A Killing in a Small Town

A Killing in a Small Town

Year: 1990

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal

TV MovieDramaCrime

The gory ax-murder of one suburban Texas housewife by another is nearly as shocking as the excuse offered by the bespectacled defendant’s attorney: self-defense.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – A Killing in a Small Town (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Killing in a Small Town (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a contemporary American town, moving from church activities to a private home and then to a courtroom. The timeline spans the days surrounding the murder, the investigation, and the trial, showing how a close-knit community becomes deeply scrutinized. The narrative emphasizes procedural steps—interrogation, memory work through hypnosis, and courtroom testimony.

Location

Small Town, USA

The film unfolds in a close-knit American town where church life and everyday routines are central to the community. Its settings center on Peggy Blankenship's home, the Morrisons' household, and the courthouse, highlighting how personal ties shape perceptions of guilt. The place feels intimate and insular, where gossip and appearances can influence justice.

🏘️ Small town ⛪ Church community 🔎 Investigation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:50

Main Characters – A Killing in a Small Town (1990)

Meet the key characters of A Killing in a Small Town (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Candy Morrison (Barbara Hershey)

Candy is a respected, devout member of the church who appears poised and controlled as suspicion grows. She confesses to Ed that she killed Peggy in self-defense and undergoes hypnosis to uncover suppressed memories, revealing a traumatic past. Her restrained affect and the jury's perception of her emotions become central to the courtroom drama, challenging notions of guilt and innocence.

💔 Protagonist 🕊️ Churchgoer 🤐 Secret-keeping

Peggy Blankenship (Lee Garlington)

Peggy is a loving mother and central community figure whose brutal murder shocks her town. The crime exposes hidden tensions behind a seemingly ordinary domestic life and catalyzes the investigation. Her death forces the community to confront its own moral judgments and the fragility of its routines.

🪓 Victim 👩‍👧 Mother

Stan Blankenship (John Terry)

Stan, Peggy's husband, is implicated when an affair with Candy comes to light. His confession to the affair places him under suspicion, making him a key figure in the murder investigation and the evolving questions about motive.

🤝 Suspect 💔 Adultery

Ed Reivers (Brian Dennehy)

Ed is a seasoned attorney hired to defend Candy. He drives the defense with strategic questioning and uses hypnosis to uncover memories, while worrying that Candy's flat affect could undermine her case. His pursuit of truth navigates legal pressure, personal ethics, and the limits of memory.

⚖️ Lawyer 🧠 Strategist

Judge Scott (Jerry Haynes)

Judge Scott presides over the trial, balancing the law with the emotional currents in the courtroom. His rulings reflect the tension between facts and public sentiment as Candy's fate hangs in the balance.

⚖️ Judge 🏛️ Authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:50

Major Themes – A Killing in a Small Town (1990)

Explore the central themes of A Killing in a Small Town (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice vs Appearance

Candy's calm demeanor and lack of visible emotion challenge conventional ideas of guilt. The legal pursuit relies on evidence, testimony, and psychological work rather than public sentiment. The story probes whether justice is served when emotion is ambiguous or withheld.

🧠 Memory and Trauma

Hypnosis to recover repressed memories reveals a traumatic past that may influence present actions. The film suggests memory can be unreliable and shaped by suggestion. Candy's internal landscape becomes as important as external evidence in the defense.

🗣️ Gossip and Community Pressure

In a small town, rumors and moral judgments swirl around Candy and the affair, affecting how investigators and jurors respond. The community's tendency to police each other's behavior creates a climate of suspicion more powerful than facts. The courtroom drama is shaped by social dynamics as much as by legal arguments.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:50

Unlock the Full Story of A Killing in a Small Town

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Killing in a Small Town in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Killing in a Small Town is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Killing in a Small Town Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Killing in a Small Town, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Killing in a Small Town Summary

A Killing in a Small Town Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Killing in a Small Town with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Killing in a Small Town Timeline

More About A Killing in a Small Town

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Killing in a Small Town: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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A Killing in a Small Town (1990) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

A Killing in a Small Town (1990) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

A Killing in a Small Town (1990) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow