Drop

2025 Universal Pictures

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 35min

Drama ~ Mystery ~ Psychological Thriller

Starring: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, and Jeffery Self.

Everyone’s A Suspect.

Meghann Fahy stars as Violet. In the opening scene we see Violet being physically beaten and abused by her mentally distraught husband in front of their young son Toby. He has a gun and threatens to kill Violet, then turns to their son and threatens to kill him. He then hands the gun to Violet and tells her to go ahead and shoot him. You see her hand on the gun and her finger tighten on the trigger……then blackness and silence. Fast forward and the widowed Therapist Violet is having a video appointment with one of her abuse victim patients over her laptop in her house. Her sister Jen (Violett Beane) arrives to watch Toby after convincing her sister Violet that it was time to get back into the dating game. Violet has agreed to go on a date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar), a charming Chicago City Photographer, at an upscale downtown high-rise restaurant. Violet is nervous but hopeful as she waits for Henry, interacting with the restaurant’s lively staff and fellow diners, while the city’s night pulses beneath them.

Instead of a normal date night however, Violet’s evening quickly turns into a psychological nightmare. She begins receiving unsettling messages and memes via a phone app called “DigiDrop”, messages that escalate in menace and reveal that someone is watching her every move. The situation becomes much darker when she checks her home security cameras and sees a masked intruder inside her house, threatening the lives of her son and sister. The anonymous tormentor insists Violet follow a series of increasingly dangerous instructions, making it clear that any attempt to ask for help will result in immediate harm to her family. Trapped in the restaurant and under constant surveillance, Violet is forced into a tense game of cat and mouse. The tormentor’s demands become more sinister, culminating in an order for Violet to kill Henry by poisoning him, linking the mystery to sensitive information Henry possesses in his camera, evidence that could expose corruption at the Mayor’s office. As Violet struggles to outwit her faceless adversary and protect her loved ones, she must make impossible choices, all while maintaining a façade before the unsuspecting patrons and staff around her.

Drop is a Rom-Com Psychological thriller that begins in classic romantic comedy territory: Violet, a widowed mother, sets out on her first date in years with Henry, a charming photographer she met online. Their initial interactions are awkward, sweet, and filled with the kind of banter and flirtation typical of a rom com, there’s hope, nerves, and the possibility of new love. This is punctuated by funny moments, such as interruptions from an overly eager waiter and playful exchanges that give the date a light-hearted sheen. But “Drop” is equally a psychological thriller, and these romantic-comedy tropes quickly unravel when Violet starts receiving menacing “drops” on her phone, chilling memes and instructions that threaten her family and force her into a frantic game of psychological survival. The tension mounts as Violet must navigate this nightmare while maintaining the appearance of a normal romantic dinner. The constant surveillance, tech-enabled threats, and Violet’s trauma-filled backstory intertwine suspense with the drama of relationship building. This blend of romance, comedy, and nail-biting mind games creates a unique atmosphere, making Drop a riveting nail-biting experience watching Violet balance love, danger, and her fight for control.

Drop was based on an actual AirDrop experience that Platinum Dunes producer Cameron Fuller and his friend, actor Sam Lerner, had while on vacation. Their phones blew up with anonymous, increasingly threatening drop messages that stopped, giving them no information about who or why they were targeted. Screenwriters Jillian Jacobs and Christopher Roach turned their experience into a worst-case scenario version for Drop.

Absolutely riveting and funny. I thought Meghann and Brandon did a great job in this great Rom-Com Thriller. You should definitely watch this. Give it a go.

I Highly Recommend it!

Fountain Of Youth

2025 Apple TV+

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 5min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Mystery

Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Starring: John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, Laz Alonso, Carmen Ejogo, and Stanley Tucci.

Life Is About The Adventure

Fountain of Youth promises a whirlwind globetrotting treasure hunt packed with family drama, ancient mysteries, and the seductive allure of eternal life. At its core, this film is about two estranged siblings, Luke (John Krasinski) and Charlotte (Natalie Portman), who reluctantly reunite to chase a mythical treasure that could change their lives forever. Luke, the reckless adventurer son of a famed archaeologist, drags his sister out of her comfortable but squeezed life as a museum curator in London. Their quest? To find the legendary Fountain of Youth, funded by a terminally ill billionaire whose motives become as murky as the clues they follow through Ireland, Switzerland, and Egypt. Along the way, they dodge international law enforcement, clash with a secretive group sworn to protect the fountain, and confront the chasms that years of separation have carved between them.

