The Joy Luck Club (1993)

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.