Ashwin Lewis
The 1991 American psychological thriller film Sleeping with the Enemy, starring Julia Roberts, was primarily filmed in locations between North and South Carolina, USA. The film is based on Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name and follows the story of a woman who fakes her own death and moves from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to escape her abusive husband. However, her peaceful new life is interrupted when her husband discovers her actions and tracks her down. While most of the Iowa scenes were shot in South Carolina, the film crew also visited Wilmington, North Carolina, and Abbeville, Louisiana.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1991 |
| Locations | North and South Carolina, USA |
| Specific locations | Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Myrtle Grove, Silver Lake, Abbeville, Laurens County, Presbyterian College in Clinton, Spartanburg County Nursing Home |
| Setting | Cedar Falls, Iowa |
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What You'll Learn
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
The film opens with aerial shots of Cape Cod's stunning coastline, showcasing its pristine sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and charming seaside towns. We see Laura's luxurious home, a sprawling oceanfront estate located along the eastern coast of the peninsula. The house is modern and elegant, reflecting Laura's refined taste and privileged lifestyle. However, beneath this veneer of perfection, Laura is trapped in a marriage marked by emotional abuse and control.
Laura's daily routine on Cape Cod is carefully orchestrated by her husband, Martin. We see her going through the motions, attending social events and participating in activities that uphold her image as the ideal wife. The Cape Cod setting, with its affluent communities and picturesque surroundings, serves as a stark contrast to the darkness of Laura's reality. It symbolizes the facade of perfection that she must maintain to hide the truth of her abusive relationship.
As the story progresses, Laura makes the daring decision to fake her own death and escape from Cape Cod, leaving behind her opulent prison and the abusive husband who controls her life. She changes her name to Sara Waters and moves to Cedar Falls, Iowa, hoping to start anew and find freedom from her past. This marks a significant turning point in the film, as Laura leaves behind the oppressive atmosphere of Cape Cod and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and survival.
The use of Cape Cod as the initial setting in "Sleeping with the Enemy" effectively establishes the world in which Laura operates and the constraints she faces. The beauty and affluence of the peninsula become a character in its own right, both enhancing the sense of danger and isolation Laura experiences and highlighting the stark contrast between her public and private lives. By placing the story in this unique and privileged setting, the film underscores the theme of hidden truths and the power dynamics that exist within abusive relationships.
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Cedar Falls, Iowa
In the 1991 film Sleeping with the Enemy, the character Laura Burney, played by Julia Roberts, fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband, Martin, played by Patrick Bergin. She moves from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she adopts a new identity as "Sara Waters", rents a house, and finds a job. However, Martin discovers that Laura is still alive and tracks her down to Cedar Falls.
The film is based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Nancy Price, who is from Cedar Falls, Iowa. The house described in the book is said to be an actual house in the town. Price wrote the book in Cedar Falls, where she has spent much of her life.
While the story is set in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the filming locations for the town included Abbeville, South Carolina, and Waterloo, South Carolina. The "Welcome to Iowa" sign that Laura passes on the bus is located on Highway 221 South in Waterloo, South Carolina.
The film crew transformed Abbeville into the fictional Cedar Falls, with over 1,000 locals volunteering as extras for a Fourth of July parade scene. The Abbeville Opera House was also used as a filming location, featuring in a scene where Laura is on a swing.
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Wilmington, North Carolina
The 1991 film 'Sleeping with the Enemy' starring Julia Roberts was primarily filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. The city is known for its rich history and cultural attractions, including downtown markets, art galleries, museums, and botanical gardens. Wilmington is also close to beaches, creeks, and rivers, which served as backdrops for several scenes in the film.
One of the memorable locations in Wilmington is Wrightsville Beach, where the Shell Resort Hotel, a luxurious oceanfront property, is located. This charming coastal town left such an impression on Irish-born actor Patrick Bergin, who professed to have "fallen in love" with it. The nearby Masonboro Island State Reserve also gained popularity due to its appearance in the film.
