Thomas Storai 
“The Woman in Cabin 10 is a riveting psychological thriller with an oppressive atmosphere. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time.”
The Woman in Cabin 10 is a psychological thriller directed by Simon Stone and starring Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, David Morrissey, David Ajala, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Ruth Ware. It releases today on Netflix.
THE PREMISE
The Woman in Cabin 10 follows Laura Blacklock (Keira Knightley), a journalist who is invited on a luxury yacht for an assignment. However, danger quickly arises when she witnesses a mysterious passenger being thrown overboard while everyone around her doesn’t believe it happened.
STORY
The film is 95 minutes long, which may seem short, but for the story it tells, it has the correct runtime. It finds the time to properly introduce the characters and the setting before jumping into the heart of the plot. It’s essential to have that exposure because once there’s a shift with the passenger being thrown, the atmosphere completely changes. There’s a constant questioning from the other characters about what Laura is going through, to the point that they try to make her believe she’s imagining things. What’s going on really gets into her mind. And because of how the others act, she is on her own. As she searches for answers, her situation becomes more and more uncertain.
Even though the answers Laura is looking for are essential, what’s even more critical than those answers is whether she’s able to get out of danger. Undoubtedly, it’s a riveting psychological thriller that knows how to grab the audience’s attention. The atmosphere is oppressive, the threat is tangible, and the tensions are there. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. You actually fear for the character. For thrillers with that much tension and danger, the resolution can be difficult. But this one sure sticks the landing. From start to finish, it’s clever writing. You won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t read the book, you’ll likely want to read it after watching the film.
CAST
Keira Knightley delivers an intense performance. Throughout the film, you can feel the distress and determination of her character. She says a lot through her eyes and facial expressions. The film entirely relies on her acting, and she absolutely nails it. On top of that, the rest of the cast is excellent. The way they act so detached contrasts with Knightley’s character. There’s something about Guy Pearce’s presence that works for the role of a rich man. Daniel Ings is also very good at playing odd characters; he feels so natural doing it.
VERDICT
The Woman in Cabin 10 is a riveting psychological thriller with an oppressive atmosphere. It will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Keira Knightley delivers an intense performance.
The Woman in Cabin 10 releases today on Netflix.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
