"The Lonely Crowd" is an Action-Packed Romantic Thriller

True love is hard to find, especially in the digital age. When it feels like everyone else is settling down, it can be tempting to give up on love altogether. In The Lonely Crowd, Peter is ready to delete the apps and move on as a single man when his friend convinces him to go on one last date. He agrees to meet Ashley for dinner, but the date takes a turn that puts Peter’s life in danger—and brings him closer to the woman he didn’t know he wanted.

The Lonely Crowd is a romance/thriller film written and directed by David St. Clair. It deftly balances humor, action, and more serious topics to provide a jam-packed narrative supported by the slow burn of two people falling for each other. What starts out as a simple first date takes a turn for the worse when Peter (Adam Wesley) sees Ashley (Taylor Anne Danehower) getting assaulted in the parking lot after the date. He stands up for her, but it turns out it wasn’t a random act of violence. Ashley’s ex-boyfriend is a crooked cop who got caught stealing money, and now he has broken out of jail and wants the money Ashley has returned to him.

Peter and Ashley are both abducted by one of the ex’s lackeys and taken on an adventure to find the money. Although the duo don’t have much in common at the start, the situation brings them together and gives Peter a chance to show his tougher side. Ashley is most certainly the alpha in their relationship, and the film gives her space to be in charge while still letting Peter find his own confidence. Meeting Ashley helps Peter grow for the better, but instead of being reduced to a one-dimensional character, Ashley remains self-actualized. 

This is a movie that embodies ACAB ideals without being too heavy handed. The villains are a group of crooked cops who kill, steal, and cause immense pain for our protagonists. I appreciate the acknowledgement that corruption can happen at many levels of the force. While Peter’s heroics might have been a bit unrealistic at times due to his lack of experience, I will always support the civilian taking down the establishment. 

The only part of this movie I didn’t enjoy was the use of the One Bed Trope. It wasn’t necessarily the trope itself—which involves two people who are not romantically involved but could be checking into a hotel room and finding out there’s only one bed left—but the way Ashley acted inside the hotel. For a movie that otherwise did a good job showing the daily fears women face, that awareness was completely absent here. Ashley went to bed in just her underwear and then offered to let Peter sleep beside her in bed, despite him having a cot. It didn’t feel realistic that a woman would act this way around a strange man, especially a woman who was nearly sexually assaulted twice earlier in the day. That said, Ashley and Peter had a nice conversation during this scene and it was satisfying to watch their connection grow.

What makes this film worthwhile for me is that Peter is not a knight in shining armor. He replies bitterly towards his ex when he finds out she’s with a new person. He’s judgemental of many of the women he’s previously been on a date with. That’s not to say he’s evil. In the beginning of The Lonely Crowd, Peter is a nice enough guy who does the bare minimum to support Ashley. However, showing the ways he’s not a dream man makes the impact of his later actions even greater. The audience can track the growth of Peter’s feelings for Ashley based on how big of a risk he’s willing to take for her. 

Although I watched this film primarily for the romance, the action was a central driver to the plot. There are multiple fight scenes and suspenseful moments. If you are looking for a fast-paced movie to keep you interested the entire time, this will certainly satisfy that urge. I found myself drawn into the movie from the start and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun romantic thriller.