Honky Tonk brothers Evans, Falstaff and Schyma

Honky Tonk Blood — equal parts gory thriller, black comedy, documentary and cheeky musical — could have only been made in Houston.

The no-budget film is the brainchild of singers Johnny Falstaff and Hank Schyma (of the Southern Backtones), who toiled for five years on the project. They borrowed cars, filmed in friends’ homes, called in favors and even used real names.

“Finding somebody to let us use their camera — that was the big (challenge) at first,” Falstaff jokes.

Schyma eventually bought a camera specifically for the project. Lights, camera, action.

“We did a few scenes, and we really weren’t serious. But we saw that we could pull off a serious movie,” he says. “We worked our asses off making sure that we could do the best we could with what we had.”

Honky Tonk Blood’s formal storyline revolves around a label head (a creepily convincing Falstaff) who goes to murderous extremes for record sales and recognition. Schyma slips effortlessly into the role of an innocent(ish) swept up into the game; and follically-blessed crooner John Evans is a natural as a randier version of himself. And prepare yourself for singer Emily Bell, who takes the date-from-hell role to dazzlingly disgusting heights.

The script, by Falstaff and Schyma, speaks to the impending death and increasing desperation of record companies. It’s also a gritty portrait of the plight of the indie musician.

“In the beginning, the project was more simplistic than it turned out to be,” Falstaff says. “We wanted to use it to promote our music.”

The pair wrote as the film progressed, incorporating real-life elements to blur the line between fact and fiction. Schyma edited the entire film, learning as he cut and spliced scenes together.

There are shots inside the now-shuttered Proletariat and Cosmos Cafe, at the Fress Press Block Party and at Discovery Green. Evans is also seen strumming alongside Hayes Carll, just last month, on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

“All the touring stuff, when it shows us going through Idaho or Kentucky, we’re actually touring,” Evans says. “I took Hank on three different tours, just because he had a camera.”

“There’s more real life than there actually is acting, and that’s where we scored,” Schyma adds. “The dovetailing of the actual documentary footage and then the acting — I hope people, after the first few minutes, lose track of which is which.”

The cast should be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with Houston’s bustling music scene and a grand primer for newbies. Look for cameos from Geoffrey Muller (Sideshow Tramps, Grandfather Child, I Am Mesmer), Two Star Symphony’s Jo Bird, Christian Arnheiter of the Hates, Scattered Pages (doing strange things with milk), Dan Workman and W. Ross Wells of ZenHill Records and a hilarious Jaime Hellcat (of the Flamin’ Hellcats).

“They were doing this before I even knew it existed. I’m in a unique position to say that it’s kind of amazing. It’s brilliant,” says Sideshow Tramps frontman Craig “The Reverend” Kinsey, a Greek chorus of sorts who pops up throughout the film.

Screenings are scheduled throughout Texas (College Station, Beaumont, League City), followed by a DVD release. Falstaff and Schyma already have plans for a second film, set during the Civil War. And they’ll likely be championing their city throughout the journey.

“There’s just something special going on in Houston right now,” Kinsey says. “Not just with music, but with coffee, with food. It’d be nice if the whole world knew about it.”

9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Thursday at the River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W. Gray. $10; honkytonkblood.com or 713-524-2175.