Prepare for a night of white-knuckle tension when Drop premieres in theaters April 11, 2025. This sleek, modern thriller follows Violet (Meghann Fahy), a widowed mother venturing back into dating after years of grief, only for her first romantic outing to become a nightmare. During an intimate dinner at an upscale restaurant, her phone begins buzzing with increasingly sinister anonymous messages—someone is watching her, threatening her, and possibly sitting at her very table. As paranoia takes hold, Violet must unravel whether her charming date (Brandon Sklenar) is the predator, or if a more dangerous game is at play.
Directed with Hitchcockian precision, Drop transforms the anxiety of modern dating into a razor-sharp thriller. The claustrophobic setting—a luxurious restaurant where every smile could be a lie—ratchets up the suspense as Violet races against time to uncover the truth before the night turns deadly. With twists that will leave audiences gasping and a standout performance from Fahy, Drop is the must-see thriller of the spring.
Cast of Drop
1. Meghann Fahy as Violet
The “White Lotus” Emmy nominee delivers a tour-de-force as Violet, balancing fragile vulnerability with razor-sharp intuition. Fahy spent months studying trauma responses and worked with a tech consultant to authentically portray digital paranoia, particularly in scenes where her character’s phone becomes both weapon and lifeline.
Her performance peaks in a 7-minute unbroken take where Violet subtly searches Henry’s jacket at the table while maintaining conversation – a masterclass in physical acting that required 32 takes. Fahy based Violet’s protective maternal instincts on interviews with single mothers who survived abusive relationships.
2. Brandon Sklenar as Henry
Sklenar (“1923”) brings unsettling charm to Henry, crafting a date who could equally be Prince Charming or Patrick Bateman. The actor developed Henry’s backstory with a forensic psychologist to create believable “tells” during key interrogation scenes.
His most disturbing moment comes when Henry’s phone “coincidentally” buzzes in sync with Violet’s threats – Sklenar’s choice to laugh instead of react with concern makes the scene skin-crawling. The actor also trained in sleight-of-hand to make Henry’s subtle manipulations (like switching wine glasses) feel unnervingly smooth.
3. Violett Beane as Jen
Beane (“The Flash”) transforms what could be a generic “concerned sister” role into the audience’s lifeline through her frantic phone performances. She developed Jen’s backstory as a former hacker to justify her tech-savvy assistance to Violet.
Her climactic scene – hacking the restaurant’s security system from her apartment while caring for Violet’s son – required Beane to authentically type complex code, which she learned from cybersecurity experts. The actress intentionally made Jen’s home scenes messier as the night progresses, showing her unraveling alongside Violet.
4. Jacob Robinson as Toby
The young “13 Reasons Why” actor brings heartbreaking realism as Violet’s son Toby, whose innocent check-in texts become increasingly desperate. Robinson worked with child psychologists to portray the confusion of a teen recognizing parental distress through digital fragments.
His character’s limited screen time makes every moment land harder, particularly when Toby’s phone dies mid-crisis – Robinson improvised the gut-wrenching final voice message that plays during Violet’s breakdown.
5. Reed Diamond as Richard (Maître D’)
The “Bosch” veteran imbues the restaurant host with unsettling precision, his every gesture loaded with potential menace. Diamond based Richard’s cadence on luxury hotel concierges who “see everything but admit nothing.”
His character’s pivotal moment comes when he “helpfully” offers Violet a charger – Diamond’s subtle glance at her phone screen lasts just 18 frames but changes the scene’s entire meaning upon rewatch.
6. Gabrielle Ryan as Cara (Fellow Diner)
Ryan’s (“The Witcher”) performance as a seemingly friendly stranger weaponizes female camaraderie. The actress developed Cara’s backstory as a scorned former lover to justify her ambiguous motives.
Her bathroom confrontation with Violet features brilliant mirror blocking – Ryan’s reflection smirks while her face shows concern, achieved through careful choreography with the DP.
7. Sarah McCormack as Hostess
McCormack plays the oblivious front-desk employee with perfect comedic timing that heightens the tension. She modeled the character on real restaurant staff who prioritize ambiance over customer distress.
Her repeated interruptions (“How’s everything tasting?”) become increasingly sinister through subtle vocal shifts across the film’s timeline.
8. Jeffery Self as Matt (Waiter)
The “Search Party” alum brings queasy energy as an overly attentive server. Self worked with the prop team to develop Matt’s habit of touching plates unnecessarily, creating subliminal discomfort.
His character’s knowledge of the wine pairings takes on chilling significance when Violet realizes he’s memorized her entire order.
9. Ed Weeks as Phil (Chef)
The “Mindy Project” star subverts expectations as a chef whose kitchen becomes a threatening space. Weeks trained with Michelin-starred chefs to perfect his knife work, making every chop feel potentially violent.
His single speaking scene – explaining the halibut special while cleaning a blade – was rewritten by Weeks to include disturbing culinary metaphors about “breaking down the whole animal.”
10. Ben Pelletier as Bearded Man/Masked Man
Pelletier’s dual roles create the film’s most overt red herrings. His bearded diner persona was developed through studying true crime cases of stalkers who frequent their victims’ spaces.
The physicality difference between his two characters is staggering – from the bearded man’s slouched posture to the masked figure’s predatory stillness in exterior shots.
