History YMMV / SleepingWithTheEnemy

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: There's no denying that Martin, despite not being a [[EvenEvilHasStandards complete monster]], goes beyond the typical scope of an abuser, as he seems to show enough traits of ''four personality disorder'' that seem to exacerbate his existing controlling nature, those being Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, and Obsessive-Compulsive. His BPD, followed by his OCPD, appear to be the ones that are most severe, but even then he's still a bit of a psycho and self-absorbed.

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: There's no denying that Martin, despite not being a {{EvenEvilHasStandardscomplete monster}}, goes beyond the typical scope of an abuser, as he seems to show enough traits of ''four personality disorder'' that seem to exacerbate his existing controlling nature, those being Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, and Obsessive-Compulsive. His BPD followed by his OCPD appear to be the one that are most severe, but even then he's still a bit of a psycho and self-absorbed.

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: There's no denying that Martin, despite not being a {{EvenEvilHasStandards complete monster}}, goes beyond the typical scope of an abuser, as he seems to show enough traits of ''four personality disorder'', those being Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic, and Obsessive-Compulsive. His BPD followed by his OCPD appear to be the one that are most severe, but even then he's still a bit of a psycho and self-absorbed.

* MoralEventHorizon: Being a physically and emotionally abusive spouse is bad enough, but Martin goes from run of the mill wife beater to pure sociopath when he attempts to smother Laura's elderly, handicapped mother with a pillow (only having a nurse walk in as he's about to do so stops him).

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Laura's idiotic move of throwing the ring down the toilet, allowing Martin to discover her deception. Perhaps a form of StockholmSyndrome where on some level she wanted him to find out she was still alive?

** As the film and book were made before domestic abuse was really taken seriously, it can seem surprising that Laura engineers her escape entirely on her own rather than seeking help from charities or organisations who are literally dedicated to helping abuse victims escape their tormentors. They have been in operation since the 1800s, but for the time, Laura probably wouldn't even be aware of such things at the time the book and movie take place.

* IdiotPlot: Laura decides to flush her ring down the toilet, conveniently setting things up for Martin to discover it and realise she faked her death. Had she kept the ring on and disposed of it literally anywhere else, she would have gotten away.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Laura's idiotic move of throwing the ring down the toilet, allowing Martin to discover her deception. Perhaps a form of StockholmSyndrome where on some level she wanted him to find out she was still alive?

* CriticProof: The film got negative critical reviews, but grossed $175 million worldwide thanks to Julia Roberts just coming off her StarMakingRole in ''Film/PrettyWoman''.

** As the film and book were made before domestic abuse was really taken seriously, it can seem surprising that Laura engineers her escape entirely on her own rather than seeking help from charities or organisations who are literally dedicated to helping abuse victims escape their tormentors. They have been in operation since the 1800s but for the time, Laura probably wouldn't even be aware of such things at the time the book and movie take place.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Domestic violence is bad, ok? On the other hand, domestic abuse was not considered as big a deal as it is now, and this was one of the earlier and most visible[[note]]Creator/JuliaRoberts was, at the time, Hollywood's biggest "It Girl", and it was quite disturbing for audiences to watch her on-screen husband beating her[[/note]] works to deal directly with the issue.

* {{Narm}}:
** The scene where Laura discovers the rearranged cans and realizes Martin has tracked her down tends to come off like this.
** Also, Martin's anguished "LAURA!" when she disappears.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: On the other hand, domestic abuse was not considered as big a deal as it is now, and this was one of the earlier and most visible[[note]]Creator/JuliaRoberts was, at the time, Hollywood's biggest "It Girl", and it was quite disturbing for audiences to watch her on-screen husband beating her[[/note]] works to deal directly with the issue.

* ValuesDissonance: Martin having OCD as a negative character trait comes across as very insulting towards people with mental illness these days. Of course, it's not so much his OCD as the fact he insists on imposing it on Laura that's the truly negative trait.

* ValuesDissonance: Martin having OCD as a negative character trait comes across as very insulting towards people with mental illness these days.

* {{Anvilicious}}: Domestic abuse is bad, okay folks?
** SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: On the other hand, domestic abuse was not considered as big a deal as it is now, and this was one of the earlier and most visible[[note]]Creator/JuliaRoberts was, at the time, Hollywood's biggest "It Girl", and it was quite disturbing for audiences to watch her on-screen husband beating her[[/note]] works to deal directly with the issue.
* {{Narm}}: The scene where Laura discovers the rearranged cans and realizes Martin has tracked her down tends to come off like this.
** Also, Martin's anguished "LAURA!" when she disappears.

** SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: On the other hand, domestic abuse was not considered as big a deal as it is now, and this was one of the earlier and most visible[[note]]JuliaRoberts was, at the time, Hollywood's biggest "It Girl", and it was quite disturbing for audiences to watch her on-screen husband beating her[[/note]] works to deal directly with the issue.

** SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: On the other hand, domestic abuse was not considered as big a deal as it is now, and this was one of the earlier and most visible[[note]]JuliaRoberts was, at the time, Hollywood's biggest "It Girl", and it was quite disturbing for audiences to see her beaten on screen[[/note]] works to deal directly with the issue.

* {{Narm}}: The scene where Laura discovers the rearranged cans and realizes Martin has tracked her down tends to come off like this.

* CompleteMonster: Martin.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: "Come quickly. I've just killed an intruder." BANG! [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill BANG! BANG!]]]]
** [[spoiler: The bit where he realizes there aren't enough bullets left for him to kill Laura as well counts.]]
* {{Fridge Horror}}: What happens to Laura's mother [[spoiler:when Martin tracks her down after he realizes his wife escaped from him]]? The film never answers that question. (This could also go under "{{Plot Holes}}" below.)
** [[spoiler: The nurse interrupts him before he can smother her, at which point he leaves. I think the viewer can safely assume she's all right]]

* {{Fridge Horror}}: What the hell happens to Laura's mother [[spoiler:when Martin tracks her down after he realizes his wife escaped from him]]? The film never answers that question. (This could also go under "{{Plot Holes}}" below.)

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: "I've just shot an intruder." BANG! [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!]]]]

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: AwesomeMusic/JerryGoldsmith

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: "I've just shot an intruder." BANG! [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!]]]]