The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025) Movie Review: Keira Knightley Navigates A Sea of Suspects in This Glossy but Fragile Nautical Mystery

In the current landscape of streaming cinema, there is a specific subgenre that has carved out a permanent home in the cultural zeitgeist: the high-society mystery where beautiful, incredibly wealthy people do terrible things in breathtaking locations. Joining the ranks of titles like Ripley and The Perfect Couple, The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025) is Netflix’s latest foray into what critics are increasingly calling "yachtcore" horror. Directed by Simon Stone, known for the more grounded and lyrical The Dig, and written by the team of Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse, and Stone, this film attempts to translate the frantic, claustrophobic energy of Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel into a visual feast of affluent paranoia. Produced by Sister, the film sidesteps a theatrical box office run, making its global debut on October 10, 2025, directly on the streaming platform.

The film stars Keira Knightley as Laura "Lo" Blacklock, an investigative journalist whose career is defined by a dogged pursuit of truth, often at the cost of her own mental stability. Rounding out the high-profile cast are Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Ajala, and Kaya Scodelario. The premise is a classic "unreliable witness" hook: while on a luxury assignment aboard the superyacht Aurora Borealis, Lo witnesses what she is certain is a woman being cast into the midnight sea. However, when the sun rises, the crew insists every passenger is accounted for, the cabin next door is pristine and vacant, and Lo is left to wonder if her own past trauma has finally caused her to fracture. It is a story that matters because it explores the intersection of female trauma and systemic gaslighting within a world that values appearances above all else.

Story and Screenplay: A Hook That Snags, but Lines That Fray

The narrative structure of The Woman in Cabin 10 is built on a foundation of classic Hitchcockian suspense, and for the first act, it is remarkably effective. The script establishes Lo’s precarious mental state early, revealing a recent tragedy where she witnessed a woman drown during a previous assignment. This backstory is crucial; it gives the antagonists the perfect weapon to use against her. If she’s already haunted by a drowning, surely her "vision" of a woman falling overboard is just a PTSD-induced hallucination? This layer of psychological manipulation keeps the story sharp, moving with a confidence that ensures the mystery never feels bloated. The film hits its stride early, reaching its first major turning point within the first twenty minutes, which is a testament to the writers' understanding of modern audience attention spans.

However, the screenplay's greatest weakness lies in its treatment of the world outside of Lo’s perspective. While the central mystery is compelling, the script often settles for "atmosphere over depth." The wealthy guests aboard the yacht are treated more like moving scenery than fully realized characters. We are given brief glimpses of their eccentricities—their pretentious tattoos, their disdain for Lo’s middle-class attire, their martinis and secrets—but they never quite evolve into a gallery of suspects we actually care about. Instead of a "Whodunnit" where every clue is a piece of a larger portrait, the gaslighting often feels mechanical. The characters seem to act with malice or annoyance simply because the plot requires them to, rather than from a place of internal motivation. While the final act is executed with a satisfying tightness that leaves no loose ends, the journey there occasionally feels like it’s being steered by a script that is a bit too afraid to get its hands dirty.

Acting and Characters: One Powerhouse Performance Amidst a Sea of Sketches

It is no exaggeration to say that Keira Knightley is the ballast that keeps this entire production from capsizing. In what is arguably her most commanding performance in years, she transforms Lo from a standard "woman in peril" into a lived-in, emotionally intelligent protagonist. Knightley avoids the clichés of cinematic hysteria, opting instead for a performance grounded in quiet desperation and intellectual grit. We see her recoil from the luxury around her, her eyes constantly darting to find a truth that everyone else is trying to erase. She carries the film’s emotional weight so effortlessly that it’s easy to overlook when the plot begins to lean into melodrama. Without her presence, the film’s thinner elements would likely have felt far more glaring.

The rest of the cast, unfortunately, feels like a collection of missed opportunities. Guy Pearce is reliably sinister as the billionaire Richard Bullmer, but the script keeps him at a distance, telling us he is powerful and dangerous without ever truly showing the depth of that menace. Hannah Waddingham is a scene-stealer as the haughty Heidi, dripping with the kind of upper-crust disdain that only she can deliver, yet she is criminally underutilized, appearing mostly in brief bursts of drunken criticism. The same can be said for Kaya Scodelario and David Morrissey, who are essentially reduced to background noise. Even David Ajala, playing Lo’s ex-boyfriend and photographer Ben, feels like a character whose purpose is merely to react to Lo rather than exist in his own right. There is a sense that a longer, perhaps more daring version of the script might have allowed these actors to turn their "sketches" into "portraits," but here, they remain frustratingly one-dimensional.

