Keira Knightley has built a reputation as one of cinema’s most dependable talents – an actress whose name alone can assure the audience of a film worth watching. Her characters are rarely simple; they are layered, intelligent, and impossible to underestimate. That’s precisely who Knightley is on screen. When she takes the lead, the question of whether a film will be “good” becomes almost secondary.
In The Woman in Cabin 10, Knightley stars as Laura “Lo” Blacklock, an investigative journalist recovering from a deeply traumatic experience that has reshaped her outlook on life. Hoping for a peaceful assignment to aid in her recovery, she boards a luxurious superyacht – only to witness what appears to be a murder. The problem? Every passenger is accounted for. Is Laura’s trauma distorting her perception, or is something sinister being carefully concealed aboard the vessel?
The yacht belongs to Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce) and his wife Anne Bullmer (Lisa Loven Kongsli), a wealthy couple hosting a lavish celebration in Anne’s honor as she battles terminal cancer. During a private conversation, Anne confides in Laura that she plans to change her will – cutting Richard out of her fortune. Laura promises to keep the secret, but later that night, she hears a violent argument followed by the sound of someone being thrown overboard. Despite everyone insisting that no one is missing, Laura knows what she saw. Her sanity, however, is immediately questioned by everyone around her – including her ex-boyfriend Ben (David Ajala), who is photographing the event.
Directed by Simon Stone, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse, this adaptation of Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel delivers a taut and atmospheric thriller. The film skillfully maintains tension, inviting the audience to question every character’s motives. The ensemble cast performs admirably, and while the plot occasionally feels predictable, the suspense remains engaging throughout.
Ultimately, The Woman in Cabin 10 is a sleek psychological thriller that offers enough mystery to keep you invested. It’s an elegant one-time escape into the dangerous allure of wealth, power, and paranoia, anchored by another strong performance from Knightley.