Sleeping with the Enemy - A Movie Review

Never be afraid to test your strength. We can conquer anything.

Airing in theaters in 1991, Sleeping with the Enemy centers around an unhappy woman in an abusive marriage. Hatching a plan, Laura runs away. Seeking a new life and identity, Laura forgets to cover up some clues. A dark figure returns stalking the young woman.

Sleeping with the Enemy demonstrates a sensitive topic that the world is not comfortable talking about. As painful as the subject of abuse is, this film is a lesson to all audiences on how they can speak out. Never be silenced.

At the age of twenty-two, Julia Roberts was tremendous. This must have been a difficult role for Roberts to get in the mindset of. One of the best takeaways from her performance was her expressions. She acted with her eyes. Laura is a fighter. She is a bold figure for anyone in or has been in her situation. Nobody should ever stop fighting.

Patrick Bergin was so menacing in his portrayal. His behavior and possessive nature were examined closely. Bergin did a good job making sure that only he could connect to this character. Bergin invented clever aspects about his character and even improvised.

You never know who you are going to meet in life. The ensemble of Sleeping with the Enemy has an important duty. Kevin Anderson was so sweet in his performance. He made me smile. Roberts and Anderson were endearing in their interactions. Never give up on love. It’s a better idea to keep trying instead of giving up.

Sleeping with the Enemy includes the talents of Elizabeth Lawrence, Kyle Secor, Claudette Nevins, Tony Abatemarco, and Nancy Fish. Although Fish had a small part as a woman who Laura converses with, it shows how we are all looking out for one another. Kindness is found in the smallest places.

I liked the vibe of the town they shot in Abbeville, South Carolina. Although Roberts wasn’t a fan of it, the film demonstrates how a town becomes your home. Make new friends, explore, and keep making new memories. Sticking to the past is not good for you.

Domestic violence is a strong theme in this film. Audience members who are survivors of abusive relationships may be triggered by the contents of Sleeping with the Enemy.

The film does a superb job enforcing subtly. Pay attention to Laura’s transformation throughout the story. Laura slowly breaks away from the barriers to be her own person. However, it’s a sad detail, but sometimes the past is so traumatizing that it affects the way you live.

Joseph Ruben examined a sensitive subject with the highest regard for the material. It’s awful that situations like these occur in the world. They need to be showcased. Ruben’s attention to detail was a highlight. He did an excellent job enforcing perspective, especially in Laura’s world.

He cleverly built the tension along with a creepy atmosphere. He chose music that was beautiful and sad at the same time. Ruben built more on silence than excessive dialogue. More films need to do that. Silence drives home tension making audiences feel more on edge. The way he shot the film makes you pay attention to every movement that occurs on the screen.

Some unanswered questions remain in the film. A few of Laura’s decisions made me question the screen. A few scenes could have been written differently. The script needed a cleaner edit for a more concise story.

Audiences who have experienced domestic violence will find this movie triggering. Still, I recommend that you find Sleeping with the Enemy on Hulu.