ABSTRACT
Hallmark holiday films and Hallmark mystery films are both typically set in idealized versions of Small Town, U.S.A. While both types of films offer opportunities for protagonists to catch up with old friends, attend community events, and fall in love, the mysteries also put murder on the menu. Everyone knows and loves everyone else—until they don’t. This chapter examines mediated representations of American small towns to understand how we can make sense of the seemingly disparate conceptualizations offered by these two categories of Hallmark films. In doing so, it identifies how Hallmark uses each type of film to put forth a core message of aspirational togetherness.
