Watch Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story

Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story is a 1991 television movie that tells the true story of Pamela Smart, a high school media coordinator who was convicted of convincing her teenage lover to murder her husband in 1990. The movie stars Helen Hunt as Pamela Smart, Chad Allen as Billy Flynn, Pamela's lover, and Larry Drake as J.R. Levesque, the prosecutor in the case.

The movie opens with Pamela (Helen Hunt) being arrested and charged with the murder of her husband, Gregg Smart. It then flashes back to the events leading up to the murder, beginning with Pamela's first day on the job as a media coordinator at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire. There, she meets Billy Flynn (Chad Allen), a 15-year-old student who is interested in broadcasting. Pamela takes an interest in Billy and begins coaching him on his school projects. Soon, the two begin a secret sexual relationship.

Pamela's marriage to Gregg (who is played by Michael Learned) quickly begins to unravel due to her affair with Billy. Gregg becomes suspicious of his wife's behavior and begins investigating her. When Pam learns that Gregg is planning on leaving her, she conspires with Billy and his friends to murder Gregg.

The murder itself is not shown onscreen, but the aftermath is depicted in gruesome detail. Gregg is shot multiple times in the head at close range and left to die on his own doorstep. In the aftermath of the murder, both Pamela and Billy struggle to cover their tracks and maintain their alibis. However, they are eventually caught and brought to trial.

Throughout the trial, Prosecutor J.R. Levesque (played by Larry Drake) presents a case against Pamela that is based largely on circumstantial evidence. He argues that Pamela was the mastermind behind the murder and that she used her manipulative personality to coerce Billy into carrying out the crime. Pamela's defense team, meanwhile, argues that Billy acted alone and that Pamela had no knowledge of the murder plot.

As the trial progresses, tension between Pamela and her defense team grows. Pamela becomes increasingly frustrated with her lawyers and their inability to exonerate her. Meanwhile, her relationship with Billy begins to fall apart as he grows more and more desperate to avoid a life sentence in prison.

The trial ends in a guilty verdict for Pamela, who receives a life sentence without parole. Billy receives a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against Pamela. The movie ends with Pamela being led away in handcuffs, leaving behind a shattered life and a public that remains fascinated with her story.

Overall, Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story is a gripping retelling of a notorious true crime case. The movie does a great job of exploring the complex psychology of the case, particularly Pamela's manipulation of Billy and her seemingly pathological need for attention. At the same time, it never loses sight of the human tragedy at the center of the story. Helen Hunt gives a standout performance as Pamela, capturing both her charm and her darker side. Chad Allen is similarly impressive as Billy, conveying the character's vulnerability and his growing sense of desperation as the trial progresses. Fans of true crime stories will find a lot to appreciate in this well-crafted and compelling movie.

Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story is a 1991 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.