Hi-Life (1998)

As the frost of Christmas-time descends, Jimmy, an out-of-work actor with a knack for accumulating debts and enemies, finds himself in the crosshairs of a ruthless local bookie for an outstanding $900. With threats of shattered bones looming, Jimmy concocts a desperate lie, spinning a story of needing money for his sister's emergency abortion. He pulls his unsuspecting girlfriend, Susan, into his web of deceit, setting off a chain reaction of lies and manipulations. Susan, persuaded by Jimmy's desperate plea, unwittingly drags her brother Ray into the chaos. Ray, a bartender with a simmering disdain for Jimmy, finds himself unwittingly becoming a pawn in Jimmy's game, roaming from one snow-dusted bar to the other, collecting money under false pretenses. All the while, Susan searches for the elusive Jimmy, and Jimmy dodges his looming debts, the trio weaving a tangled web amongst the festive cheer of Christmas parties. As the night unfolds, everyone is drawn back to the starting point - the bar where it all began. Only then, under the dim lights and amidst the lingering scent of spilt beer, does the true nature of Jimmy's scheme come to light. In a world where everyone's looking for someone else, the lies, like Christmas lights, start to unravel, revealing the true motives and actions of those involved in this festive fiasco. "Hi-Life" is a yuletide tale of deception and desperation, where loyalties are tested, and the truth is as elusive as the spirit of Christmas.

Hi-Life is a comedy movie featuring Campbell Scott and directed by Roger Hedden.

Hi-Life is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Roku Channel and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video.

It is also possible to buy Hi-Life on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Vudu and YouTube.