Warning: Major SPOILERS for Drop.

Although Drop’s movie soundtrack includes a few nice gems, such as a lounge-style piano version of “Baby Shark.” But while the movie delivers almost non-stop enjoyment, that’s not to say the film is entirely without its occasional faults.

One of the most notable issues with the plot presents itself just as the suspense begins ramping up to 11 in the lead-up to Drop’s ending. Long before the movie eventually steps away from its main restaurant setting, Palate, Violet tries to get a message to in-house pianist Phil. She attempts to let him know that her son Toby’s being held hostage, but Phil is poisoned by Violet’s blackmailer and winds up dying in the restaurant’s lobby. This helps establish just how much control villain Richard has over the situation, but there’s just one major problem.

Richard Shouldn’t Be Able To Kill Phil Without Help

It Would’ve Made More Sense If The Villain Worked At The Restaurant

Reveals and suspicion grow throughout the film almost right up until Drop’s end credits, but Phil’s death marks one of the biggest twists of the movie. Not only does Richard manage to spike Phil’s martini, but he’s also able to threaten Violet by taking the $20 bill on which she wrote her request for help and hiding it in her salad before it’s delivered. This makes for a great reveal, but it also raises questions as to how Richard was able to access Violet’s food in the first place.

The only way Richard should have been able to accomplish these things is if he had an accomplice. It’s unlikely that Richard could have poisoned Phil’s drink or hidden the $20 in Violet’s food on his own, since he specifically chose his seat to stay in the security cameras’ blind spot all night, and he’s never shown leaving that spot after sitting down until Violet uncovers his identity. Considering Drop director Christopher Landon claims the movie was partly inspired by a true story, this one detail seems entirely unrealistic. And the likeliest explanation is problematic as well.

There’s No Evidence Richard Had An Accomplice Besides The Electrician

Nobody Comes To His Aid During The Film’s Final Act

At the end of Drop’s third act, it’s revealed that the man responsible for taking Jen and Toby hostage to help blackmail Violet into following Richard’s instructions is the unnamed man who shows up at the very start of the movie to read Violet’s electrical meter. This is filmed as if it’s a major reveal despite arguably being the least surprising twist of the entire movie, so it stands to reason that Drop would likely have treated any more notable character’s involvement with equal or greater significance. However, no other accomplices to Richard are ever identified.

The film does occasionally draw suspicious attention to characters who could have feasibly tampered with Phil’s drink or Violet’s dinner, but nothing ever comes of this. Matt, Violet and Henry’s waiter, appears to be innocent. Cara the bartender actively tries to save Violet’s life from Richard at the end, which presumably takes her out of the running as well. This only leaves Palate’s unnamed hostess. However, neither she nor anybody else works to assist Richard during the main action of the climax. If Richard did have another accomplice, Drop has no interest in revealing them.

Why Drop’s Plot Hole With Phil’s Death Is So Frustrating

It’s A Major Flaw In An Otherwise Brilliant Movie

Between its highly effective suspense and surprisingly well-placed comedic beats, it’s no surprise that Drop was widely considered one of SXSW 2025’s best movies. That’s what makes it so disappointing that it takes a hit from this one story issue. It’s especially troubling because the plot hole regarding Phil’s death would have been incredibly easy to resolve. Because of the political corruption at the heart of Richard’s plan, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t have the resources to plant a second accomplice in the restaurant.

However, the fact that this accomplice is never revealed leaves it open-ended how Richard was able to murder Phil and plant the $20 bill in Violet’s salad without being picked up by Palate’s security feed. Additionally, Drop wouldn’t have suffered plot-wise if someone like the hostess had been implicated. The story appears mostly wrapped up at the end, so there’s no reason to think this plot hole is leaving room open for a sequel. It’s sadly just one loose end marring what could have been one of the most tightly written thrillers of the year.