Sleeping with the Enemy

Last updated

Sleeping with the Enemy
Sleeping With The Enemy.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Joseph Ruben [1]
Screenplay by Ronald Bass
Based on Sleeping with the Enemy
by Nancy Price [2]
Produced by Leonard Goldberg
Starring
Cinematography John Lindley
Edited by George Bowers
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • February 8, 1991 (1991-02-08)(United States)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$19 million [3]
Box office$175 million [3]

Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 American psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben and starring Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, and Kevin Anderson. The film is based on Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name. [2] Roberts plays a woman who fakes her own death and moves from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa to escape from her controlling, obsessive, and abusive husband, but finds her peaceful new life interrupted when he discovers her actions and tracks her down.

Contents

Sleeping with the Enemy was released theatrically on February 8, 1991. It received generally negative reviews from the critics, but it was a box-office success, grossing $175 million on a production budget of $19 million. The film also broke the record at the time for the highest domestic opening for a film with a female lead, grossing $13 million on its opening weekend and surpassing the previous record held by Aliens , which grossed $10 million in its first weekend.

Plot

Laura Burney has a seemingly idyllic life and a perfect marriage to Martin, a successful Boston investment counselor. Beneath Martin's charming, handsome exterior, however, is an obsessive and controlling person who has physically, emotionally, and sexually abused Laura throughout their nearly four-year marriage. Then, in a recurring pattern, he apologetically showers her with flowers and gifts.

Martin accepts the invitation of their neighbor, a doctor, for an evening sail, despite knowing that Laura fears water and cannot swim. As a severe storm unexpectedly rolls in, Martin and the doctor struggle to control the vessel. Laura is swept overboard. After an extensive Coast Guard search, Laura is presumed dead from drowning and Martin is inconsolable.

Laura is revealed to actually be alive. After secretly learning to swim, she planned to fake her own death to escape Martin's abuse. During the storm, she jumped overboard, swam ashore, and returned home. She cut her hair, donned a wig, took her stashed belongings and money, and headed to a nearby bus station.

Laura moves to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Previously, she had told Martin that her blind, stroke-impaired mother, Chloe, had died, but Laura had secretly moved Chloe to an Iowa nursing home. Laura rents a house, finds a job, and settles into a new life as "Sara Waters". Her neighbor, Ben Woodward, a young drama teacher at a local college, is attracted to Laura, though he suspects she has a chequered past. They have an agreeable date, but when a kiss turns more physical, Laura resists and demands that Ben leave. She later admits to him that she escaped an abusive marriage.

Martin receives information indicating that Laura may still be alive. This is confirmed when he finds Laura's wedding ring in the toilet, which hadn't flushed as she had hoped for. Martin travels to Chloe's nursing home, masquerading as a detective, and learns that Chloe's "nephew" has just visited. Laura, disguised as a man, is also at the nursing home and barely misses encountering Martin. Martin discovers Laura's whereabouts and learns about Ben. He trails the couple to Laura's new house and breaks in while she and Ben are outside. Laura notices the small clues Martin deliberately left inside the house – the hand towels perfectly aligned and the contents of the kitchen cabinets lined up to Martin's exacting standards.

Martin then confronts Laura as Ben smashes the door down and attempts to subdue Martin, who knocks him unconscious. As Martin aims his gun at Ben, Laura distracts him by slamming her knee into his groin. She grabs Martin's gun and holds him at gunpoint. As Laura calls the police, Martin expects her to tell the police to protect her from him, as she had done in the past, but Laura shocks Martin by informing the police she has killed an intruder and then shoots Martin three times in the chest. A wounded Martin seizes Laura by the hair and grabs the gun, aiming it at her in a desperate attempt to kill her, but the gun clicks empty. Martin then dies from his wounds, while Laura and Ben embrace and wait for the police.

