Why Playing It Safe Will Ruin Your Movie — Blumhouse Hit Director Christopher Landon on Drop

The No Film School Podcast

Writer-director Christopher Landon joins No Film School’s GG Hawkins to discuss his newest film Drop, a sharp, suspenseful thriller starring Meghann Fahy. Known for genre-bending films like Happy Death Day, Freaky, and We Have a Ghost, Landon dives deep into his evolution as a filmmaker, how he overcame early failures, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and the meticulous craft behind building tension. Landon also opens up about creating a supportive environment on set, casting with intuition, and how trusting his gut has shaped his career.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and guest Christopher Landon discuss:

• How Christopher Landon’s love of horror movies began as a kid
• Early career failures and how they became pivotal learning moments
• Writing and selling Disturbia and joining the Paranormal Activity franchise
• The "feel-good horror" tone he discovered with Happy Death Day
• How Drop evolved from script to final film
• Shooting in sequence to elevate performances
• The importance of a supportive, no-asshole policy set
• How trusting his gut guides casting, shooting, and script decisions
• Advice for emerging filmmakers working within the studio system

Memorable Quotes:

• "Failure is the greatest teacher."
• "If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage."
• "Casting is the one thing where I tune everybody out. I have to know it in my marrow."
• "Hollywood is seductive — don't chase the shiny things."

Guest:

• Christopher Landon

Resources:

• The 7 Best Plot Twists of All Time

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