Christopher Landon knows his way around a horror movie. He started as a writer, creating the Paranormal Activity franchise. But as a writer/director, he’s given us some fun titles. Among them are Happy Death Day and Freaky, which find ways to blend humor with the action on screen.

His latest film is Drop, which opens Friday. It isn’t as funny as some of his previous work, but it picks its moments. What it is more than anything is a thrill ride from beginning to end that will have you engaged and entertained.

We pick up by meeting Violet (Meghann Fahy), a single mother who hasn’t dated in a while. She survived a toxic relationship—which we get a glimpse of to start the film—and she’s spent time putting herself back together. But she started chatting with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) and a slow-building spark is there. She’s reached the point where she feels ready to go out.

But as the night of their date arrives, Violet is beyond nervous. Her sister, Jen (Violett Beane) arrives to watch her son. Jen also tries to provide some moral support as Violet gets ready for a night out. Finally, she heads to meet Henry.

Violet arrives at the restaurant early, pulling up at the bar to wait. She meets a few interesting people then starts getting random drops on her phone. She ignores them, but they become progressively more aggressive. Finally, they issue a warning—play the game or her son dies. That leaves a scared and nervous Violet reeling as she tries to balance an outward calm with some internal strife. Can she solve the puzzle before it’s too late?

This is a great kind of set up for a film. Much of it takes place in a crowded, but intimate restaurant seated high above Chicago. We spend a lot of our time focused on Violet and Henry, trying to process the events of the day around them. There are mixes of humor and fun, but mostly this keeps on task.

The film runs a tight 95-minutes, keeping up the intensity in the Second and Third Act after a charming introduction to the people and the world. By the time we get to the confrontation, you’re hooked on these characters and what’s about to happen. I’ve enjoyed many of Landon’s recent films, and this keeps up his strong track record.

While I really appreciated the tension and the drama here, I got a kick out of the use of humor. Whether it’s the obnoxiously trying too hard waiter (Jeffrey Self) or the beginning and ending with Jen—the film’s comedy MVP—I had a good time. The final sequence was a kick that stuck with me after the screening.

But this works thanks to Fahy and Sklenar. They have a nice chemistry that holds up through a tough and unique evening. You’re rooting for them, which is a credit to their character work. And even if you can see some of the twists coming—like who might be sending those drops—it’s well worth the investment of time to check out.

This was a slick thriller that had a blend of humor, action, and good characters. I enjoyed the ride and I think others will, too.

Drop opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, April 11.

Three and a half stars out of five

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.