Cast

Release

Critical reception

As of July 2024, the film held a 24% "Rotten" rating based on 38 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's consensus states: "A game Julia Roberts gives it her all, but Sleeping with the Enemy is one stalker thriller that's unlikely to inspire many obsessions of its own." [4]

Roger Ebert gave the film 1.5 stars out of a possible 4 upon its release, saying while the film had good performances and the opening scenes "briefly seemed to have greatness in its grasp", Sleeping with the Enemy quickly fell into cliches and plot holes and became "a slasher movie in disguise, an up-market version of the old exploitation formula where the victim can run, but she can't hide." [5] Another mostly negative review came from Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly , who wrote that the film "has the bare bones of a tantalizing thriller" and praised Robert's performance ("you can practically feel her pulse"), but also felt Bergin's role was too "mechanical" to be believed, and placing blame on the "deadwood" script. [6]

Box office

The film's opening ended Home Alone 's twelve week run atop the box office. [7] By the end of its run, the film had grossed $101,599,005 in the domestic box office; with an international total of $73,400,000, the film's worldwide gross was $174,999,005; based on a $19 million budget, the film was a box office success. [8] The film was released in the United Kingdom on April 12, 1991, and opened on #2, behind Highlander II: The Quickening . [9] The next week, the film remained in the same position. [10]

Soundtrack

The original music for the film was composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith. Columbia Records released an album concurrently with the film containing just over 38 minutes of score plus the Van Morrison song "Brown Eyed Girl". In 2011, La-La Land Records issued a limited edition album of 3500 copies expanding Goldsmith's score (but omitting the song).

Home media

The film reached #1 in the rental charts in September 1991, [11] and ended up as the ninth most rented movie that year in the United States. [12] It was released on LaserDisc in Australia, the United States, United Kingdom and Japan by Fox Video in 1991. [13] It also received various releases on VHS, was released on DVD on 2 September 2003, and subsequently entered the market of Blu-ray in June 2011. As of August 2023, it still hasn't been released on 4K. [14] [15]

Awards

The score by Jerry Goldsmith won the BMI Film Music Award, 1992, and the film was nominated for the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Award for 1992 in four categories: Best Actress (Roberts), Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor (Bergin), Best Horror Film and Best Music (Goldsmith).

Remakes

In February 2019, it was reported that a remake of Sleeping with the Enemy was in development at Searchlight Pictures, with Nia DaCosta helming the project. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Roberts</span> American actress (born 1967)

Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. The films in which she has starred have collectively grossed over $3.9 billion globally, making her one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. After an early breakthrough with appearances in Mystic Pizza (1988) and Steel Magnolias (1989), Roberts established herself as a leading actress when she headlined the top-grossing romantic comedy Pretty Woman (1990).

<i>The Omen</i> 1976 film by Richard Donner

The Omen is a 1976 supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner and written by David Seltzer. An international co-production of the United Kingdom and the United States, it stars Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Harvey Spencer Stephens, Billie Whitelaw, Patrick Troughton, Martin Benson, and Leo McKern. The film's plot follows Damien Thorn, a young child replaced at birth by his father, unbeknownst to his wife, after their biological child dies shortly after birth. As a series of mysterious events and violent deaths occur around the family and Damien enters childhood, they come to learn he is in fact the prophesied Antichrist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rene Russo</span> American actress and model (born 1954)

Rene Marie Russo is an American actress and model. She began her career as a fashion model in the 1970s, appearing on magazine covers such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She made her film debut in the 1989 comedy Major League, and rose to international prominence in a number of thrillers and action films throughout the 1990s, including Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), In the Line of Fire (1993), Outbreak (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Ransom (1996), Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).

<i>Daddy Day Care</i> 2003 film by Steve Carr

Daddy Day Care is a 2003 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy in the lead role, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King, and Anjelica Huston. Written by Geoff Rodkey and directed by Steve Carr, it marks Murphy and Carr's second collaboration after Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001). The plot follows two fathers who start a child day care out of their home after they are laid off from their corporate jobs.