Wilmington's Carolina Beach Road runs south along the eastern coast of North Carolina, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Along this route, visitors pass through picturesque coastal communities such as Myrtle Grove and Silver Lake. The city's proximity to South Carolina's Myrtle Beach, a premier beach vacation destination, adds to its allure for travellers.
While most of the filming took place in Wilmington, some scenes were shot in neighbouring South Carolina. The town of Abbeville, known for its quaint storefronts and vibrant atmosphere, served as the setting for some Iowa scenes. To create the illusion of being in Iowa, the production crew changed the licence plates of street cars and built a payphone on the street. The parade in the town square was filmed in Abbeville's City Square, with local residents invited to participate as extras.
The film also ventured into Laurens County, with the "Welcome to Iowa" sign captured on Highway 221 South, just outside Waterloo. Presbyterian College in Clinton, within Laurens County, provided the backdrop for scenes featuring the husband's character, with actual college students visible in the background.
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Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
The film crew shot several scenes at the Shell Resort Hotel, a luxurious oceanfront property in the charming coastal town of Wrightsville Beach. The town is located along the eastern coast of North Carolina and is known for its beautiful beaches, creeks, and rivers. Wrightsville Beach offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
The nearby city of Wilmington, North Carolina, also served as a major filming location for the movie. Wilmington is known for its rich history and cultural attractions, including historic downtown markets, art galleries, museums, and botanical gardens. The film crew utilized various locations within the city, such as Airlie Gardens and Tryon Palace.
Interestingly, while the story in the film is set in Cedar Falls, Iowa, most of the Iowa scenes were actually shot in South Carolina. The production team made efforts to create the illusion of being in Iowa, such as changing the license plates of street cars to Iowa plates and constructing a pay phone on the street. The town of Abbeville, South Carolina, in particular, was used for filming several Iowa scenes, including the parade in the town square.
The choice of filming locations in North and South Carolina contributed to the visual appeal of the film, showcasing the beauty of the coastal regions and the charm of historic cities like Wilmington. These locations played a pivotal role in bringing the suspenseful and thrilling story of *Sleeping with the Enemy* to life on the big screen.
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Abbeville, Louisiana
The 1991 thriller Sleeping with the Enemy, starring Julia Roberts, was filmed in various locations in the United States, including the city of Abbeville in South Carolina.
The film tells the story of Laura Burney (Roberts), a young woman who fakes her own death to escape her abusive and controlling husband, and the suspenseful journey that follows. The crew used several locations in Abbeville to bring this story to life.
One of the most notable locations in Abbeville is the Abbeville Opera House, where they filmed the scene with Laura on a swing. The opera house, located on Court Square, served as a backdrop for a pivotal moment in the film. The City Square in Abbeville was also a key location, providing the setting for the parade scene in the film. The crew transformed the square to resemble an Iowa town square, complete with a “Welcome to Iowa” sign, to match the setting of the story.
The interiors of the house Laura moves to in Iowa were also shot in Abbeville, specifically at 404 Magazine Street. The exterior of this charming 1905 southern belle, as described by a location scout, caught the eye of the production team. The house is characterised by its Victorian architecture and picturesque tree-lined street, creating an idyllic setting for Laura's new life in Iowa.
In addition to the Opera House and residential locations, Abbeville's Court Square makes another appearance in the film. This time, it is seen when Laura/Sara calls her mother, and during the 4th of July parade scene. The crew made efforts to conceal the location, asking residents to avoid wearing branded clothing and even changing the license plates of cars to Iowa plates.
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Frequently asked questions
The majority of the film was shot in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Laura moved from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The parade that takes place in the town square in Iowa was filmed in Abbeville's City Square, South Carolina.
The "Welcome to Iowa" sign was filmed on Highway 221 South, just outside of the town of Waterloo in Laurens County.
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