Watch Sleeping with the Enemy

Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 psychological thriller directed by Joseph Ruben and starring Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, and Kevin Anderson. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Nancy Price and follows the story of a woman named Laura Burney (Roberts) who fakes her own death to escape from her abusive husband, Martin Burney (Bergin).

The film begins with Laura living a seemingly perfect life with her husband, who is a wealthy and successful businessman. Although they seem to be a happy couple, it is soon revealed that Martin is abusive and controlling towards Laura. He becomes enraged over the smallest things, such as a crooked towel, and subjects her to physical and emotional abuse.

One day, Laura reaches her breaking point and decides to run away from her abusive husband. She fakes her own death by staging a boating accident, leaving behind a note that suggests she committed suicide. Martin is devastated by the loss of his wife, but soon discovers that she is still alive and sets out to find her.

Laura starts a new life in a small town in Iowa and meets a kind and caring man named Ben Woodward (Anderson), who falls in love with her. Although she is initially hesitant to start a new relationship, Laura begins to open up to him and they soon become romantically involved.

As Martin gets closer to finding Laura, she becomes increasingly paranoid and fearful, afraid that he will find her and harm her. She starts to have nightmares and flashbacks about her previous life, and becomes convinced that Martin is still watching her.

When Martin finally tracks her down, Laura is forced to confront her fears and fight for her survival. The film builds to a tense and gripping climax as Laura faces off against her abusive husband in a final showdown.

Sleeping with the Enemy is a compelling and intense thriller that examines the issue of domestic abuse and the devastating effects it can have on individuals and families. Julia Roberts delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as a woman who must fight for her freedom and her life, while Patrick Bergin portrays Martin as a complex and frightening character who is both charming and terrifying.

The film also explores the themes of identity and reinvention, as Laura creates a new life for herself and struggles to overcome the trauma of her past. As she faces off against Martin in the final scene, Laura finds the strength and courage to confront her fears and take control of her own life.

Overall, Sleeping with the Enemy is a thought-provoking and thrilling film that is both suspenseful and emotionally engaging. It shines a light on the issue of domestic abuse and encourages viewers to speak out and seek help if they or someone they know is experiencing abuse in their own lives.

Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 48.