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IMDbPro

A Killing in a Small Town

  • TV Movie
  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
671
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
11,072
2,060
Brian Dennehy in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)
Drama
The gory ax-murder of one mousy, suburban Texas housewife by another is nearly as shocking as the excuse offered by the bespectacled defendant's attorney: self-defense. Could it be so?The gory ax-murder of one mousy, suburban Texas housewife by another is nearly as shocking as the excuse offered by the bespectacled defendant's attorney: self-defense. Could it be so?The gory ax-murder of one mousy, suburban Texas housewife by another is nearly as shocking as the excuse offered by the bespectacled defendant's attorney: self-defense. Could it be so?
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
671
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
11,072
2,060
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Stephen Gyllenhaal
    • Writers
      • John Bloom(book "Evidence of Love")
      • James Atkinson(book "Evidence of Love")
      • Cynthia Cidre(teleplay)
    • Stars
      • Barbara Hershey
      • Brian Dennehy
      • John Terry
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Stephen Gyllenhaal
    • Writers
      • John Bloom(book "Evidence of Love")
      • James Atkinson(book "Evidence of Love")
      • Cynthia Cidre(teleplay)
    • Stars
      • Barbara Hershey
      • Brian Dennehy
      • John Terry
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 5 wins & 6 nominations total

    Photos7

    Brian Dennehy and Barbara Hershey in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)
    Brian Dennehy in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)
    Brian Dennehy and Barbara Hershey in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)
    Brian Dennehy and Barbara Hershey in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)
    Barbara Hershey in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)
    Brian Dennehy and Barbara Hershey in A Killing in a Small Town (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Barbara Hershey
    Barbara Hershey
    • Candy Morrison
    Brian Dennehy
    Brian Dennehy
    • Ed Reivers
    John Terry
    John Terry
    • Stan Blankenship
    Richard Gilliland
    Richard Gilliland
    • Dale Morrison
    Lee Garlington
    Lee Garlington
    • Peggy Blankenship
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Dr. Beardsley
    Matthew Posey
    Matthew Posey
    • Norman Billings
    James Monroe Black
    • Dr. Giles
    • (as James Black)
    Dennis Letts
    Dennis Letts
    • Chief McAlester
    Marco Perella
    Marco Perella
    • Rick Slocum
    Norman Bennett
    Norman Bennett
    • Jim Ramsey
    Jerry Haynes
    Jerry Haynes
    • Judge Scott
    Rodger Boyce
    Rodger Boyce
    • Rex Staples
    Daphne Eckler
    • Dede Alexander
    Jan DeWitt
    • Connie Keating
    Charles Carroll
    Charles Carroll
    • Bob Shelton
    Blue Deckert
    Blue Deckert
    • Andy Blassingame
    Spencer Prokop
    • Kevin Sanders
    • Director
      • Stephen Gyllenhaal
    • Writers
      • John Bloom(book "Evidence of Love")
      • James Atkinson(book "Evidence of Love")
      • Cynthia Cidre(teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the true-crime book "Evidence of Love," by John Bloom, better known by his alter ego of Drive-In movie critic Joe Bob Briggs.
    • Goofs
      The film establishes that the crime was committed on the Friday 13th January, 1980. However, that date fell on a Sunday not Friday.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1990)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A Tour De Force
    "Killing In A Small Town" looked every bit as ordinary as a regular made for TV fare but as the story unfolds; with the first frame of Barbara Hershey as Candice Morrison defining her sense of self to a therapist; you are instantly hooked until the end credits roll. Accused of her murderous crime in a small middle American town, Candice or Candy was initially in shock and subsequent denial. But as the horror washed over the community and all evidence point toward the mousy housewife, she starts to unravel albeit in calm revelation. Barbara Hershey is definitely one of the most underrated actress of her era, her portrayal of a strong, self- controlled, stoic yet sensitive and vulnerable woman make her a character of infinite contradiction. She pulled out all the stops in her courtroom scenes on cross examination and her hypnosis session with a doctor is unforgettably chilling. When Candice was on the stand recounting the day of the murder, the scene plays out ordinarily and then take a turn for the macabre when Peggy (victim) accused Candice of having an affair with her husband. Peggy then goes back to kitchen to fetch an axe and begins to taunt Candy. The two of them had words and then a fight ensues. Candy was desperately trying to get away but finally she turns the table and hacks Peggy over 41 timesin self defense. The entire scene was riveting like your inability to look away from a car wreck. An American tragedy played with unrelenting passion by Barbara Hershey who incidentally won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her searing performance.
    helpful•18
    2
    • gohrush
    • Jan 25, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 22, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Evidence of Love
    • Filming locations
      • McKinney, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hearst Entertainment Productions
      • IndieProd Company Productions
      • King Phoenix Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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