'Drop' film review: Claustrophobic, intense & fun first-date gone wrong flick

Part mystery and part bad-first date flick, the suspense thriller 'Drop' (in theaters nationwide April 11) is another Blumhouse gem.

In short: Widowed single mother Violet (Meghann Fahy) goes on a first date in years -- but during her date, she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone. Brandon Sklenar and Violett Beane also star.

Every thriller's job is simple: grab the audience's attention and keep them on edge. It's a simple expectation that 'Drop' executes impressively. 'Drop' comes from director Christopher Landon, who has written or directed bangers like the 'Paranormal Activity' and 'Happy Death Day' movies.

Officially 'Drop' weighs in at just 95 minutes - but that includes a title sequence and end credits. This is a lean and taut nerve-racking ride that entirely works because of the movies first 10 minutes. Everything the audience needs to know about Violet is crammed into the first few scenes: Violet is a loving mother and sister who has survived horrific domestic trauma - and she's taking her first steps back into the dating scene.

These first 10 minutes are critical because 'Drop' looks like a plot-driven flick, but it's Violet's actions and choices that drive the movie. Her character and her decisions keep the audiences attention on this terrifying ride. 'Drop' is ostensibly about a woman coerced into playing a deadly game wherein she's forced to terrible actions under the threat of deadly harm to her son. It's kind of the perfect premise that plays with the limits of what any parent would do to protect their child.

If the basic conceit of the movie is 'woman goes on first date in a restaurant - and is pressured into killing her date,' it's no small stroke of genius to get Violet to said restaurant within the first 10 minutes. And even if the entire extortion conceit was removed from the plot, the first act is steeped in the pure dread of one of the scariest events in life: the first date. The script hints at Violet's traumatic past and the first act rings with the nerves and anxiety of finally taking that scary step of the first date. And as the scheme against Violet slowly reveals itself, 'Drop' makes some stylized choices that vibes with Violet's heightened emotions.

'Drop' is exactly as advertised: an unsuspecting woman thrown into impossibly terrifying scenario, taking the audience along for the ride - from some first-date jitters to ever-increasing paranoia as Violet tries to work out who is tormenting her and her family. The fact that every single ping notification Violet receives during the date induces the worst kind of dread is a testament to this flick’s credibility as a legit suspense ride.

Final verdict: In a world full of all-CGI summer blockbusters or obscure indie family dramas, 'Drop' impresses as a well-executed nail-biter of a thriller.

Score: 4/5

'Drop' opens in theaters nationwide April 11. The thriller has a runtime of 95 minutes and is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.