Seeing exes Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas on screen together will be an undeniable attraction (if not of the “Fatal” variety) for “Deep Water,” but that shouldn’t obscure the simple pleasures of this erotic thriller directed by Adrian Lyne, a crafty veteran of that genre. While the movie falls apart toward the end, the mystery — and crackling central performances — cruises along at a low boil much of the way.
Adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”) and relegated to a low-key premiere on Hulu, the story hinges on the strange marriage between Vic (Affleck) and Melinda (“Knives Out’s” de Armas), a picture-perfect couple that outwardly have everything, including his invention-earned wealth and their adorable young daughter.
The two have reached an apparent understanding, however, that allows her to compensate for his indifference and emotional distance by taking lovers, an unhappily-ever-after dynamic that causes discomfort among their friends, with whom they regularly throw neighborhood parties, mostly due to her brazenness.
