'Drop' on in: First date takes a turn in Hitchcockian thriller

Christopher Landon has been in this position before.

Weeks prior to a national release for a film, the nerves are still there as he prepares for “Drop” to hit theaters on Friday, April 11.

“I’m really excited for people to see it,” the director says. “People have enjoyed it. I really hope that people see it in the theater.”

Landon’s been at the helm of the successful “Happy Death Day” franchise, and his turn as director in “Drop” is no different.

“It’s a return to the thriller genre,” he says. “The way the film comes together pays homage to (Alfred) Hitchcock because it keeps you guessing and everyone is a suspect.”

Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy, breakout star of “The White Lotus” and “The Perfect Couple,” plays Violet, a widowed mother on her first date in years, who arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry, played by Brandon Sklenar, is more charming and handsome than she expected.

But their chemistry begins to sour as Violet starts being terrorized by a series of anonymous air drops to her phone. She is instructed to tell nobody and follow instructions, or the hooded figure she sees on her home security cameras will kill her young son and babysitting sister.

Violet must do exactly as directed or everyone she loves will die. Her unseen tormentor’s final directive? Kill Henry.

The film also stars Violett Beane and newcomer Jacob Robinson as Violet’s sister and son; with Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Jeffery Self, Ed Weeks and Travis Nelson as the restaurant’s staff and diners.

Landon was approached by the producers with the script — which he read in one sitting.

“It’s very fast paced and it did feel like a modern Hitchcock thriller, which we don’t get a lot of anymore in film,” he explains. “This film is what’s been missing because we haven’t seen one like this in a while. It definitely scratched that itch for me.”

Though the film was scheduled for 31 days, the cast and crew wrapped it in 28 days.

“It’s still a really short time for a film,” he says. “We had plenty to do and the set for the restaurant was so detailed. That’s where the majority of the film takes place.”

Landon admits to being spoiled with such a solid cast. He says luck came into play when Fahy accepted the role.

“I’m a big fan of hers,” he says of Fahy. “There’s something about her that is so accessible and relatable. I wanted (Meghann to bring) all those things to be invested in Violet and she has this really rare quality. You see it in Michelle Pfeiffer and Julia Roberts. We just clicked and we built trust throughout the film. She’s in every scene and I knew she was up for the challenge.”

When it came to casting Henry, Landon says he wanted the date for Violet to feel aspirational.

“I wanted Henry to be the most handsome man and we got Brandon. He is,” he says. “Throughout the film, Henry has to figure out if he’s really on a bad date. Brandon brings so much to the role.”

The film premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, in March.

Landon, who is the son of actor Michael Landon, hopes that audiences will watch the film in a theater.

“I just hope that people find the movie and go on a thrill ride,” he says. “It doesn’t pause for a second and I want them to go on that ride with us, having their stomach in knots and cheering together. It’s just really rare to have that communal experience.”

'Drop' on in: First date takes a turn in Hitchcockian thriller