***SPOILERS***Were shown here how the unregulated use of metabolic steroids can turn into spousal as well as, in the case of Patty Yuklich played by Hoilary Swank,child abuse. It's the man of the house decorated undercover policeman Dennis Yaklich,Brad Johnson, a body building freak who went hog wild into pumping himself up on steroids that eventually lead to his demise. His wife Donna, Jaclyn Smith, after taking all she could take from him hired these two mentally challenged, instead of processional Mafia hit-men, neighbors to do her husband in and ended up getting a 20 to 40 years sentence for her effort.Dennis who at first was a perfect gentleman towards Donna later turned into a Frankenstein monster when the steroids, that he took by the handful, took control of his brain. It's also hinted that his first wife who died from an overreaction to her medication was herself murdered by him who, with the help of the local police department, had it covered up. As for Donna here biggest mistake was in hiring these two goof-balls the Greenwell brothers Eddie & Cjharlie,Ramsey Midwood & Jason Kristofer, to do her husband Dennis in. And do it on the cheap, for beer and hamburger money, that made it, Dennis death, a case of premeditated murder not a crime of passion thus having the book thrown at her by the judge.***SPOILERS**** Whatever feeling you have for Donna you have to remember the story or movie is told from her point of view not her husband who's not around to tell it. The guy was an exercise freak but his mind being warped due to the use of steroids and being abusive to Donna and his step daughter Patty is to be taken with a grain of salt. Still Donna going so far as to hire someone to do the guy in instead of just leaving him makes his case, in being innocent, not hers, in being abused by him, that much more believable. That with the fact that Donna's lawyer John Giduck was suspected of having an affair with Donna while at the same time he was defending her for her husband's murder!

At a picnic, exceptionally beautiful Tiffani Amber Thiessen (as Jennifer "Jen" Moore) meets exceptionally handsome Eric Close (as Chris Gallagher). He wants to go out with Ms. Thiessen, but she's not dating. Encouraged by fatherly friend Gerald McRaney (as Dave Morgan), Thiessen changes her mind quickly. Their first sexual encounter doesn't work out very well. Thiessen lets Mr. Close know she was raped two years ago. Close seems very understanding. He proposes and she accepts. They are an exceptionally beautiful and handsome couple. But, if you didn't catch the foreshadowing, there is trouble a-brewing...The community is shocked by a "Peeping Tom" and Close becomes a prime suspect. Thiessen defends her husband. Things get more serious when a serial rapist starts sneaking around. Thiessen begins to wonder if Close might be "The Stranger Beside Me". This is supposed to be based on a true story. It doesn't impress as very realistic, but writer Bruce Miller and director Sandor Stern were probably not focused on realism. This TV movie is more about chests than rape, and the co-stars certainly have nice ones. Since he's a guy, the camera are more generous in showing Close's chest. Thiessen is way too pretty for her part.***** The Stranger Beside Me (9/17/95) Sandor Stern ~ Tiffani Thiessen, Eric Close, Gerald McRaney, Steven Eckholdt

Also agree with reviewers on Eric Close. It's his movie from beginning to end. And you get furious when he is dumped on by Tiffani Thiessen as his bimbo wife. Theissen is about the worst actress ever. Can't believe they paid her money for what she does. She's that bad in this. Constantly with a smirk and stuck up look on her face. I wanted him to do her in.Then we have another fine actor, Gerald McRaney wasted in this trivial crap. Both these actors give this stupid film the only interesting performances. All others are nonsense.But worst is watching this so-called actress give the God-awful performance that she does. I just couldn't watch her. Not even attractive, although she walks around like she thinks she is. Argghhh! So here's to no more Theisssen in films and Close and McRaney better leading ladies in the future.

The characters do ridiculous things that no one in real life would ever do, but if it saves me from a boring second act, realism shmealism. This one is about a woman who has been raped, who marries a guy who is peeping tom! (He is also briefly a gorilla.) When he is arrested for peeping, he and Tiffani start keeping a journal together of where he should be every day, to keep him on track so that he won't peep again, but instead he turns into a rapist, as they all do on Lifetime. While I was a little disappointed to lose the unique peeping plot, I was thrilled when he basically kisses her on the cheek and tells her he's dashing out for a jog and a rape. Be back in a jiff, hon! She knows he's the rapist, he knows she knows, and he keeps rubbing her face in it by, for instance, laying his gun and rope on the table in front of her. It got a little dark when Alyson Hannigan confesses that he molested her when she was a kid and warns Tiffani to protect her new-born daughter from him (!), but it was played for suspense instead of misery. Gerald McRaney is quite likable as a paraplegic, and country music singer Lorrie Morgan plays one of the navy-men's wives. If you want a true-story message Lifetime movie, this one won't butter your bread, but if you like 'em fluffy like I do, give this one a shot.