Enough (2002)

Enough works because it takes a familiar thriller setup and charges it with something rarer: a grounded, working-class point of view and a fierce, gradually earned sense of resolve. Jennifer Lopez has real screen presence here, selling Slim’s fear and intelligence in a way that makes the suspense feel personal rather than mechanical, while Billy Campbell brings an unnerving, polished menace that keeps the danger close even in seemingly “safe” moments. Director Michael Apted keeps the vibe taut and urgent, building tension through pursuit, close calls, and the creeping realization that charm and control can wear the same face. It’s not an easy watch—domestic violence is central and the film doesn’t treat it lightly—but if you want a cathartic, crowd-pleasing thriller with a strong payoff, this one delivers.

Enough is clearly aiming to be a cathartic survival-and-empowerment thriller, with Jennifer Lopez carrying the emotional weight and giving the story a determined, crowd-pleasing spine. The problem is that it often treats domestic abuse like a plot engine rather than a lived reality, and the writing leans on convenient coincidences and cartoonish villainy that can make the danger feel more manufactured than earned. If you’re looking for a grounded, sensitive drama about escaping abuse, this may feel exploitative and tonally clumsy, especially as it ramps into a big, showy endgame. But if you can accept a pulpy, early-2000s revenge-thriller vibe and want a straightforward “fight back” fantasy, it has a few satisfying beats and a lead performance that keeps it watchable.