[Review] On Deep Water and The Eroticism of Slime

I’d like to preface this review by saying: THIS FILM WON’T BE FOR EVERYONE.

Much like, say, a collection of pet snails (which is a surprisingly large component of the film), Hulu’s Deep Water is slimy and slow and strange and surreal and, thus, will undoubtedly turn many people away. However, if you enjoy slow-burns with offbeat depictions of intimacy, bleak portrayals of love, and a surplus of glutinous gastropods, this film is for you; this film is for me.

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1957 novel of the same title, the erotic thriller follows Melinda (Ana de Armas) and Vic Van Allen (Ben Affleck) as they navigate the treacherously rocky path of their dysfunctional marriage. Through a series of tense vignettes—sexual and otherwise—we dive deep into the couples’ lives, learning tragic secrets about the two as they work tirelessly to conceal them. See, the Van Allens, while appearing to live lush and ritzy lifestyles on the outside, hide vast shadows behind closed doors that must never be uncovered. Though, when the couple’s truth comes eventually to light, as most hard truths are wont to do, along with it comes deadly consequence.

SO, the plot of Deep Water sounds more or less intriguing (right?) and it is, but here’s why I think it won’t click with everyone:

For starters, it is Slooooow, and I mean Slow with a capital ‘S.’ In my mind’s eye, I can already see the reviews rolling in, criticizing Deep Water for its pacing issues, likening the film to a snail itself (Vic Allen, a man after my own heart, fathers many in the film), and scoffing at its cinematic drawl. So, while I do agree that the film takes its sweet time to develop the story and characters, I personally enjoyed the complexities it was able to build by doing so. Still, if I were in the mood for more immediate action, I would definitely choose a faster-paced film than the fairly languid Deep Water.

Another element of the film that could potentially turn away viewers is its relative modesty in comparison with saucier (what a word) erotic thrillers. Though, as I said, the film absolutely qualifies as an erotic thriller itself, it tends to lean in ways more towards a genre-bending dark drama than a super hot romance.

With regards to the film’s thriller elements, suspense and murder are, of course, present in the storyline, but both feel secondary to the personal inner-workings of Melinda and Vic’s strained relationship. If you’re looking for the type of erotic thriller that comes with endless action, violence, and sex, you might want to look elsewhere, because Deep Water is no Basic Instinct (1992). I love it to death, but it isn’t fun, per se. Don’t get me wrong, the film isn’t devoid of sexiness… like at ALL (look at the leads), but if you’re expecting the charged excitement of some of the more standard erotic thrillers, Deep Water doesn’t quite fit the bill.

NOW, here’s why Deep Water clicked with me: 

As if flies on the wall, we see the Van Allen’s’ highs and lows, complexities and faults, and fears and losses throughout the film. We see sad glances, vain kisses, and hollow smiles. We see grief, growing resentment, anger, pettiness, and grief. We see expensive dresses, wet toothpaste mouths, discarded lobster bisque, rotting fruit, lukewarm alcohol, blood, and glistening rocks. We see the wet, gloppy, ugliness so often hidden away from most mainstream media. 

There’s a truth to this difficult-to-relate to story that’s as tangible as sweat and fresh tears. The difficult or even intimate moments we share with our loved ones can often feel gritty or slick with slime, especially if we’ve been hurt time and time again. Deep Water manages to capture this slime and capture it well. In the middle of the film, Melinda accuses Vic of lacking a backbone and in my recent research, I found that snails don’t have backbones at all. I have no idea how this fact skipped me over as I used to have snail babies myself…but my point is that there's a bravery in showing the disgusting parts of romance, especially in an erotic thriller with such hot leads. In all honesty, I’m stunned by the film’s ability to be as sexy and simultaneously unsexy as it is. In fact, that oddly makes it sexier to me.