Deep Water ending explained: What happens to Melinda and Vic?

Deep Water is an erotic psychological thriller that was released on March 18, 2022, on Hulu. The Adrian Lyne-directed film is written by Sam Levinson and Zach Helm, and is adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel of the same name, published in 1957. Deep Water marked Lyne's return to direction after his 2002 film, Unfaithful.

Here's the official synopsis, per IMDb:

A well-to-do husband who allows his wife to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of her lovers.

The ending of Deep Water reportedly sparked discussions among the audience. So let's take a look at the ending of the film, and what happens to the lead characters.

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What is the plot of Deep Water?

Deep Water is about a couple named Vic Van Allen (Ben Affleck) and Melinda Van Allen (Ana de Armas), who have a daughter. Their marriage is shaky and held together by a clause: They sleep separately and Melinda has affairs openly. Things get complicated when her lovers start to disappear and end up dead.

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How does Deep Water end?

As Deep Water reaches its end, Melinda and Vic's relationship improves. This happens despite the fact that she knows he has killed two of her lovers, including Charlie. Instead of accusing him, she is more attracted to him. She finds an ex-lover Tony's wallet in Vic's snail collection box, while her husband tries to dispose of Tony's body in the river. A writer, Don, sees Vic trying to get rid of the body and sets out to inform the police. However, he dies during a chase from Vic. Later, Vic finds a smiling Melinda waiting for him in their house. She burns Tony's wallet and identity documents.

In the film, Vic's sinister side is revealed when he tells Joel that he eliminated Martin McCrae, though he labels it as a joke after Melinda gets angry. Soon, Vic realizes that no one takes his actions seriously, so he might get away with murder. This gives him the idea that drives the film's storyline, as he tries to salvage his marriage through a series of killings.

In an interview with Collider, director Lyne said that he wanted his audience to be thrown into a relationship that was in shambles. He said:

"What I tried to avoid, to be honest, was an “arrangement.” I wanted you to be dumped into a relationship that is in tatters, if you like. I didn’t want to feel that he said, 'Well, you can go out and screw whoever you want, and eventually you’ll come back, and you’ll be happier with me.' I just thought that was detestable. I wanted you to feel that this was a marriage where the relationship had gotten out of hat. He’s trying to deal with it and he’s trying to be urbane. In that scene at the beginning, he says, 'I wish you’d find somebody with brains,' but then, within 30 seconds, he’s coming onto her and getting rejected, so it’s not working for him."

What do you think about the ending of Deep Water and the actions of Melinda and Vic? Let us know in the comment section.

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