You’ve seen the "stuck on a boat" trope a thousand times. Agatha Christie basically owns the patent on it. But when Netflix dropped In Love and Deep Water (originally titled Kuifuku Shite Omoitogeru), it didn't exactly play by the rules we're used to in Western cinema. It’s weird. It’s colorful. Honestly, it’s a bit of a tonal whiplash that somehow works if you’re in the right mood for a Japanese rom-com masquerading as a high-stakes whodunit.
Directed by Yusuke Taki and written by the prolific Yuji Sakamoto—the guy behind the screenplay for the 2023 Cannes winner Monster—this film isn't just a simple mystery. It’s a massive, expensive-looking production set on the MSC Bellissima, a real-life luxury cruise ship. If you're looking for a gritty, dark thriller, you’re in the wrong place. This is a movie about people who are deeply, messily in love, even while a dead body is potentially floating in the pool.
The Chaos of In Love and Deep Water Explained
The story centers on Suguru (Ryo Yoshizawa), a butler who is almost too good at his job. He’s the guy who can anticipate a guest’s need for a napkin before they even spill their drink. He meets Chizuru (Aoi Miyazaki), a woman who is convinced that their respective partners are cheating on each other. It sounds like the setup for a standard romantic comedy. Then, they witness a murder.
Or do they?
That’s the thing about In Love and Deep Water. It keeps shifting the goalposts. One minute you’re watching a meticulously choreographed dinner service, and the next, you’re trying to figure out if a wealthy family is covering up a heinous crime. Sakamoto’s writing style is famously dialogue-heavy and eccentric. He loves characters who talk around a subject rather than addressing it head-on. This gives the film a theatrical, almost surreal quality. You’ve got a doctor who isn't really a doctor, a film producer with a massive ego, and a ship full of people who are all lying about something.
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Why the Tone Confused Everyone
When the film hit Netflix globally, the reviews were... mixed. A lot of people didn't know what to make of the slapstick humor happening alongside a murder investigation. But that’s a hallmark of certain Japanese "mystery-comedies." Think of it like a live-action anime. The stakes are real, but the reactions are dialed up to eleven.
Ryo Yoshizawa plays Suguru with a stiff-upper-lip energy that slowly cracks. It’s a physical performance. He uses his whole body to convey the stress of maintaining order on a ship that is descending into chaos. Aoi Miyazaki provides the perfect foil; she’s cynical, driven, and totally unimpressed by the luxury surrounding her. Their chemistry isn't about grand romantic gestures. It’s about two people who are tired of being the "nice ones" finally deciding to cause a little trouble.
Breaking Down the Mystery (With Real Nuance)
Let's talk about the plot without spoiling the actual ending, because the journey is really the point here. The "Deep Water" part of the title isn't just literal. It refers to the secrets the characters are drowning in.
The movie spends a lot of time on the MSC Bellissima. It’s basically a character itself. The sprawling Swarovski crystal staircases and the endless buffets aren't just set dressing. They represent the superficiality that Suguru and Chizuru are trying to navigate. The murder mystery serves as a catalyst for these two to stop being "servants" to their own lives and start taking control.
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One of the most interesting aspects is how the film handles the concept of "The Perfect Crime." In most mysteries, the killer is a mastermind. In In Love and Deep Water, the "bad guys" are often just incompetent or blinded by their own greed. It’s more realistic in its absurdity. People aren't usually evil geniuses; they're just selfish.
Technical Craft and Visuals
Visually, the film is a feast. The cinematography by Keisuke Imamura is bright and saturated. It doesn't look like a murder mystery. It looks like a vacation brochure. This contrast is intentional. When blood finally enters the frame, it pops against the pristine white decks of the ship.
The pacing is where some viewers might struggle. At over two hours, it’s a commitment. Sakamoto’s scripts often meander through side stories that feel irrelevant until the final thirty minutes when everything suddenly clicks into place. It’s a slow-burn disguised as a fast-paced romp.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Film
There’s a common complaint that the movie is "too goofy."
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Honestly? That's kind of the point. Japanese storytelling often blends genres in a way that feels "incorrect" to Western audiences trained on the strict boundaries of Noir or Sitcom. In Love and Deep Water is a "Sakuzushi" style—a mix of various elements that shouldn't work together but do.
It’s also a commentary on the service industry. Suguru’s obsession with "omotenashi" (wholehearted hospitality) is a double-edged sword. It makes him excellent at his career but leaves him hollow as a person. Watching him reclaim his humanity by becoming a terrible butler for the sake of solving a crime is the most satisfying arc in the film.
Is It Worth the Watch?
If you like Knives Out or Glass Onion, you’ll find bits of that DNA here. But if you’re expecting a gritty procedural, you’ll be disappointed. This is for the person who wants a movie that feels like a fever dream at sea. It’s about the absurdity of human relationships and the lengths we go to to keep up appearances.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Watchlist
If you’re planning to dive into In Love and Deep Water, here is how to actually enjoy it:
- Adjust your expectations for genre. Don't look for a serious thriller. Treat it as a romantic farce that happens to have a body count.
- Pay attention to the background characters. Much of the humor and several clues are buried in the "filler" conversations of the other cruise guests.
- Watch it in the original Japanese with subtitles. The comedic timing is very specific to the language's cadence, and some of that gets lost in the English dub.
- Look into Yuji Sakamoto’s other work. If you find the writing style intriguing, check out Monster (2023) or the TV series Quartet. He is a master of dialogue, and seeing his range helps you appreciate the weirdness of this film more.
- Research the "MSC Bellissima." Knowing that the ship is a real place—one of the largest in the world—adds a layer of "how did they film that?" appreciation to the technical side of the movie.
The film serves as a reminder that even in the most controlled, luxurious environments, human nature is messy. We fall in love with the wrong people. We make mistakes. We cover things up. And sometimes, we just need someone to help us see through the fog.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
The best way to experience In Love and Deep Water is to pair it with a broader exploration of modern Japanese cinema. Start by watching the film on Netflix, then look up the "Sakamoto style" of screenwriting to understand the rhythm of the dialogue. If you enjoy the blend of mystery and comedy, your next logical stop should be the 2012 film Key of Life (Kagi Dorobo no Mesoddo), which shares a similar DNA of high-stakes absurdity and heartfelt character growth.