"Sleeping with Danger" is billed as a thriller. In fact, it is a psychological drama that offers a textbook case of the phenomenon of denial. We see the domestic tragedy unfold from the perspective of Grace Turner in her relationship with Dr. Paul Carter. But it takes Grace too long to admit that the man who she believes is capable of unconditional love is in fact a monster. Unfortunately, for a psychological film, there was not a lot of psychological depth.

The performer playing Dr. Paul Carter succeeded in portraying the "two faces" of Paul. On the one hand, he can be charming and devoted. He then can turn on dime to become possessive, controlling, and violent.

Viewers watching this movie will get frustrated with the glacially slow response of Grace, who remains in complete denial about Paul. First, there were ugly incidents where his jealousy flared. Then, there was the rough stuff in the bedroom that left Grace with bruises. Even after he fired gunshots at her, she gave him another chance.

A disappointing component of the film was in the depiction of the support group where Grace had sought sanctuary from Paul. While the group leader showed Grace a pie chart about the elements of spousal abuse, she and the members of the group were not nearly graphic enough in expressing precisely why they were all present in a shelter for battered women. More concrete experiences needed to be shared for a convincing support group.

In the end, the film's focus was primarily on the depraved actions of a psychopath. In the denouement, Grace's "letter" written to a deceased victim of Paul's abhorrent behavior was a melodramatic capstone to a film that was unable or unwilling to shine the light on the principal characteristic of the protagonist: denial.

This was more like a real movie than a Lifetime movie. It was actually very good. The acting was surprisingly good. Not a perfect script but it held my interest. The plot holes are acceptable because this was based on a true story. And truth is always stranger than fiction. My only real complaint was the climax was more or less jammed into the last couple minutes. They could have compressed the first hour to make more room in the end. Overall, I'm impressed.

This movie was very unpleasant - the antagonist was a mentally unstable man that somehow was able to seduce women with his charm and then terrorize them.

My views:

1. How old was Paul? His "daughter" looked like his sister!!!!

2. Why was Grace so forgiving? This guy was was a nut!!!

3. He confesses that he had a bi-polar disorder -- so was he not seeing a shrink?

4. The ending was unpleasant, but satisfying non the less.

Please watch to the conclusion, then have a couple of drinks!