Hit by Lightning 2014

Ricky, a restaurant manager in his forties, finds himself entrenched in a monotonous existence, punctuated only by the relentless nudging of his best friend, Seth. Both men, sharing a passion for cats and cheering on their favorite hockey team from Ricky’s couch, face similar challenges in their love lives, making their bond even stronger.

Seth persists in convincing Ricky to step outside of his comfort zone, leading them to masquerade as aspiring filmmakers in search of actresses. Their adventure brings them to the wedding of a single classmate, where Ricky fervently pleads with the universe to intervene and deliver his perfect partner before fate intervenes cruelly.

The very next day, while perusing a pop-up ad for E-Happily, Ricky takes the plunge and registers on the online dating platform. The subsequent morning brings an unexpected surprise: the restaurant’s young busboy shares a heartwarming tale of how he found love through the same website. Encouraged by this, Ricky excitedly mentions a potential match named Danita, though he sheepishly admits to having no idea what she looks like.

Curiosity piqued, Seth accompanies Ricky to meet Danita at the restaurant. Their initial encounter flourishes with shared humor, a mutual love for cats, and their enthusiasm for hockey. Their chemistry is electric, and after a delightful evening together, Danita confesses that Ricky’s authenticity and vulnerability drew her in.

Ricky can hardly contain his excitement when he shares stories of Danita’s enchanting presence with Seth. However, self-doubt emerges as Seth emphasizes the gulf between them, calling her a perfect ten while labeling Ricky a mere four. This disparity leads Ricky to fret about Danita possibly hiding a significant flaw. Their lunch meeting spirals into chaos when Danita, overwhelmed, rushes out, shaken by Ricky’s insistence on her perfection.

In the following ten days, Ricky is engulfed in gloom, while Seth endeavors to coax him back into the dating scene. Just when hope seems lost, Danita reaches out to him, unveiling a harsh reality: she is trapped in a nine-year marriage with an abusive and obsessive husband.

Their paths cross again at an outdoor film screening in a cemetery, where Danita, emotionally drained, admits to Ricky that she was attracted to his honesty. She reveals her desperate need to escape her toxic marriage, which leads to a reckless but bold decision: they must eliminate her husband to pursue their love freely.

Convinced of the necessity of this plan, Ricky discusses the scenario with Seth, who suggests rewatching Body Heat for insights. As their investigation into Danita’s husband, Ben, ramps up, Seth uncovers patterns in Ben and Danita’s dining habits, revealing that they are regular patrons of a local restaurant chain. At a book signing event for Ben, Ricky is caught off guard when Ben invites him and Seth to join their table, offering to read Ricky’s unpublished novel.

Amidst this growing intrigue, Seth finds his own unexpected success in the world of online dating through E-Happily, culminating in his engagement. In an unintended twist of fate, Danita shows up at Ricky’s place, admitting that she initially sought to manipulate him for her own agenda but has since developed genuine feelings for him. Touched by her confession, Ricky demands that she pledge on the life of one of her cats that her love is real.

As they hatch a plan to have Ricky infiltrate their home under the guise of Ben reviewing his manuscript, Danita reveals a chilling truth: the plot is based on Ben’s true story of murdering his first wife. Following a tense dinner, Ben takes them on a fateful ride to the cemetery where they first bonded over Body Heat.

In a harrowing confrontation, Ricky, pushed to the edge by Ben’s verbal abuse, ultimately resorts to violence, shooting him dead. Seth arrives quickly to help dispose of the body, leading to a series of clandestine meetings held within the shadows of a Catholic church over the next two weeks until Danita suddenly disappears.

Nine months later, a twist of fate occurs as Ricky’s cousin in law enforcement reveals a serial killer has confessed to Ben’s murder. Just when he thinks closure is within reach, Danita reemerges at the cemetery during a Body Heat screening, explaining that her absence was due to the relentless pursuit from law enforcement. As they reconnect, the couple finds solace in their harrowing past and embarks on a new chapter of their lives while participating in a testimony for E-Happily, celebrating their strange yet beautiful love story.