Direction and Technical Aspects: Precision and the Varnish of Wealth

Simon Stone directs with a visual precision that highlights the contrast between the yacht’s glittering surfaces and the dark, churning water beneath. His vision for the Aurora Borealis is one of "yachtcore nightmare"—a space that is aspirational yet profoundly claustrophobic. The cinematography captures the cold, looming dread of the open ocean, using the ship’s sleek, metallic interiors to mirror the icy reception Lo receives from the elite passengers. Every frame looks expensive, which serves the theme of the film perfectly: wealth is a varnish that can cover up almost any horror. The editing is another high point, maintaining a brisk pace that prevents the narrative from sinking into the doldrums of a slow-burn mystery.

The visual storytelling is particularly effective during the sequences where Lo begins to unravel. Stone uses lighting and camera angles to make the yacht’s corridors feel like they are closing in on her, turning a symbol of ultimate freedom into a high-end prison. However, this technical polish is a double-edged sword. At times, the "glossy" nature of the production seems to kill its bite. The film is so stunning to look at that it occasionally loses the raw, visceral edge that a psychological thriller needs to truly haunt its audience. It is "Hitchcock-lite"—visually impeccable and technically sound, but perhaps a bit too safe in its aesthetic choices to ever feel truly revolutionary.

Trailer The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025)

Music and Atmosphere: The Auditory Chill of Affluence

The atmosphere of The Woman in Cabin 10 is defined by a sense of isolation that is both physical and social. Much of this is achieved through a sound design that emphasizes the ship’s detachment from the rest of the world. The constant, low-frequency thrum of the yacht’s engines, the rhythmic slapping of waves against the hull, and the muffled sounds of high-society parties create an auditory environment that feels simultaneously posh and suffocating. This audio landscape enhances the experience of gaslighting; when Lo hears a scream, it is immediately swallowed by the vast silence of the sea, making her doubt her own ears as much as the crew doubts her eyes.

The score complements this mood without ever becoming overbearing. It leans into "70s paranoia" vibes, utilizing tense strings and subtle, atmospheric cues that signal a shift from luxury to menace. The music doesn't try to force the audience into feeling fear; instead, it provides a persistent, underlying shiver that stays with you. This audio-visual combination is what makes the film an "intriguing watch" even during its more predictable stretches. It creates a "classy, atmospheric" world that is easy to sink into, even if you know exactly where the current is taking you.

Strengths and Weaknesses

What works well:

• Keira Knightley's Performance: She delivers a sharp, commanding anchor for the film, elevating every scene she is in.
• Efficient Pacing: The movie avoids the bloat common in modern streaming films, clocking in at a tight 95 minutes.
• Visual Aesthetic: The "yachtcore" setting is gorgeously realized, providing a perfect backdrop for a tale of high-society secrets.
• Satisfying Conclusion: The final act is executed with a precision that avoids dangling threads or "cheating" the audience.
• Strong Atmospheric Dread: The film successfully captures the claustrophobia of being trapped at sea with people you cannot trust.

What doesn't work:

• Underwritten Supporting Cast: Talents like Waddingham and Pearce are given very little to do beyond acting out wealthy archetypes.
• Predictable Mystery Tropes: Some of the red herrings and narrative turns feel a bit too familiar to fans of the genre.
• Style Over Substance: The polished, glossy direction sometimes robs the psychological horror of its necessary grit.
• "Telling, Not Showing": The script frequently relies on characters explaining their importance or danger rather than demonstrating it through action.

Final Verdict: A Solid Voyage Worth the Ticket

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Woman in Cabin 10 is a "solidly solid" psychological thriller that functions as a high-end, atmospheric "beach read" in cinematic form. It doesn't reinvent the genre or offer a profound commentary on the human condition, but it knows exactly what its audience wants: a sleek, suspenseful mystery led by a world-class actress. While the supporting characters remain sketches and the plot follows a well-worn map, the film is consistently engaging and visually stunning. It is a testament to how much a single, powerhouse performance can carry a movie, making it one of the more respectable entries in Netflix’s catalog of luxury thrillers.

Who should watch it? This is an easy recommendation for fans of Ruth Ware’s novels or anyone who enjoys the "wealthy people behaving badly" subgenre found in The White Lotus or Glass Onion. If you appreciate a mystery that is more about atmosphere and psychological tension than pulse-pounding action, you will find a great deal to like here. It is also a must-watch for Keira Knightley fans, as it serves as a brilliant reminder of her range and screen presence.

Who might not enjoy it? If you are looking for a groundbreaking mystery with a revolutionary twist, you might find this voyage a bit too safe. Those who prefer their thrillers with deep, ensemble character development will likely be frustrated by how quickly the supporting cast is pushed into the background. Additionally, if "cringe-inducing gaslighting" narratives make you more annoyed than intrigued, the first two acts of the film may be a difficult sit.

Recommendation: I recommend adding The Woman in Cabin 10 to your "To Watch" list for a weekend night. It is a classy, atmospheric mystery that looks gorgeous and ends cleanly. Just don't think about the supporting characters too hard, and allow yourself to be swept away by Knightley’s central, magnetic performance.