistry with her date (played with charm and subtle unease by Brandon Sklenar) adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty—can she trust him, or is Henry part of the trap?

Stylistically, Drop uses its visuals smartly. There’s a sleek, modern aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the primal fear driving the plot. Tense close-ups, creative camera movement, and dim lighting amplify the stakes without overcomplicating the story. The pacing is relentless—at just over 90 minutes, the film doesn’t waste a second.

More than just a thriller, Drop is a commentary on how deeply technology has embedded itself into our daily lives—sometimes to terrifying effect. The film’s use of a sinister app as the catalyst for danger feels both modern and unnerving, a fresh twist on the genre.

While I watched Drop, I had some good reminders of films I’ve seen before.  Not a complaint at all, but reminders.  I had good memories of films like Kidnap, Cellular, Premium Rush, and Red Eye. These movies involve a so-called “Race-against-time” that the main character must journey through to save a loved one or the world or whatever it may be.

Those thrillers are the types that I personally eat up.  In the case of Drop, I was all in.  The tension, the sound and set designs and performances were like the icing on the cake.  Where the film didn’t have to go swing for the fences, it did.  This is why by the time the credits rolled, I was nearly clapping.

In the end, Drop succeeds not through bombast, but by keeping things personal and immediate. It’s a lean, smart, and stylish thriller that keeps you guessing—and leaves you breathless. Perfect for fans of tight, suspenseful dramas that unfold in real-time and aren’t afraid to ask hard questions about control, trust, and survival.

Video

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 2160p

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

HDR: Dolby Vision

Layers: BD-66

Clarity/Detail: Drop debuts on 4K from Universal with an excellent looking disc.  As expected with a new movie plopped on a single layer 4K disc, the overall look is flawless.  Detail is exceptional and near perfect with no artifact or compression issues. Stable movement and black levels with great color grading thanks to Dolby Vision make this a reference grade affair for the thriller fans in the 4K collector community.

Depth: The depth department is also flawless.  Fluid movement throughout is in evidence with no issues as the camera pans or focus is moved from foreground to background.

Black Levels: Black levels reach to the deepest of depths with zero issues.  You will find yourself immersed in the darker spaces of the restaurant or Violet’s house as you watch the film.

Color Reproduction: Colors in Drop are dimmed a bit as most of the film is in a dim light. Reds are deep and prevalent, and browns and greys are too.  Don’t expect a big color pop and you’ll be just fine!

Skin Tones: Flesh tones look natural here

Noise/Artifacts: None.

Audio

Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, French and Spanish Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

Dynamics: Physical media collectors – especially 4K collectors are craving active mixes when it comes to Dolby Atmos, and let me tell you, Drop has got what you want.  Much like the video quality here, the audio is of reference grade caliber.  Unassuming as it may seem, the film has a very busy Atmos mix with the mostly dialogue driven piece moving through your room with tons of activity.

Height: Height channels make the film’s restaurant set piece, Palate, a veritable feast (ho, ho) for the ears.  Clinking utensils, glasses, chairs moving, people chatting, bar patrons cavorting… You name it, its going on around you going above as if rising to the ceiling.

Low Frequency Extension: Bass response is not subtle when it comes around.  There aren’t a ton of scenes calling for heavy bass, but when the subwoofer is called upon, the knock definitely delivers.

Surround Sound Presentation: Surround channels only compliment the action in Palate, giving you a sense of ambience only furthering the listening space and deepening your immersion in the film.

Dialogue: Perfect.

Extras

Extras on the disc for Drop are not lengthy, however they do provide the palatable (hehehe) information you may want to delve into! The film comes to 4K disc with a slipcover, bundled Blu-ray and a digital code!

Bonus Features:

• A RECIPE FOR THRILLS: MAKING DROP – Join the cast and crew of DROP as they sort through the ingredients of this date gone wrong.
• A PALATE FOR PANIC- Take a seat and devour the details that went into creating Palate, a film set that doubles as a fully operational restaurant.
• KILLER CHEMISTRY – Join Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar as they discuss their characters’ first date and how they managed to keep Violet and Henry grounded throughout the escalation of events.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER LANDON

Summary

As a cut and dry thriller, Drop delivers.  The film is fast, fun and certainly a thrill.  With solid performances and the right amount of tension, Drop proves that the thriller is a missed genre in cinemas and at home. Here’s hoping the critical and commercial success of Drop brings forth some more thrillers for fans to dive into.  We will just also hope those thrillers are quality like this one is! Until then, don’t accept an AirDrop from anyone random!!

Get your copy of Drop HERE