Thursday, 30 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > The Woman in Cabin 10 review: Keira Knightley’s nautical thriller drowns in mediocrity
Tech and Science

The Woman in Cabin 10 review: Keira Knightley’s nautical thriller drowns in mediocrity

Last updated: October 9, 2025 6:05 pm
Share
The Woman in Cabin 10 review: Keira Knightley’s nautical thriller drowns in mediocrity
SHARE

Quick Overview

Critics’ Rating

Our Assessment

When stacked against other mediocre Netflix thrillers, The Woman in Cabin 10 emerges as a significant triumph. However, if you hold high expectations for engaging thrillers, this film might be one to abandon rather than embrace.   

Current Best Pricing

It’s a dreadful experience to be disbelieved when you know the truth. This is the plight of Laura Blacklock, portrayed by Keira Knightley, who witnesses a murder on a high-end yacht. Despite her background as a journalist, nobody buys her account of the incident. In fact, they question the very existence of the victim. 

Fortunately, this journalist might find it easier to convince you of how unexciting The Woman in Cabin 10 truly is.

Netflix has struggled with its original movie offerings, particularly in the thriller genre. With flops like Red Notice, Back In Action, and The Gray Man occupying significant spots on its most-watched films chart, my anticipation for new releases such as this has been sinking faster than… Laura’s stomach while witnessing that unfortunate passenger perish.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that co-writers Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse are better known for the lackluster Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, and the film is directed by Simon Stone, a former theater director whose 2021 biopic The Dig was merely adequate. Nevertheless, I’ve always had a soft spot for Keira Knightley, and given the success of last year’s Black Doves, along with the remarkable cast surrounding her, there was still a glimmer of hope that The Woman in Cabin 10 could surpass expectations.

See also  Oregon woman is ‘trying very hard’ to be able to retire by 80 — but Dave Ramsey says her plan needs rethinking

Sadly, my optimism turned out to be as misguided as the boat’s manipulating crew insists Laura is. 

Adapted from Ruth Ware’s popular novel, The Woman in Cabin 10 begins with an appealing setup, presenting a faithful interpretation of the central enigma: Who was thrown overboard, and why would anyone risk murder at sea when escape seems impossible? Unless, of course, no actual murder took place at all… 

Upon reporting the sighting of a passenger overboard, Laura finds the ship’s crew conducting a head count and claiming that no one is missing. It seems Laura must have imagined everything, even the bloody handprint she witnessed on the glass, which has mysteriously vanished. Only Laura’s ex-boyfriend, Ben, offers her a semblance of trust as she delves into the investigation.

The film has ample opportunity to generate suspense from its confined setting, revisiting classic Hitchcockian elements with a contemporary twist on the theme of female gaslighting. However, the only pressure I felt was the need to quicken the film’s pace or risk getting submerged in its mediocrity. 

…the only pressure I felt was the need to quicken the film’s pace or risk getting submerged in its mediocrity 

It’s not merely that the plot twists take the safe route. They initially hint at deeper layers but then veer off into bizarre territory with improbable outcomes that detach the film from any semblance of reality. Combine that with the lackluster Netflix aesthetic that often plagues their original films, and the screenplay soon feels implausible, culminating in a chaotic and almost nonsensical finale. 

A significant part of the film’s failure lies in how poorly the major twist is executed, and how implausible it is that the other characters didn’t grasp the reality sooner. Revealing more would spoil one of the script’s more dynamic moments. On the brighter side, this notable twist occurs sooner than expected, sparing viewers from further drag.

See also  Taylor Swift Is Every Millennial Woman: What Jeans Should We Wear?

Keira Knightley as Laura Blacklock in Netflix's The Woman in Cabin 10

Netflix

To be fair, this twist is essential to the original story, so it wasn’t feasible for the writers to omit it without significantly altering the narrative. I suspect that had I read the book, the reveal may have landed more effectively on the page, as our imaginations would fill in the gaps left by visuals.

Keira certainly carries a lot of weight, anchoring the story with one of the film’s stronger performances. However, there’s only so much one can do with such a lackluster script. Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham also lend their star power, but it’s far less impactful than one might hope from either veteran actor. 

