Year: 2014
Runtime: 89 min
Language: English
Director: Ricky Blitt
Ricky Miller's search for love through online dating leads him to Danita, a mysterious and alluring woman. As their relationship deepens, Danita asks Ricky to commit a shocking crime: kill her husband, a crime novelist with a troubled history. Torn between his feelings for Danita and his conscience, Ricky must confront the moral implications of her request and the secrets that lie beneath their passionate connection.
Get a spoiler-free look at Hit by Lightning (2014) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In a sleepy Midwestern town where the glow of restaurant kitchens competes with the hum of late‑night internet, Ricky Miller drifts through his forties managing a modest eatery. His days are a rhythm of orders, cat videos, and weekly hockey rituals shared on a well‑worn couch with his longtime confidant Seth, a fellow cat enthusiast whose optimism constantly nudges Ricky toward something beyond the predictable grind. The film paints their camaraderie with a warm, slightly off‑beat humor, underscoring how ordinary comforts can mask a deeper yearning for connection.
When a pop‑up invitation to an online dating service tempts Ricky, he steps into a digital landscape that feels both hopeful and absurd. A first message leads him to Danita, a woman whose allure is matched only by the mystery that cloaks her. Their encounter crackles with quick‑witted banter, a shared love of felines, and an uncanny chemistry that makes the ordinary feel electric. The tone shifts between light‑hearted flirtation and a quieter, unsettled curiosity, hinting that there is more to her than the glossy profile picture suggests.
As their bond deepens, Danita reveals a painful entanglement: a nine‑year marriage that has become a source of constant tension. She asks Ricky to consider a course of action that challenges every moral line he has ever drawn, thrusting him into a dilemma that balances desire against conscience. The film lingers in that uneasy space, where attraction collides with ethical ambiguity, and the audience senses the weight of a decision that could irrevocably alter both of their lives.
“Hit by Lightning” blends dark romance with a subtle, almost cinematic noir sensibility, using the everyday world of restaurants, online profiles, and friendly banter as a backdrop for a story about longing, risk, and the shadows that linger beneath a passionate connection. The mood is at once intimate and charged, inviting viewers to wonder how far one might go when love and desperation intertwine.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 05:03
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Where the desperate pursuit of love leads to a deadly criminal conspiracy.If you liked the manipulative romance and criminal tension in Hit by Lightning, explore these films where toxic relationships lead to murder-for-hire schemes and desperate acts. These movies merge romance with crime, featuring characters trapped in a web of passion, lies, and moral compromise.
The narrative follows a character's entry into a seemingly perfect relationship that quickly reveals a darker agenda. The lover's true motive—often escape from a terrible situation—involves convincing the protagonist to commit murder. The plot builds steadily as the plan is hatched, leading to a tense execution and fraught aftermath.
They are grouped by their core premise: a romance that is inextricably linked to a criminal plot, usually murder. The shared experience is one of suspense, moral unease, and the dark exploration of how far people will go for love, blending heavy emotional weight with crime thriller mechanics.
Thrillers where grim situations are punctuated by awkward, ironic humor.Fans of Hit by Lightning's blend of suspense and dark comedy will appreciate these films. They balance heavy themes like murder and manipulation with moments of awkward, situational humor, creating a uniquely bittersweet and gripping tone that is both entertaining and emotionally weighty.
The journey typically follows an ordinary, perhaps somewhat hapless, individual who gets in over their head in a criminal situation. The narrative juxtaposes high-stakes, intense scenes with moments of comic relief derived from the character's awkwardness, the absurdity of the plot, or ironic dialogue, leading to a tonally complex experience.
These films share a specific tonal blend: they are fundamentally dark stories but use humor as a release valve or a tool for characterization. This creates a cohesive vibe where the viewer is simultaneously tense and amused, reflecting the messy, ironic reality of life even in dire circumstances.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Hit by Lightning in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hit by Lightning is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Hit by Lightning, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Hit by Lightning with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Hit by Lightning. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
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