Indie Film Podcast Review: The Lonely Crowd

Peter and Ashley's online date escalates into a heated battle of the sexes. When Ashley storms out, Peter finds her being harassed and intervenes, unwittingly getting involved with corrupt cops, kidnapping, and stolen money.

Written by Victoria Horn.

How Difficult Is Modern Dating?

In a unique blending of the genres, and battle of the sexes, The Lonely Crowd is a romantic thriller that started with one fateful digital blind date. After meeting on a dating app, Peter (Adam Wesley) and Ashley (Taylor Anne Danehower) jump into their first dinner with reluctant optimism that this date just might be different. And it is! But not because they hit it off. In fact, Ashley calls it early, but upon trying to make her escape she is assaulted by a dangerous stranger from her past, Phil (Jon Oshei). Despite being uninterested in another date, Peter jumps to her rescue, and finds himself kidnapped alongside her. 

https://youtu.be/yxHsSK1p2SE

What ensues during the rest of this one hour and 46 minute crime thriller and romance mashup is a meandering speedwalk through rural outskirts and a charmingly small hometown. David St. Clair’s The Lonely Crowd is filled with cheeky characters and unexpected twists, as we slowly unravel Ashley’s mysterious past and a police corruption scandal at the same time. The film culminates in a final showdown between Ashley, her maybe-new partner Peter, and her villainous ex-boyfriend, Jake (Giancarlo Carmona). 

On the whole, this film rises above its station technically. Despite its indie film vibes, the cinematography and sound shine throughout the entire film. Creative shot placements build tension, combined with some great performances that feel intensely genuine and unique, this film manages to happily marry two genres that don’t typically see much crossover. Being able to do justice by both romance and thriller fans, this film undoubtedly has wild appeal for a variety of movie-lovers everywhere. With a unique spread of coffee shops, rural motels, and even junkyards, the art department team should be proud of their ability to showcase both bustling cities and smalltown America in the same film.

Creative shot placements build tension, combined with some great performances that feel intensely genuine and unique.

Where the film stumbles a bit is in the editing room. Some shots hang longer than necessary, conversations continue on past the point of believability, and some scenes felt as though they were obligatorily included to up the percentage of “rom com” lightheartedness. Despite the slow pacing, the story remains unique and interesting enough to retain your attention, though the writing itself does fall into some tropes that I could have done without. For example, not every problem for women comes down to “daddy issues”. Stereotypes aside, I do think it’s important to call out how much of a breath of fresh air this film is for women of the “digital age”. Living in constant fear of our next Tinder match being a kidnapper or killer, it was refreshing to watch that happen to a man for once. Obviously, this was a slightly different context, but the equitable happenstance was appreciated. 

While I feel the shaggy edit didn’t do any favors for our leads, both Wesley and Danehower stayed true to their characters and built a complex and compelling romance as the story progressed. Additionally, writer and director David St. Clair deserves full praise for bringing a cohesive thread through all the characters, while also having the perfect eye for variety where it most served the story. Most notably, a few side characters stood out as perfectly cast additions to spice up an otherwise heavy and dramatic script: Charlie (Andrew Mena) the motel attendant, and the restaurant waiter (Robert Postrozny). Both actors brought a natural levity and flawless comedic timing, adding more depth and intrigue to the story as a whole.

Indie Film Podcast Recommendation: Rent This Film!

The Lonely Crowd is a wonderfully new genre-bender, crafted through an artisanal blend of dramatic thriller and stereotypical romance. With plenty of betrayals and red herrings, complicated family dynamics and what seems to be an entire force of corrupt police officers, this film makes for a fun night in for indie film lovers. Come for the story, stay for the chaos, enjoy a few unexpected twists, but be prepared to encounter a few undesirable tropes and some dragging scenes. No matter what your genre preferences are, this film is likely to touch at least one of them.

Rent The Lonely Crowd on Amazon Prime!