After Henry betrays Edna's trust she murders him and then finds herself in a psychiatric hospital where she relives her old life by writing in her journal.

The story shows the legal system wavering in favour of Edna as she is placed in a psychiatric hospital instead of a prison after her crime.

[4] The story begins as the present unfolds along with scenes from the past about Edna, a woman in a hospital who each day writes down her memories.

In Canada reviews were generally positive, and the film helped jumpstart Leon Marr's directorial career.

[11] In 2020, Encore+, a YouTube channel dedicated to preserving and showcasing classic Canadian films and TV shows created by the Canada Media Fund in partnership with a wealth of industry partners, brought back Dancing in the Dark for contemporary audiences.

That same year, an Encore+ Original was created featuring leading lady - and Canadian icon - Martha Henry looking back on the making of the film.