Star Trek: Discovery’s David Ajala stands out among the cast, engaging in a lively exchange with Knightley’s journalist as her charming ex. Their dynamic on screen brings The Woman in Cabin 10 tantalizingly close to resembling a film crafted by actual human beings rather than a design generated by an AI scraping recent beach reads at the airport bookstore.

Keira certainly carries a lot of weight, anchoring the story with one of the film’s stronger performances

<pYet, the presence of talents like Kaya Scodelario and Gugu Mbatha-Raw is overshadowed by their uninspiring roles, reminding us that this is indeed an original Netflix thriller. Mbatha-Raw is particularly burdened with a line that may go down as one of the more poorly delivered lines of recent memory. You’ll know it when you hear it. 

Recently, author Ruth Ware shared with Tudum that her tale continues to resonate even a decade later: 

“At its core, Cabin 10 is about a woman who witnesses something wrong, reports her truth, and is dismissed due to her identity.”

And she’s right. Enduring The Woman in Cabin 10 will leave you feeling like you’ve encountered something amiss. That much is certain.  

See also  Exclusive | Iryna Zarutska 911 callers describe horror after Ukrainian refugee slaughtered on Charlotte train: ‘Stabbed this woman for no reason’

Is The Woman in Cabin 10 Worth Watching?

Much like an airport-read paperback you might pick up for a getaway, The Woman in Cabin 10 isn’t destined to transform your life. In fact, it’s likely to fade from your memory the moment the credits roll. Personally, I’d prefer to get lost at sea than become lost in this narrative again, but if you seek something straightforward and mindless, Keira Knightley’s latest offering could fit the bill. 

The Woman in Cabin 10 is currently available on Netflix. You can subscribe here, with plans starting at £5.99/$7.99 per month.

Related Readings

  • Sisu: Road to Revenge review: Aim high to come home
  • 3 ways Marvel Zombies highlights flaws in the Multiverse Saga
  • 5 alterations that would enhance The Celebrity Traitors compared to the original
TAGGED:CabindrownsKeiraKnightleysmediocritynauticalreviewthrillerWoman
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article NY AG Letitia James indicted on federal bank fraud, false claims charges NY AG Letitia James indicted on federal bank fraud, false claims charges
Next Article Micellar Water Is the French Pharmacy Staple I Can’t Live Without Micellar Water Is the French Pharmacy Staple I Can’t Live Without
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Complete Timeline of Their Feud

He knew I would never be able to afford to buy my masters. He was…

May 30, 2025

‘Martin’ Spinoff ‘Varnell Hill’ Starring Tommy Davidson Ordered at BET

Tommy Davidson is set to reprise his iconic role as Varnell Hill from the beloved…

April 15, 2025

Bad Bunny’s New Song Could Be About Anyone, Including Kendall Jenner

Bad Bunny Opens Up About Inspiration Behind Latest Album In a recent interview with Time…

January 5, 2025

Michigan police officers Luke Bradley and Ryan Martin remove deer “thrashing around” in 103-year-old woman’s apartment

A Deer Breaks into a 103-Year-Old Woman's Assisted Living Home In a shocking incident in…

November 10, 2024

USMNT outplayed by Mexico in Gold Cup final; Spain the team to beat at Euro 2025?

With the Women's Euro in full swing, Spain has emerged as one of the standout…

July 7, 2025

You Might Also Like

Bugonia’s Ending Explained: The Wildest Conclusion of Any Film in 2025
Tech and Science

Bugonia’s Ending Explained: The Wildest Conclusion of Any Film in 2025

October 30, 2025
How Are Annual Flu Vaccines Made?
Tech and Science

How Are Annual Flu Vaccines Made?

October 30, 2025
Navan IPO tumbles 20% after historic debut under SEC shutdown workaround
Tech and Science

Navan IPO tumbles 20% after historic debut under SEC shutdown workaround

October 30, 2025
The US is unlikely to test nuclear weapons, despite what Trump says
Tech and Science

The US is unlikely to test nuclear weapons, despite what Trump says

October 30, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?