John Travolta’s new film is a lot like “Misery” — just without the acclaim.

The actor plays Moose, a mentally unstable Los Angeles man who is infatuated with an action movie star named Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa). But Moose isn’t posters-and-fan-fiction obsessed — he’s love-me-or-you’re-dead obsessed.

Quickly, Moose’s fandom ratchets up to extreme stalking. With hair that looks like a mullet made from roadkill, the creep sneaks into parties where Dunbar will be, longing for some intimate face time. When that doesn’t work, he finds the actor’s address and shows up at his house. Repeatedly.

Spoiler alert: A bromance does not bloom.

This is a sharp idea for a film, especially during a moment in which social media has allowed fans unparalleled access to celebrities, making it seem as though they’re a part of our lives. At times, a star might even respond to your tweet or Instagram comment. It’s easy to confuse a public figure for a friend.

Too bad “The Fanatic” almost entirely ignores social media and makes no comment on our culture of star worship. The film also skips over the psychology of a stalker, and Moose’s past, for the most part. Beyond glimpses, we’re left to fill in the blanks as the story builds to a sputter. Travolta, earnest but ridiculous, spends his time furiously rocking back and forth and bellowing to the heavens.

I’ll give Travolta this: He commits. This is not a flattering project for him, and the actor is obviously deeply invested in the material. He produced it. But he needs a director who will tell him to rein it in. Last year’s “Gotti” had eight directors, and “The Fanatic” is helmed by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit. Suffice it to say, he’s not getting the greatest of guidance.

Late in the film, Moose screams “Why do you hate me?!” at Dunbar. The line might have a double meaning, with Travolta also partly yelling at the mean critics of his rocky film career. But it’s not hate, John — it’s just tough love.