Deep Water (2022)

Director Lyne's films often focus on the ramifications of adultery. He's drawn to stories about circumstances spiralling out of control after his characters get caught up in extramarital passion, often to extreme lengths. His stories play out like little morality plays, suturing us into understanding how and why his subjects get swept up in the passion that will lead them into purgatory, but also having us revelling in their punishment. His films often end with a safe ending with our heroes learning their lesson but coming out okay in the end, no matter how questionable their journey was. 

In many ways this makes him seem like a perfect fit for an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's tale of a husband's passion, retribution, and murder. Her story mirrors that sort of morality play concept. But Lyne takes it in a bit of a different direction with mixed success at best. 

Lyne has once again made a beautiful film. His style remains lush and soft focused making watching his film a treat. He knows how to film his actors in a way that compels us towards them, even when they are unlikable in other ways. He pulls us into their drama, and caring for them even when we might not like them. Lyne has filmed some of the most erotic simulated movie sex I've seen on screen, often able to touch on the emotions and not just the physicality of the act. Here he films Affleck and de Armas in a way that is extremely erotic but, in keeping with his characterizations of them, soulless and often heartless as well. 

Lyne makes the choice to make his characters completely unlikeable. the film starts off with a promise of a loving couple that is open and there is a generosity in that openness. But it soon becomes apparent this is a loveless marriage where the couple use their sexualities as weapons against each other. It is a relationship of control and ownership despite the way Affleck's character spouts egalitarian ideology. In that way the film is quite clever. We watch as the two take jabs at each other, often through collateral damage. And this plays out fascinatingly in the way they parent as well, and how their daughter picks up on the dynamics of this family. 

But for me where Lyne goes wrong is in the thriller aspect. He, like the book, chooses not to make the crimes committed a mystery, so the film becomes more of a cat-and-mouse will he get away with it sort of film that ends up falling into a lot of 90s style erotic thriller cliches. This lost a lot of the fascination for me. I wanted more of the palpable relationship drama between the two damaged people and less of the covering up a murder hi-jinx. I know that's not far off from the novel but it was just the least interesting part. Vic is no Tom Ripley and just doesn't inspire in the audience the compassion to endure his struggle. 

But then Lyne's choice to change the ending was fascinating too. With everything that leads up to it it feels a bit tagged on. And for me, the if the film had spent more time building the complications of their relationship throughout the ending could have felt more impactful. But instead it just feels a little flat. I guess it just reminded me of what it could have been. 

I was excited to see Lyne back behind the camera after 20 years. His last film, Unfaithful, is I think my favourite of his work. But Deep Water feels like a step back. Hopefully this isn't the last film he'll make. 

Deep Water

Starring: Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas, Lil Rel Howery, Tracey Letts, Dash Mihok, Jacob Elordi, Finn Wittrock, Kristen Connolly 

Director: Adrian Lyne

Writers: Zach Helm, Sam Levinson