Villainess Blown Opportunity: Lisa Miller Should Have Been the Main Villainess (Stalked by My Neighbor)

This one has stayed with me for 11 years, because I vividly remember watching this when it aired. But first, I want to reiterate something that I stated in an earlier piece. When I write these "Villainess Blown Opportunity" pieces, it's not out of any disrespect to whatever show or film is the subject. This is not me immensely criticizing the project. Rather, it's just an idea or a suggestion from someone who's been a fan of villainesses since age 8, and has a big imagination. A lot of the shows or films that serve as the subject still have my adoration regardless, but if I believe that there was an opportunity for a villainess to take the spotlight, I'll definitely point it out, where it's a slight oversight, or a total blunder.

The subject of this VBO piece: the 2015 Lifetime film, Stalked by My Neighbor.

The film centered on main protagonist Jodi Allen and her mother, Andrea Allen, moving to the suburbs after the former was attacked at her former home. The pair meet their new neighbors, Lisa Miller, and her niece, Kristen Chambers, and it's a warm introduction from Lisa. We also see Lisa get tough, as she tells off a young man (Kristen's boyfriend) who was causing a bit of a disturbance. I was looking forward to seeing more of Lisa Miller, but unfortunately, Lisa ends up killed off.

The film's progression revealed that Kristen orchestrated her aunt's murder to gain her wealth, and she wasn't working alone. That aforementioned boyfriend of hers was in on it as well. Emphasis on was, because Kristen knocked him off after the revelation. Kristen Chambers was quite the amazing villainess, and Katrina Norman played her well, but I truly think Lisa Miller could have been a much better villainess.

There are quite a few reasons why, and here's one of them:

There's one reason right there: Kelly Packard played Lisa Miller in this film. To me, Packard will always be Tiffani Smith from California Dreams, an amazing show concocted by the late, great Peter Engel, who also gave us a little show called Saved by the Bell. She went on to Baywatch, and she had been doing a small number of Lifetime films. Packard has that "girl next door" look, which is why I wanted her to be the villainess in this film. Another reason is, well, we see a lot of deliciously evil aunts on TV and film. Fans of 9-1-1: Nashville saw one just a few weeks ago.

My vision for an evil Lisa Miller would have completely flipped the good and evil roles. I would have had Lisa as a controlling and insane villainess who mentally abuses Kristen. Basically, Lisa would be part Lady Tremaine, part Mother Gothel, with Lisa's motive possibly being monetary--maybe an insurance policy or some moolah from Kristen's parents or something. Of course, Jodi would be portrayed as a true friend for Kristen, who could vent to Jodi about Lisa's evil demeanor, which would set up a climactic showdown between the pair of young women against villainess Lisa.

As I said before, Kristen being the actual villainess was very delicious. But I truly think Lisa would have been even more wonderful, and Kelly Packard would have definitely pulled it off so well, I just know it. Even so, Stalked by My Neighbor was an amazing film full of thrills, twists, and a terrific cast overall.

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So what do you think? Should we have seen Lisa Miller as the film's main villainess? Feel free to comment with your thoughts below!