A 1989 American Made-for-TV crime drama directed by David Greene that explores the story of Diane Downs (Farrah Fawcett) and the attempted murder of her three children (Emily Perkins, Ken James, and Vicki Wauchope).
The movie also stars Ryan O'Neal, Gordon Clapp, John Shea, Gary Chalk, and Maxine Miller.
It aired on ABC on November 12-14, 1989.
Tropes for the film:
- Alliterative Title: Small Sacrifices.
- Betrayal by Offspring: Entirely justified. At first, the Oregon Police sought a vengeful carjacker as the culprit behind three children with gunshot wounds. However, detectives soon pieced together that their mother attempted to eliminate them as obstacles to her seduction of a married man. Karennote Downs, recovering speech after a stroke caused by the shooting, gave a chilling pantomime in a court of a heartless Diane systematically shooting her three children in a Wounded Gazelle Gambit. Guilty on all counts, three life sentences without parole.
- A Deadly Affair: Diane Downs is a divorcee, seeking to hook up with a married coworker. Though interested, the man won't break off with his current wife for Diane. Diane concludes that her three children are impeding her progress, and takes them on a car ride along a lonely farm road, where she shoots them.
- The Film of the Book: By Ann Rule.
- Flirty Voice Ploy: Diane, in custody after being sentenced to three life terms, tried to get flirty with one of the deputies in the prison van. Her cooing falls on deaf ears, as the man knows just how depraved and manipulative Diane can be.
- Low-Speed Chase: Diane claims to have driven her car at breakneck speed to get her children to the hospital, but a police officer who witnessed her that night states that she was driving so slowly, his radar gun wouldn't even pick up her MPH.
- Murder Is the Best Solution: Diane shoots her three children believing this will cause her married lover, who's uninterested in fatherhood, into leaving his wife for her. Needless to say, he's even less interested in being with her when he learns she's a cold-blooded killer.
- Single Parents Are Undesirable: Diane tries to seduce a married man. Though interested, the man won't divorce his wife for Diane. Diane concludes that her three children are hindering her effort, so she shoots them on a lonely country back road, killing one of them, then blames the killings on a carjacker; the testimony of her surviving daughter seals Diane's fate.
- Slasher Smile: Diane is unable to stop grinning on the witness state, in spite of the fact that she's testifying in the murder and attempted murder of her own children. Borders on Psychotic Smirk, as she clearly believes she's getting away with it.
- Stalker with a Crush: Lew's relationship with Diane starts off consensual but ends with her essentially stalking him, even after he reconciles with his wife.
- The Voiceless: Karen is unable to speak after being shot. Later, when she recovers, she suffers selective mutism due to her trauma.
- Would Harm a Child: Diane shoots her three children.
