The Woman in Cabin 10 is a psychological thriller, based on the 2016 book by the same title from the award-winning author Ruth Ware. It is almost 10 years since the release of the book when Netflix decided to turn the print from page to screen, led by director Simon Stone (The Dig). The film is a perfect moody watch for a cold and dark night wrapped up in a blanket, with friends or family, as you, together, feel the anticipation of the finale. This is not a movie of too many jump scares, but you can feel the lingering evil creeping around the corners and lingering in the webbed maze of corridors along the yacht, waiting for the crescendo of the ending.

We are introduced to our main character Lo Blacklock (Keira Knightley), a journalist stressed out and tortured from traumatising stories she has followed. She has recently just come back to work from a break, recovering from the mental strain of the trauma of death in one of her cases, when she receives an interesting invitation. She has been invited, as a guest and also as a journalist, by Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce) to stay on his yacht to simultaneously enjoy and report the philanthropy of Bullmer’s party. The occasion is a charity trip, raising money for the illness of his wife, Alice Bullmers (Lisa Loven Kongsli).

All of the guests invited are influencers, musicians, celebrities and social media stars; including Lo’s ex-boyfriend, Ben Morgan (David Ajala), who is a photographer journalist. They are welcomed aboard and taken to their rooms. Lo is on her balcony, a seemingly unsuspecting moment, as a small cigarette butt from the person’s balcony next-door to her, room 10, rolls by her feet. She picks it up and puts it in the bin in her bathroom. Later that evening she speaks with Alice Bullmer for the first time, where it is revealed to Lo, the contents of Alice’s will, in which she wishes to relinquish the charity and all of the money from her husband’s greedy grip. When Lo goes to bed that night she sees a woman fall from the balcony of room 10 next door to her. In obvious panic she calls for help, the crew immediately begin a head count however, after explaining to the crew what had happened and where she believed the woman to have fallen from, the panic from the cabin members and crew dies down completely. They explain to Lo that there has never been anyone staying in cabin 10.

But Lo is certain of what she saw; and being a reporter she takes on the case. This leads her on a dangerous journey, and puts her in the firing line of a gun she didn’t even know was being held. Her clues disappear and the people on board are unconcerned and she feels like she is going insane. She is made to feel crazy, then she is made to feel hunted, and it comes down to life and death for Lo, if she does not want to be the next person thrown off the side of the boat.

The actors were invested and enthusiastic. I cannot deny the authenticity and persuadability of Keira Knightly as an experienced and skilled actor. The plot lends itself to obviousness, in an attempt to be transparent Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce) invites a journalist aboard his yacht, when he is fully aware of the plans at large, it is not surprising then that it goes wrong and Lo ends up having to put her thinking cap on. The ‘Agatha Christsie-like’ ‘who-done-it’ of the plot makes some of the twists and turns unsurprising. Being set on a boat also (unintentionally?) pays homage to Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, which has also been adapted for screen by Kenneth Branagh in 2022. I point this out to say that as thriller/murder mystery films go, this one does not explore new territory, but like a Christie, it will throw a curveball so it is in some ways familiar.  Some of the effort to retain tension overcompensates for the flaws. Regardless the music is intense and eerie; paired with the gloomy colour grading the atmosphere is allowed to build up.

I personally enjoy the female lead plot, with different female characters coming together to take down the bad guy. It is very satisfying. It is also the woman who plays the role of the hero, to not only team up with, but save other women.

Verdict

Overall, this is predictable, but perfect for a movie night at home, cosying up to in this cold season.

2.5/5

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