What's Inside?
- Ana de Armas shines as Melinda, a femme fatale navigating infidelity, desire, and freedom in a twisted, compelling marriage drama.
- Ben Affleck delivers a powerful performance as Vic, a husband torn between love, jealousy, and the consequences of obsession.
- Deep Water revives the erotic thriller genre with tension, moral ambiguity, and shocking twists that captivate and disturb viewers.
Ana de Armas has cemented her place in Hollywood with hits like Knives Out and No Time to Die. Yet, some of her most intriguing work lies in unconventional projects, and Deep Water stands out as a prime example. Co-starring Ben Affleck and marking director Adrian Lyne’s return after two decades, this film adapts Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name, exploring the volatile relationship between Vic and Melinda Van Allen. Despite its delayed release due to COVID-19 and a muted critical response, Deep Water deserves a second look, offering a twisted, intoxicating glimpse into love, obsession, and marital decay.
Deep Water Tried to Revive the Erotic Thriller
Set in the picturesque yet tense backdrop of Little Wesley, Louisiana, Deep Water tells the story of a marriage unlike any other. Melinda, played by Ana de Armas, openly engages in relationships with other men while her husband, Vic (Ben Affleck), watches with simmering resentment. “Even as his wife took lovers in his home and in front of their friends, he remained in love with her,” the film reveals, capturing the tragic loyalty Vic feels.
Affleck delivers a layered performance as a husband caught between love, jealousy, and impotent rage. He threatens Melinda’s lovers, yet knows he lacks real control. De Armas, meanwhile, embodies a woman both alluring and unpredictable, her calm exterior masking a restless, self-interested interior. Her Melinda is a femme fatale who desires freedom from both child and marriage, indifferent to consequences.
The film also explores cinematic eroticism with a thoughtful restraint that harks back to its golden era. It emphasizes tension and implication over explicitness, making each intimate scene charged with meaning. The chemistry between Affleck and de Armas hinges on love, hatred, and toxicity, keeping audiences riveted.
Deep Water Explores Marriage’s Dark Side
At its core, Deep Water is a study of marital dynamics gone awry. Vic and Melinda’s marriage is defined by obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. “Melinda struggles with the passage of time and her fear of being uninteresting, while Vic has to deal with the emotional turmoil of having a wife who is unfaithful to him,” the narrative explains.
The couple’s actions are a twisted pursuit of youth: Melinda tests her desirability, while Vic attempts to reclaim control and vitality through his wife. Vic’s morality is ambiguous—he is neither innocent nor purely villainous—but his descent into violence creates suspense that defines the erotic thriller genre. The tension crescendos as Vic eliminates Melinda’s lovers, culminating in a shocking sequence involving her latest paramour, Tony, and a creek that becomes the backdrop for a macabre yet strangely intimate resolution.
Jacob Elordi’s brief presence as a romantic rival highlights the volatility of Vic and Melinda’s world, though his early exit reinforces the film’s focus on the central, twisted couple. Their friends, aware of the couple’s unconventional lifestyle, serve as a mirror to society’s judgment, yet the Van Allens remain undeterred, unapologetic, and compelling.
Deep Water Delivers a Disturbing Yet Poignant Ending
The film’s conclusion mirrors the unsettling satisfaction of Gone Girl. Vic and Melinda’s perverse relationship survives, their bond cemented through shared secrets and acts of violence. As Melinda attempts to leave, her daughter intervenes, preventing her departure, while Melinda flirts with Vic, fully aware of the consequences of his actions. “Melinda enjoyed that her husband killed for her, and Vic knew that he could keep doing it, and she would stay with him,” the story makes clear.
In these final moments, Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck perfectly embody a couple whose love is inseparable from toxicity. The public nature of their marriage, combined with their disregard for social perception, reinforces the film’s dark exploration of desire, control, and moral ambiguity. Deep Water is not merely about eroticism; it is a study of human flaws, obsession, and the lengths people go to maintain the illusion of intimacy.
Deep Water may have been overshadowed by delays and mixed reviews, but its intelligent take on the erotic thriller, combined with the magnetic performances of Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck, ensures it remains a film worth revisiting. It is a story of desire, obsession, and marital darkness that lingers long after the credits roll.
