Ben Affleck may be making tabloid headlines because of his reunion with Jennifer Lopez, but audiences haven't forgotten his 2020 romantic with Ana de Armas thanks to Deep Water's release last month. The stars' relationship might be the movie's worst-kept secret, but details like Affleck's snail-handling skills have been less publicized.
Deep Water might remind fans of other steamy thrillers from years past, and for good reason, considering it was directed by Adrian Lyne. Lyne helmed Fatal Attraction, which launched the erotic thriller into the mainstream in the late '80s-1990s. And while Deep Water is a polarizing movie that doesn't appear to have revived the genre, it sure did make for some fascinating stories behind-the-scenes.
It Was Filmed In New Orleans
Different kinds of scenery are presented in Deep Water. Affleck's Vic Van Allen is shown riding his bike through the suburbs, the woods, and abandoned warehouses when he's not in his own beautiful mansion or attending one of many lavish parties.
It's at one of these parties that Vic and de Armas' Melinda meet antagonist Don Wilson (Tracy Letts), and the sunny New Orleans aesthetic is unmistakable. The New York Times reported that filming took place in New Orleans and surrounding areas in Louisiana.
Ben Affleck Impressed The Snail Handler
Deep Water isn't one of Affleck's best movies. However, fans of the actor might say he gives a chilling performance as the frustrated, jealous, and homicidal Vic Van Allen. Perhaps one of the strangest elements of the character comes with his interest in snails.
Entertainment Weekly reported that Affleck really took to his role as a snail enthusiast on set. The film's snail handler Max Anton said that Affleck was "exceptionally good with [his] animals," and that the actor was "fantastic to work with."
Ben Affleck and Ana De Armas Dated During Filming
Celebrity gossip devotees might say Deep Water is better known for the relationship between its stars than for the movie's story. Vic and Melinda have a tumultuous and strained marriage on screen, but Affleck and de Armas had their honeymoon period of romance while they were playing these characters.
Independent reported that Affleck and de Armas met while filming in 2019 and dated for more than a year. They have since split. Lyne is quoted saying, "On any movie when your actors fall in love, you just pray they don’t fall out of love before the end of filming.” Lyne is a director who took a lot of time between movies, as Deep Water marks his return to the director's chair after a two-decade hiatus.
The Story Comes From The Author Of The Talented Mr. Ripley
The most famous names associated with Deep Water are its stars, Affleck and de Armas. However, there is another important person behind the movie who is mentioned less in its discussion.
The film is based on a novel of the same title by author Patricia Highsmith. She also wrote the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was adapted into a 1999 film. It is considered one of star Jude Law's best roles, and it coincidentally stars Affleck's famous friend and collaborator, Matt Damon.
Don Wilson Is Played By An Actual Screenwriter
During the first events of the film, audiences are introduced to Don Wilson at one of the several get-togethers Vic and Melinda attend. He is a screenwriter and is perhaps the first character to instinctively challenge Vic as a potential murderer.
Letts is in fact a playwright and screenwriter. He has written the scripts for several film adaptations of his place, his most famous being for the Tony Award-winning August Osage County. His most recent work was The Woman in the Window, which was released on Netflix in 2021.
Finn Wittrock's Birthday Is Shown
There are several murder victims presented in Deep Water. However, the final person to die is Melinda's ex-boyfriend, Tony Cameron (Finn Wittrock). Fans might remember Wittrock from his detailed role as Dandy in American Horror Story: Freakshow.
In the final moments of the film, audiences see Melinda burning Tony's ID to help Vic preserve his innocence. Tony's birthdate is presented on the ID as October 28th, 1984, which is actor Wittrock's real birthday.
The Director Popularized The Erotic Thriller Genre In the '80s & '90s
New fans might not know Deep Water director Lyne's filmography. Lyne is perhaps most responsible for the erotic thriller's surge in popularity in the '80s and '90s.
Lyne directed Fatal Attraction, arguably the quintessential erotic thriller, and went on to helm Indecent Proposal and Unfaithful. The latter was his last movie before Deep Water, and it was released in 2022.
The Creator of Euphoria Co-Wrote The Screenplay
Diehard Euphoria fans might have watched Deep Water to catch Jacob Elordi in a supporting role. Elordi plays Nate Jacobs in the hit TV show, and one of Melinda's boyfriends, Charlie De Lisle, in Deep Water.
However, viewers might not realize that Euphoria creator, director, and writer Sam Levinson wrote the screenplay with co-writer Zach Helm. Helm also wrote Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium and Stranger Than Fiction, fantasy comedies from the late 2000s.