Guy Ritchie delivers his signature brisk pacing with visually arresting chase scenes and fight sequences, creating a sleek adventure movie that never asks you to think too deeply. The script is littered with nods to classics like Indiana Jones, National Treasure, Uncharted and Tomb Raider, making it feel comfortably familiar with a slightly different twist on the Treasure Hunt movie. John Krasinski and Natalie Portman deliver solid performances, their sibling chemistry thrust into sharp focus as the magical environment tests their resolve. Supporting roles, particularly from Domhnall Gleeson as the enigmatic benefactor, Esme Bianco (Eiza González) as a fierce guardian of the fountain, and Stanley Tucci as The Elder in charge of the guardians of the fountain add welcome unpredictability and energy.

While the movie channels the familiar thrills of treasure hunts past, this time it’s the special effects that truly steal the show. Guy Ritchie’s knack for lively pacing remains intact, but the VFX team brings an extra layer of wonder to the screen, especially when the action reaches the legendary fountain. Shimmering water, surreal bursts of color, and dazzling transformations create a spectacle that’s both magical and memorable. This climactic sequence isn’t just eye candy, it injects real energy and awe, elevating the stakes and reinforcing the film’s central theme of chasing the impossible. Stylistically, the costumes and soundtrack keep things vibrant and lively; a quirky J-pop track and lush floral patterns mark the film’s funnier and more flamboyant moments.

Fountain of Youth still leans on genre conventions and lighthearted family drama, but the special effects, especially in the fountain scenes, make this quest feel fresh again. For viewers who crave blockbuster magic, these moments transform the film from a pleasant diversion into something truly cinematic.

Give this adventure a go!

Don’t forget the popcorn!

Uncharted

A Simple Favor 2 (Another Simple Favor)

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 2 hr

Comedy ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Paul Feig

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins, Alex Newell, and Allison Janney.

Every friendship has its twists.

From Amazon Prime’s Official Website:

Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.

From Bobby:

Another Simple Favor picks up five years after A Simple Favor ends. Emily is in prison for the deaths of her sister Faith and her Father. Stephanie has gone from Busy Single Mom Blogger to a True Crime Blogger and Author, with a new book just released about Emily’s case and story. She is about to speak at a book release event in a local Warfield, Connecticut Book shop when guess who walks in……

EMILY!?

Who tells Stephanie and everyone there that she has been released from prison on a technicality and that she is going to get married. AND she wants Stephanie to be her Maid of Honor at the wedding in Capri, Italy. Emily informs Stephanie that if she refuses she will sue her for telling her story and using her likeness on the cover of the book without her permission. Realizing that she has no choice and that it might be good material for another book, Stephanie and her PR agent join Emily on her Fiancé’s Private jet and head to Capri, Italy. Whereas you might expect there are more twists and turns than the first movie.

SO what did I think of Another Simple Favor with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively? Absolutely Beautiful! What? No, not Anna ….well yes, Anna. Anna Kendrick is Beautiful. But no…..What? Blake? No not Blake…well ok yes Blake is Beautiful but I’m talking about Capri, Italy. Holy Toledo, absolutely beautiful! Oh take me there now and I will never leave….Ok, back to the movie. It is always a hard job to top the original with a sequel. History has never been on the side of the sequel, they usually pale in comparison.

But I thought it was good, I think you have to have seen the first one to appreciate it. It did take some goofy twists and turns but I think the movie had to to stand up to the first and in a sense poke fun at itself. And I love seeing Anna Kendrick in action. It made me wonder at the end if it was setting itself up for a third installment in the franchise when the mother in law says…”I have A Simple Favor to ask….”

Time will tell……….

Streaming On Amazon Prime

(L to R): Detective Summerville (Bashir Salahuddin), Vicky (Alex Newell), Darren (Andrew Rannells), Sona (Aparna Nancherla) and Stacey (Kelly McCormack) in ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR.

(L to R) Emily (Blake LIvely), Dante (Michele Morrone), Vicky (Alex Newell) and Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) in ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR.

Anna Kendrick stars as ‘Stephanie Smothers’ in ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR.

A Simple Favor

2018 Lionsgate

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 57min

Comedy ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Paul Feig

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, and Andrew Rannells.

What happened to Emily?

