Evil human trafficker Dianne
Dianne (Allison McAtee) is the main villainess from the 2021 Lifetime film, Desperate Widows (alternately titled, Mommune; airdate March 7, 2021).
Backstory and Introduction[]
Dianne was introduced as the owner of a commune that served as a shelter for mothers and daughters, with her introduction coming during her meeting with main protagonist Paige Judson, who arrived with her daughter Allie following the sudden passing of Paige's husband and Allie's father. Though Dianne displayed a friendly demeanor and said nothing but good things about her "mommune," her backstory revealed that her farm was undergoing financial problems prior to the events of the film.
At some point, Dianne turned heel and started a human trafficking ring, with her first victims being Justine and her mother, who were sent to the farm by Willow (who was paid by Dianne for her collusion). Though the transaction was originally planned to be a one-time occurrence, Dianne ended up cementing her heel persona by enlisting her henchwoman, Kianna, to hold another mother-daughter pair, Elizabeth and Melissa, captive--doing so after the pair inadvertently saw Justine and her mother being trafficked.
The farm's strange atmosphere was noticed by Paige, who later confronted Dianne, only for the villainess to continue playing up appearances in response. However, Dianne later scolded Allie by sending her to one of the rooms in a form of solitary confinement for hanging out with Samantha instead of doing chores. The film's progression saw Paige work with the commune's ranch hand, Jon, to investigate the farm, after Jon revealed himself as Elizabeth's ex-husband and Melissa's father--as well as portray Elizabeth as a villainess who abducted Melissa.
Reveal and Climax[]
Dianne making her arrangement in the film's climax
Paige and Jon left the farm and encountered Willow, who revealed herself as a conspirator being paid by Dianne to send (usually) wealthy women to the farm, with Paige being one of them, as well as uncover Dianne's activities as a human trafficker. All the while, Dianne and Kianna tracked the pair and discovered that they were getting close to revealing the farm's villainous secret, leading to the former sending the latter to keep an eye on them. After catching Jon and Paige inside her office, Dianne was informed by Kianna that the pair had known about her activities, infuriating the villainess.
The film's climax saw Paige find both Elizabeth and Melissa chained up in a hidden room after tracking Kianna, and then returning with Jon to save them, only for Melissa to reveal Jon's real name as Grayson, as well as the fact that Grayson was a domestic abuser and that the pair were getting away from him, after which Grayson attacked Paige and took Melissa. All the while, the evil Dianne planned another transaction (her intended victims being Paige and Allie) as Paige and Elizabeth escaped and subdued Kianna, with Tessa arriving and helping Paige take out Grayson.
Later on, Allie and Samantha (the latter being Tessa's daughter) entered Dianne's office, where Samantha revealed her and Tessa's knowledge of Dianne's heel persona, as well as their silence out of fear of being ejected. It was at that moment that Dianne appeared with her henchman, Alam, and planned to send the girls off to be trafficked, only for Paige to appear and take down the villainess. Police arrived and stopped Alam from moving the girls, and it was indicated that Dianne was arrested (off-screen) for her operation and crimes.
[]
| Allison McAtee |
|---|
| Claudia | Kathleen Strickland | Tanya Jackson | Dianne | Elizabeth Newman | Victoria Jones | Liz Kimble |
Trivia[]
- Dianne shares similarities with fellow Lifetime film villainess Desiree Holt, from Secrets of The Sisterhood. Both women originally served to help women in need, but at some point, both women turned heel out of greed and became criminal masterminds plaguing the same women they were supposed to support. In addition, each villainess served as the leader of a heel faction of women, though the only difference (albeit a small one) is that while Desiree managed to convince her film's protagonist into being an unknowing part of her group, Paige never had any role (inadvertent or otherwise) in Dianne's activities.
Gallery[]
