Newlywed Laura (Julia Roberts) discovers that, in private, her handsome husband (Patrick Bergin) is an enraged psychotic who takes out his frustrations on her with his fists. Tired of being a punching bag, Laura orchestrates her escape by faking her death. She starts over in a small Iowa town, where she meets a new beau. But her peace is quickly shattered when she discovers her husband is hot on her trail.
Joseph Paul Ruben (born May 10, 1950 in Briarcliff Manor, New York) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Most of his earlier films are B movies, of which some, such as The Stepfather have become cult classics. In the 1990s, he went to direct high grossing mainstream films such as Sleeping with the Enemy starring Julia Roberts (which grossed over $100,000,000 at the box office), Money Train, and Return to Paradise. He frequently collaborates with film editor George Bowers. He has won awards at various film festivals for his films The Stepfather, True Believer and Dreamscape. He will return to direct the serial killer thriller Jack after not working for six years. Ruben is also attached to direct the film The Politician’s Wife written by Nicholas Meyer. —wikipedia
