Netflix’s latest thriller, ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’, directed by Simon Stone and based on Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel, sets out to deliver a high-seas whodunit but ultimately struggles to rise above genre predictability. The film follows Laura “Lo” Blacklock (Keira Knightley), a troubled investigative journalist, as she navigates a luxury yacht and an increasingly tense mystery.
Lo, still haunted by a previous exposé gone wrong, is sent on a supposedly relaxing assignment aboard the Aurora Borealis, a lavish vessel owned by shipping magnate Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce). The voyage doubles as a high-society fundraiser, but Lo’s hopes for a palate-cleansing escape are dashed when she witnesses a body being thrown overboard from Cabin 10, which is officially empty.
While the premise promises suspense, the plot’s later stages feel predictable, undermining the tension. Knightley delivers a convincing performance as the spiraling journalist, but the screenplay rarely lets the suspense develop organically. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, playing Lo’s editor, is underutilized, appearing briefly in a role that lacks impact. Guy Pearce effectively embodies a menacing presence, while the supporting cast, including Hannah Waddingham, Kaya Scodelario, David Ajala, and others, provide solid but unremarkable performances.
Director Stone makes good use of the yacht’s claustrophobic spaces, enhancing the protagonist’s paranoia and escalating tension. Yet, the film often relies on familiar thriller tropes—dismissed warnings, gaslighting by the rich, and frantic chases—without offering innovative twists. The major plot reveal arrives too early, leaving the audience with a sense of foregone conclusion rather than genuine suspense.
Technically, the film is polished, with natural British English dialogue and smooth pacing. However, it prioritizes checklist thriller beats over crafting a memorable, unpredictable narrative.
Ultimately, ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ is an adequate Sunday afternoon watch: competently executed but lacking the chilling precision or plot surprises that define great psychological thrillers. Fans of closed-circle mysteries may enjoy the yacht-bound tension, but expect more comfort than true terror.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
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