David Tangier (Harley Di Nardo) is in his late 30’s and at risk of becoming a washed out musician. His band still performs regularly at small clubs and bars but they’ve yet to gain any really steam in recent years and are struggling to make a new album. While this would be difficult for any artist to handle it’s especially difficult for David because he had a brief brush with success early in his career. So not only is David trying to make it in the extra competitive music scene, but he’s trying to make a comeback. To help pay the bills, David is a hair stylist at a salon he owns with his wife, Cecily (Samantha Smart). Unfortunately, the salon isn’t much more successful than David’s band.

One evening David is harassed by a particularly rowdy audience member that ends up pulling out a knife. A young man comes to David’s help and to show his appreciation David opts to buy him a beer. The young man, Javy Bates (Adam Reeser), turns out to be a hairstylist in training with aspirations to make it in the world of music. What a coincidence!

David offers Javy a job at his salon to help him get his career started. It doesn’t take long before we realize Javy has a hidden agenda.

Dead Envy has the look and feel of a Lifetime movie. Javy is revealed to be a die-hard fan of David’s and uses the hair stylist angle to get close to him. This movie could have easily been Misery meets [insert early 2000’s radio rock band here] but it cuts way too many corners. The film tries to get from point A to point B quickly that it leaves so much out. The film is barely over 70 minutes too, so this wasn’t a time issue. David’s band had earlier success? Then what was it exactly. Don’t just hint at things, tell us more! And why would David hire Javy so quickly? There needs to be more.

The film also suffers from not having a real hero to get behind. I guess we’re supposed to root for David but he’s basically an asshole. Not once did I want him to succeed. Javy is way more likable. And what’s the deal with David owning a hair salon while trying to make it as a musician? I get being a hair stylist, but owning the salon? There’s a reason he’s failing at both his careers. He’s attempting two things that both require 100% of his commitment. You want to make it as a musician but are a skilled stylist? Sell the salon and get a job at Great Clips.

This movie about a failed rocker being stalked by a lunatic fan also features supernatural elements but they’re not explained at all so I can’t go into any details there. They are in the movie though.

Dead Envy was directed by Di Nardo using a script he co-wrote with Stacy Hullah. Apparently, the movie is semi-autobiographical as Di Nardo does have a background in music. I’d be curious to know what elements from the film are true because the movie feels so haphazardly put together. It’s a shame too, because the music in the movie actually isn’t too bad and Javy has the makings for a pretty good thriller villain. I also like that it’s a modern film with someone trying to re-live their glory days from the early 2000’s. Typically these movies are trying to recapture the 80’s.

There is a version of this movie that can be good. This ain’t it.

Dead Envy is now playing at The Arena Cinelounge, an independent art-house theatre in Los Angeles. On September 3rd the film will launch on Cable and Digital HD, including iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play and Vudu.