Why Drop’s Subtle Queerness Made It My Favorite Horror Movie of the Year

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For quite some time now, the horror genre has been flourishing without any signs of fading away. Fans have been fortunate enough to witness sequels from established franchises, but what truly stands out are the recent original concepts that have made a mark in this genre. Amongst these, Christopher Landon’s new movie, Drop, is one I had been eagerly waiting for all year. Watching it on the big screen was an absolute treat, and there’s a lot I want to discuss regarding the movie’s underlying queer themes.

In their review, TopMob’s Drop highly commended the film for its exhilarating moments and innovative idea, largely attributable to Landon’s work. He’s a beloved figure in this genre due to his contributions to the Happy Death Day series, and he once more excelled with this fresh production. As a fan of the genre who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the numerous, both overt and subtle, depictions of our community in the movie.

Jeffery Self, an actor, writer, comedian, and beloved gay icon, delivers a standout performance in this production. As Matt the waiter, he consistently leaves me in stitches throughout the film. The casting was brilliantly done, and his portrayal of the almost maniacally unhinged high-end server is simply inspired.

Throughout the lively 95-minute span of “Drop”, I observed that a significant number of background actors in the film were part of the LGBTQ+ community. Given that most of the movie unfolds within a restaurant, where the main character Violet is on a date, there are numerous diners visible in the background of many scenes. Instead of being unremarkable, several of these extras drew attention due to their striking outfits and makeup, which added to my feeling that the horror genre film was subtly acknowledging me as an LGBTQ+ horror enthusiast.

my interest was stirred as well upon hearing “Moon River” play when Violet stepped into the restaurant. This song belongs to the American Songbook and was notably used in the play and HBO miniseries of Angels in America. While it may be a subtle reference, its presence added to the movie’s impression that it was deliberately highlighting LGBTQ+ themes.

There’s also an argument that Violet’s sister, Jen, might be hinting at being part of the LGBTQ+ community (often referred to as ‘queer-coded’), but let’s set that aside for now. Regardless, the movie “Drop” isn’t overtly a horror film about queer experiences (it primarily focuses on a straight couple), yet these subtle decisions seem thoughtful. These nuances significantly enhanced my enjoyment of unraveling the mystery in this new horror production.

Director Christopher Landon, who is openly gay, adds a unique perspective to the film, making its subtle queerness more noticeable to me. It seems that we share a common understanding and appreciation for the movie’s themes; perhaps this is why I was moved in this way. Most straight audiences may have missed these nuances, except for the exceptional performance by Self in his role.

After seeing the latest movie, I found myself musing: How might the director have approached Scream 7 if those plans had materialized? Lately, Landon has shared his experiences leaving Scream, and finding a positive aspect in creating this fresh film.

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2025-04-18 18:07