<i>Men in Black II</i> 2002 science fiction action film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Men in Black II is a 2002 American science fiction action comedy film based on the Marvel Comics series of a similar name based on the conspiracy theory. Produced by Columbia Pictures and Amblin Entertainment in association with MacDonald Parkes Productions, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the sequel to Men in Black (1997) and the second installment in the Men in Black film series. The film was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld from a screenplay by Robert Gordon and Barry Fanaro, and it stars Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, with Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson, Tony Shalhoub, and Rip Torn in supporting roles. It also featured Michael Jackson's last theatrical film appearance before his death in June 2009. In the film, the emergence of an assumed subdued alien threat reunites Kevin Brown / Agent K (Jones) and James Darrell Edwards III / Agent J (Smith).

<i>Gothika</i> 2003 film by Mathieu Kassovitz

Gothika is a 2003 American horror film directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, written by Sebastian Gutierrez, co-produced by Joel Silver and Robert Zemeckis, and starring Halle Berry with Robert Downey Jr., Penélope Cruz, Charles S. Dutton, John Carroll Lynch, and Bernard Hill. The film follows a psychiatrist who finds herself incarcerated in the penitentiary in which she works, accused of brutally murdering her husband.

<i>L.A. Story</i> 1991 American film by Mick Jackson

L.A. Story is a 1991 American satirical romantic comedy film written by and starring Steve Martin and directed by Mick Jackson. The plot follows a weatherman (Martin) trying to find love in Los Angeles. It was released on February 8, 1991, and received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>Willard</i> (1971 film) 1971 film by Daniel Mann

Willard is a 1971 American horror film directed by Daniel Mann and written by Gilbert Ralston, based on Stephen Gilbert's novel Ratman's Notebooks. Bruce Davison stars as social misfit Willard Stiles, who is squeezed out of the company started by his deceased father. His only friends are a couple of rats raised at home, including Ben and Socrates, and their increasing number of friends. When Socrates is killed by Willard's boss, he goes on a rampage using his rats to attack.

<i>The Pink Panther</i> (2006 film) 2006 comedy film directed by Shawn Levy

The Pink Panther is a 2006 American comedy-mystery film and a reboot of The Pink Panther franchise, marking the tenth installment in the series. It is also the first Pink Panther film to be released since Son of the Pink Panther in 1993. In this film, Inspector Jacques Clouseau is assigned to solve the murder of a famous soccer coach and the theft of the famous Pink Panther diamond. The film was directed by Shawn Levy, stars Steve Martin as Clouseau and also co-stars Kevin Kline, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, and Beyoncé Knowles.

<i>Blonde Ambition</i> 2007 film by Scott Marshall

Blonde Ambition is a 2007 American romantic comedy film directed by Scott Marshall and starring Jessica Simpson as a small-town girl who moves to New York City and rises up into a career as a business woman. The film also stars Luke Wilson, Rachael Leigh Cook, Penelope Ann Miller, Andy Dick, Drew Fuller, Larry Miller and Willie Nelson.

<i>Ultraviolet</i> (film) 2006 film by Kurt Wimmer

Ultraviolet is a 2006 American science fiction action film written and directed by Kurt Wimmer and produced by Screen Gems. The film stars Milla Jovovich as Violet Song, Cameron Bright as Six, and Nick Chinlund as Ferdinand Daxus. It was released in North America on March 3, 2006 to negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on June 27, 2006.

<i>The Nanny Diaries</i> (film) 2007 film by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini

The Nanny Diaries is a 2007 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, and Laura Linney, the film tells the story of a college graduate who goes to work as a nanny for a wealthy family in New York City. Ensconced in their home, she has to juggle their dysfunction, a new romance, and the child in her charge.

<i>In Bruges</i> 2008 film by Martin McDonagh

In Bruges is a 2008 black comedy-drama crime thriller film directed and written by Martin McDonagh in his feature-length debut. It stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two London-based Irish hitmen hiding in Bruges, with Ralph Fiennes as their boss. The film is set and was filmed in Bruges, Belgium.

<i>Sleeping with the Enemy</i> (novel) 1987 novel by Nancy Price

Sleeping with the Enemy is a novel written by Nancy Price and published in 1987. It served as the basis for Sleeping with the Enemy, a 1991 film starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin, which was remade a number of times.