Anna Kendrick stars as Stephanie Smothers, a widowed mother of a young boy in Warfield, Connecticut. She is a nerdy over-achieving Mom Vlogger with a dark past and secrets to hide. Her son Miles has become good friends with Nicky whose mother is Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). One day as Stephanie is picking up Miles after school, Nicky and Miles express their desire to hang together and have a “Play-date”. Just as Stephanie tells Nicky they can’t because his mom isn’t there to grant permission, Nicky’s mom Emily arrives to pick up Nicky. The boys beg for permission and Emily asks Stephanie if she wants to go to her house for an adult beverage while the kids play.

Stephanie and Emily become good friends and Emily starts asking Stephanie for small favors…..”I have A Small Favor to ask…” starting with watching or picking up her son Nicky because she is very busy with her work. Things progress with Stephanie seeing Miles more than her mother Emily until one day Emily tells Stephanie that she has an emergency trip she must make to Miami for business. Days pass and Stephanie becomes more and more concerned about Emily as she seems to have vanished. Stephanie goes to Emily’s office to find answers and discovers a picture of Emily with the caption “Gotta have Faith”. Sensing a clue, she steals the picture and the mailer that it came in from her office.

Stephanie turns into a private detective and starts investigating Emily’s past and whereabouts and, thanks to a tip from one of her Vlog viewers, uncovers Emily’s dark past. All the while broadcasting her progress on her Vlog. It is interesting how Stephanie in the beginning seems like a nerdy goody two shoes but evolves into a super sleuth with her own dark secrets.

The movie is based on the Novel A Simple Favor by Darcy Bell. I love the twists and turns in this film, ones you never see coming. It is an interesting performance by Anna Kendrick as the nerdy do good single Mom who becomes caught up in the dark and sinister plot involving Emily and her dark past. Blake Lively from the beginning as Emily hints at deeper and darker things to come, you just get the sense there is trouble boiling beneath the surface.

I have seen this movie at least once before, actually I think I did watch it when it first came out and again about two years ago. I watched it last night before I watch Another Simple Favor, the sequel (Now Streaming On Amazon Prime) tonight. I am a couple of days behind given it came out on Thursday but My father ended up in the hospital and threw things off a bit. The good news is he is home and doing well and tonight we get to watch Anna Kendrick in action again!

To Catch A Killer

2023 Vertical Entertainment

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 59min

Action ~ Crime ~ Drama ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Damián Szifron

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo and Ralph Ineson.

“I’d rather be hated for who I am, than be loved for what I’m not”

Baltimore….New Year’s Eve…….a gunman kills 29 people sniper style. Eleanor Falco (Shailene Woodley) is a Baltimore Police Officer and responds to the scene. FBI Special Agent Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn) is chosen to lead the investigation into the mass murder. The next morning as he addresses the Police Department he happens to overhear Officer Falco and another officer talking about him and is surprised by what she said in response. He questions her about her comments and is surprised by her answers. Impressed with her he decides that he needs her on his special team and requests that she be allowed to be the liaison between him and the Police Department.

As they work together to track down the killer, Agent Lammark realizes that Officer Falco is a very bright and perceptive individual. Looking at her record he surmises that she is also very deeply disturbed and haunted by something in her past. And she might just be the only person that could get inside the head of the man they are searching for. Kind of like a modern day Clarice Starling from Silence Of The Lambs. They work together to hunt down the mass murderer with no clues and Officer Falco’s intuition, while they fight the bureaucratic need for a quick resolution to the city’s nightmarish scenario.

The Director Damián Szifron is a very successful Argentinian Film Director and he co-wrote this movie with Jonathon Wakeham. It is his first foray onto American Films with Vertical Entertainment picking up the movie in 2022 and changing the name from Misanthrope to To Catch A Killer. Shailene Woodley does an excellent job in this movie. I loved her character and the way she played the role. All the way through right up until the end, I was rooting for Shailene and Eleanor Falco. I am a Shailene Woodley fan, there is something different about her, the way she acts and approaches her roles.

Killer Heat was the most recent movie I saw and reviewed with her in it, liked her in that as well. HBO’s Big Little Lies was another good one she was in, as well as the Divergent series. Ben Mendelsohn also did a good job in this movie as The FBI lead man. I think they were both at the top of their game in this one. I loved the storyline as well. A mass murder with no clues, Officer Falco’s tortured psyche and intuition, the battle to find the murderer and the truth while trying to keep the bureaucrats at bay. The movie kind of flew under the radar before it landed on Netflix yesterday and is already Number one on The Netflix Top Ten Movies List.

I enjoyed it and I would watch it again……

And Yes….I recommend it.