As debate rages over whether A Minecraft Movie's huge success is good for cinemas (it is, they needed it), it's led to a fear that Hollywood will move further away from original movies to reliable IP.
It's not a new discussion, far from it, and we've already had too much evidence this year that as much as some might say they want original movies, the performances of Black Bag, Mickey 17 and Companion suggests otherwise despite excellent reviews.
This weekend gives audiences a chance to support original movies again though with the release of new thriller Drop. (The Amateur might seem like an original movie, but it's an adaptation of a book that has already been adapted into a movie.)
Drop has all the potential to be a sleeper box-office hit. Strong reviews? It debuted with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and still stands at a decent 88%. Buzzy stars? Meghann Fahy was a stand-out of The White Lotus season two, while Brandon Sklenar is hot off 1923 and It Ends With Us. Instant hookable concept? A woman must murder her date to save her son.
And the best aspect of it all is that Drop lives up to its irresistible high concept by being an entertaining and unpredictable 90-min ride.
We've all had bad first dates, but Drop will make you reassess those and think, "Well, could have been worse".
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Widowed mother and therapist Violet (Fahy) is on her first date in years at an upscale restaurant with charming photographer Henry (Sklenar) when she starts receiving anonymous drops to her phone. Initially dismissed as a prank, they turn sinister when her home security cameras show a masked gunman in her home.
If Violet doesn't follow the instructions from her anonymous tormentor, which culminate in her being asked to poison Henry, her son will die. To be fair to Violet, she tries absolutely everything to raise alarm bells. Drop isn't a thriller that'll leave you wondering why she didn't just leave; Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach's tight script covers all angles, even if you have to suspend some disbelief.
As much as the script takes advantage of modern society and the presence of cameras everywhere, it also revels in the fact that we're all glued to our phones. Playful editing sees various characters in the restaurant on their phones whenever Violet tries to find a clue, and Drop keeps you guessing up to its final reveal.
You're never even fully sure that Henry isn't the one behind it all. Brandon Sklenar's performance effectively pivots between Henry being a charming, good guy and also suspiciously chill with the fact that Violet is clearly not focused on their date.
It's Meghann Fahy's show though in what should be a break-out lead movie role for her. She wrings Violet's loosely-sketched traumatic background for all it's worth and keeps you invested in Violet's fate, even as things get increasingly silly. Most importantly, she delivers a classic thriller 'gotcha' line that'll have you cheering.
Because that's the thing with Drop. Yes, the final act is ridiculous and at odds with the tension of the build-up, but it's clear that the writers, the cast and director Christopher Landon know just how to pitch a high-concept thriller.
Whether it's the presence of a comic relief supporting character (a scene-stealing performance from Jeffery Self as waiter Matt), red herrings everywhere you look or the presence of Chekhov's gun (or, rather, Chekhov's hockey puck here), Drop is precision crafted for maximum audience entertainment.
It's the kind of thriller that is made for a packed crowd on a Friday or Saturday night at the cinema. So if you don't want to be dealing with chicken jockeys, then make a date this weekend with Drop.
Drop is out now in cinemas.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
