The erotic thriller genre is back with “Deep Water,” which is now streaming on Hulu. The 20th Century Studios film was originally set for a theatrical release, but after multiple delays it was shifted to a streaming-only release.
Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, the film follows a married couple who have fallen out of love. The wife, Melinda, flaunts her extramarital liaisons in front of her husband, but when more than one of her lovers turns up missing, the question becomes whether her husband is just jealous or if he’s a straight-up murderer.
“Deep Water” marks the first directorial effort from “Fatal Attraction” helmer Adrian Lyne since 2002’s “Unfaithful,” and boasts a screenplay co-written by “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson and Zach Helm.
But who fills out the ensemble of this twisty thriller? Check out our cast and character guide below.
Ben Affleck as Vic Van Allen
Ben Affleck fills the role of the husband, Vic Van Allen. Vic is retired and wealthy, having created a computer chip that made drone warfare possible. He spends his days biking through the city and caring for his young daughter. He also collects snails for some reason.
Affleck, of course, is an Oscar-winning screenwriter, producer and director who most recently starred in “The Tender Bar” and “The Last Duel.”
Ana de Armas as Melinda Van Allen
Ana de Armas plays Vic’s flirty, frequently drunk wife Melinda. Vic and Melinda seem to have an arrangement by which she’s allowed to flirt (and possibly go further) with other men, but flaunting her adventures in front of her husband draws his ire. She’s not quite interested in being a mother, and is incredibly hot and cold.
Armas first came to prominence with a supporting role in “Blade Runner 2049” before breaking out big as the star of “Knives Out.” Recently she appeared in “No Time to Die.”
Tracy Letts as Don Wilson
Tracy Letts is Don Wilson, a fairly new member of the community who fancies himself a novelist. He immediately becomes suspicious of Vic, and wonders whether his “joke” about killing one of Melinda’s former lovers is no joke at all.
Letts is a Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning playwright, screenwriter and actor. He’s best known for writing “August: Osage County” and has appeared as an actor in films ranging from “Lady Bird” to “the Post” to “Ford v. Ferrari.”
Lil Rel Howery as Grant
Comedian Lil Rel Howery plays Grant, one of Vic’s best friends and confidants. Howery is best known for his role in “Get Out” and co-starred in “Free Guy,” as well as the short-lived TV series “Rel.”
Dash Mihok as Jonas Fernandez
Dash Mihok plays Jonas, another one of Vic’s closest friends. Mihok is well known for his role on the Showtime series “Ray Donovan.”
Kristen Connolly as Kelly Wilson
Kristen Connolly plays Kelly Wilson, the wife of Don Wilson who is inclined to believe that Vic is innocent of murder. Connolly starred in the 2011 horror film “The Cabin in the Woods” and on the TV series “House of Cards” and “Zoo.”
Brendan Miller as Joel Dash
Joel Dash is the first of Melinda’s lovers that we meet, and he’s played by Brendan Miller whose credits include the films “Project X” and “In Time.”
Jacob Elordi as Charlie De Lisle
Charlie De Lisle is the second of Melinda’s lovers that shows up in the film, and he’s played by “Euphoria” and “The Kissing Booth” actor Jacob Elordi.
Finn Wittrock as Tony Cameron
Another of Melinda’s lovers is Tony Cameron, played by “American Horror Story” alum Finn Wittrock, who viewers may also know from the Netflix series “Ratched.”
