Into the Deep is a 2022 thriller film directed by Kate Cox in her feature debut. The movie follows Jess, a young woman struggling to move on from her mother’s death, who gets swept up in a whirlwind romance with the mysterious Ben.
Their idyllic time together on his boat takes a dark turn with the arrival of another woman named Lexie. The film builds suspense as Jess tries to figure out who she can trust while stranded miles from shore.
How Did Jess and Ben End Up Miles From Shore?
Jess is a 22-year-old still grieving the loss of her mother who died in a car accident 11 years prior. She has a tense relationship with her father, who has started dating again. Jess works at a shop and rides her bike while listening to loud music to escape her troubles.
One day, Jess meets the charming Ben and they quickly hit it off. Ben invites Jess to travel the world with him, starting with a romantic getaway on his boat. Eager to get away, Jess agrees. The two spend a dreamy few days together, drinking, partying and getting intimate as they drift miles from shore.
What Did Ben Do To Lexie and Jess?
Their blissful time is interrupted when a speedboat rams into them. They rescue the boat’s sole occupant – a woman named Lexie who claims she got separated from her friends. Ben and Lexie seem friendly, but Jess grows increasingly suspicious of the newcomer, especially after noticing discrepancies in Lexie’s story and appearance compared to a photo.
Strange things start happening on the boat. Jess finds Ben unconscious in the engine room with Lexie standing over him. Jess knocks Lexie out, unsure who to believe. When Lexie comes to, she attacks Ben and lets Jess fall overboard during the scuffle.
Jess makes it to Lexie’s speedboat and considers fleeing, but decides to return to help Ben. Meanwhile, it’s revealed that Ben gave both women some unidentified pills. Jess starts to question why she so readily trusted this man she barely knows.
Why Did Ben Lie to Jess?
In a tense scene, the truth finally comes out: Ben and Lexie were working together the whole time. They are con artists who target women like Jess, luring them in with romance before drugging and robbing them. Lexie is angry because Ben seems to really be falling for Jess, deviating from their usual plan.
Ben admits to Jess that his father is still alive and the dead parent story was a lie to gain her sympathy, as her mother’s death was her “weakness.” Jess is devastated by the betrayal.
The Fiery Confrontation Jess and Lexie end up in a physical altercation. During their fight, a fire breaks out on the boat, likely from the oil leak in the engine room. Ben perishes in the blaze while the two women narrowly escape.
Jess makes it to the speedboat, leaving Lexie behind. However, the movie’s final shot shows Lexie emerging from the water, very much alive and likely to continue her criminal ways.
Into the Deep Ending Explained
The ending of “Into the Deep” is fairly straightforward in revealing Ben and Lexie’s true nature and resolving the central mystery. However, it leaves Jess’ fate somewhat ambiguous.
Physically, Jess survives the ordeal, but emotionally she is shattered. The man she fell for and entrusted with her deepest vulnerabilities callously betrayed her. This trauma, combined with the unresolved grief over losing her mother, suggests Jess has a difficult mental health journey ahead.
There’s also the question of what will happen when Jess returns home. How will her father react to her disappearance? Will Jess tell the authorities about what happened with Ben and Lexie? The film leaves these threads hanging.
Lexie’s survival at the end hints that while this particular con is over, the cycle of exploitation will continue with new victims. It’s a chilling reminder of the human capacity for cruelty and deception.
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Though Jess survives the harrowing events on the boat, Into the Deep makes it clear that her journey is far from over. She will have to grapple with the aftermath of both fresh trauma and resurfaced grief. The ambiguous ending leaves us wondering and worrying about her fate.