<i>The Boys Are Back</i> (film) 2009 Australian film

The Boys Are Back is a 2009 drama film directed by Scott Hicks, produced by Greg Brenman and starring Clive Owen. It is based on the 2001 memoir, The Boys Are Back in Town, by Simon Carr.

<i>Chloe</i> (2009 film) Erotic thriller film

Chloe is a 2009 erotic thriller film directed by Atom Egoyan, a remake of the 2003 French film Nathalie.... It stars Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried in the title role. Its screenplay was written by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on the earlier French film, written by Anne Fontaine.

<i>The Perfect Guy</i> (2015 film) 2015 American film

The Perfect Guy is a 2015 American romantic thriller drama film directed by David M. Rosenthal, produced by Tommy Oliver and written by Alan B. McElroy and Tyger Williams and stars Sanaa Lathan, Morris Chestnut and Michael Ealy. Ealy and Lathan also served as executive producers on the film. The film centers on a single woman who falls in love with a man who harbors an obsession after she breaks up with him. The Perfect Guy was released in North America on September 11, 2015 and garnered negative reviews from critics, praising the filmmaking and performances but criticized the script for being underwritten and lacking in thriller moments. The film was a box-office success, grossing $60.3 million against its $12 million budget.

<i>The Disappointments Room</i> 2016 American psychological horror film

The Disappointments Room is a 2016 American psychological horror film directed by D. J. Caruso, written by Caruso and Wentworth Miller, and starring Kate Beckinsale and Mel Raido as a couple in a new house that contains a hidden room with a dark, haunted past. The film was inspired by an HGTV episode from a segment called "If Walls Could Talk".

<i>Nerve</i> (2016 film) 2016 American film

Nerve is a 2016 American techno-thriller adventure film directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman and written by Jessica Sharzer, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Jeanne Ryan. The film stars Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, and Juliette Lewis, and revolves around an online truth or dare game, which allows people to enlist as "players" or "watchers" and as the game progresses, the players are contacted and invited to participate in more dangerous dares than their prior ones.

<i>Run</i> (2020 American film) 2020 film by Aneesh Chaganty

Run is a 2020 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Aneesh Chaganty, and written by Chaganty and Sev Ohanian. The film stars Kiera Allen as disabled teenager Chloe Sherman, who begins to suspect that her mother, Diane, has been keeping a dark secret about her upbringing. The film has connections to other films by Chaganty and Ohanian and is the second installment in the filmmaking duo's Searching film series.

References

  1. Granville, Kari (February 8, 1991). "Joseph Ruben Finally Gets His Crane : Movies: A veteran director of low-budget fare makes it to majors with 'Sleeping With the Enemy.'". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Price, Nancy. "Nancy Price - Biography". Nancypricebooks.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Sleeping with the Enemy at Box Office Mojo Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Sleeping with the Enemy". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  5. Ebert, Roger (February 8, 1991). "Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020 via RogerEbert.com.
  6. Gleiberman, Owen (February 8, 1991). "Sleeping With the Enemy". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on March 12, 2023.
  7. Broeske, Pat H. (February 12, 1991). "WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : 'Sleeping,' 'L.A.' Knock 'Home' Out". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 25, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  8. Sleeping with the Enemy at Box Office Mojo
  9. "Weekend box office 12th April 1991 - 14th April 1991". www.25thframe.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  10. "Weekend box office 19th April 1991 - 21st April 1991". www.25thframe.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  11. Hunt, Dennis (September 5, 1991). "Video Rental Chart : Sales Reduce 'Home' Rentals". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  12. "Top Video Rentals" (PDF). Billboard . January 4, 1992. p. 42.
  13. "Laser Disc Laserdisc Movie Sleeping With The Enemy Julia-Roberts". ebay.com.au. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  14. "Sleeping with the Enemy". DVD Release Dates. Archived from the original on November 21, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  15. "Sleeping with the Enemy Blu-ray". DVDEmpire.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  16. Evangelista, Chris (February 26, 2019). "'Sleeping with the Enemy' Remake To Bring The Glory Days Of Trashy '90s Thrillers Into The 21st Century". /Film . Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.