Death in Small Doses

Year: 1995

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Sondra Locke

DramaThrillerCrime

After waking in agony, Nancy Lyon dies from arsenic poisoning. Her family quickly blames her husband Richard, who had left her the previous year for an affair. Nancy’s brother fights to remove the children from what he believes is a murderous husband. In court Richard presents evidence of his wife’s depression, suggesting suicide, but the legitimacy of that proof remains uncertain, echoing a real‑life case.

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Timeline & Setting – Death in Small Doses (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Death in Small Doses (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Dallas, Texas, United States, Arizona

The story centers on Dallas, Texas, where Nancy Lyon is hospitalized after arsenic poisoning and where a high-profile murder trial unfolds amid wealthy, powerful families. Flashbacks take the narrative to a family trip in Arizona and to various locations such as a home, a hospital, a chemical plant, and the courthouse. The Dallas setting blends glossy suburbia with courtroom tension, underscoring the clash between appearance and reality.

🏙️ Urban setting 🔎 Investigation focus ⚖️ Legal drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:17

Main Characters – Death in Small Doses (1995)

Meet the key characters of Death in Small Doses (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:17

Major Themes – Death in Small Doses (1995)

Explore the central themes of Death in Small Doses (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:17

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Somber Legal Thrillers like Death in Small Doses

Where a murder trial exposes the dark secrets simmering within a fractured family.If you were captivated by the dark family secrets unveiled in the courtroom of Death in Small Doses, explore more movies like it. This collection features methodical crime investigations and legal dramas where the pursuit of justice reveals profound personal tragedy and emotional ruin.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a mysterious death, prompting an official investigation and trial. As evidence is presented, the story peels back layers to expose flawed relationships, long-buried trauma, and hypocrisy within a family or community. The central mystery often becomes secondary to the bleak portrait of human nature, culminating in a verdict that fails to provide true closure or justice.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on using a legal framework to explore deep psychological and familial wounds. They share a consistently dark tone, steady pacing driven by revelations, and a profoundly sad emotional weight, creating a viewing experience centered on tragedy and moral ambiguity rather than clean resolution.

Family Trauma Thrillers like Death in Small Doses

A home becomes a claustrophobic trap as hidden pathologies and lies destroy a family from within.For viewers who appreciated the oppressive atmosphere and exploration of familial pathology in Death in Small Doses. Discover similar movies about domestic bliss shattered by psychological unraveling, false accusations, and the traumatic impact of secrets on children and spouses.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a family undergoing a severe crisis, often triggered by a death or a long-suppressed truth coming to light. The story meticulously dissects the relationships between family members, revealing manipulative dynamics, childhood trauma, and deeply buried resentments. The home setting, which should be a sanctuary, becomes a source of inescapable dread and psychological danger.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core theme of the family as a source of horror and tragedy. They are united by a high-tension, suspenseful mood, an oppressive and anxious atmosphere, and a focus on the psychological damage inflicted by those closest to you. The pacing is often steady, building dread through intimate character interactions rather than external action.

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Death in Small Doses Summary

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Death in Small Doses Timeline

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Death in Small Doses Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Death in Small Doses

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Discover movies like Death in Small Doses that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.