Keira Knightley, once synonymous with sweeping period dramas, is charting a new course in her career—this time as the steely lead in Netflix’s latest psychological thriller, The Woman in Cabin 10. Released on October 10, 2025, the film has quickly captured the attention of mystery fans and critics alike, offering a tightly-wound tale set against the chilly, inescapable backdrop of a billionaire’s luxury yacht. Drawing on the best-selling 2016 novel by Ruth Ware, director Simon Stone crafts a suspenseful, Hitchcockian experience that both pays homage to classic thrillers and explores timely questions about wealth, power, and the nature of truth.
Knightley stars as Laura "Lo" Blacklock, an investigative journalist in desperate need of a break after witnessing the murder of a source for a recent story. When her editor at The Guardian offers her an assignment covering the launch of a Norwegian billionaire’s new charity foundation—complete with a three-day cruise toward the Northern Lights—Lo jumps at the chance. The trip promises luxury, champagne, and the kind of puff piece every overworked reporter dreams of. But as any fan of the genre knows, paradise rarely stays idyllic for long.
The yacht’s guest list reads like a who’s who of the ultra-wealthy and influential: Richard Bullmer, the enigmatic billionaire (played by Guy Pearce); his wife Anne, who is battling leukemia and planning to donate their fortune to cancer research; a social media influencer (Kaya Scodelario); a pair of hard-drinking socialites (David Morrissey and Hannah Waddingham); and Lo’s ex-boyfriend Ben (David Ajala), a photographer and the only other journalist on board. The setting is designed for intrigue—a floating palace where everyone has something to hide, and nowhere to run.
Lo is assigned to cabin 8, but a chance encounter with a mysterious blonde woman in cabin 10 sets the stage for the film’s central mystery. Later that night, Lo is jolted awake by strange noises and glimpses what appears to be the same woman being thrown overboard. She spots a bloody handprint and rushes to raise the alarm, but the subsequent investigation turns up nothing—no missing passengers, no evidence of a crime, not even a record of someone in cabin 10. The rest of the guests dismiss her claims, chalking it up to stress, trauma, or perhaps the overactive imagination of a journalist. But as director Simon Stone told Variety, "The script itself is very Hitchcockian—it’s of a period of thrillers that were made the last time the world went crazy politically, post-Watergate."
Stone’s vision for the film was clear: evoke the tense, paranoid atmosphere of classics like The Conversation, The Parallax View, and All the President’s Men. He even asked Knightley to watch these films in preparation for the role. "I’m a big fan of the thriller genre, I love it, and all of those films that he mentioned have been films that I’ve just loved," Knightley told Variety. "So the opportunity to play that lead character—that is normally a man—was just one that I thought, ‘Oh God, this is exciting.’ You wouldn’t necessarily look at me and think Gene Hackman type, you know?"
Knightley’s portrayal of Lo is a study in contrasts. According to Ruth Ware, the author of the source novel, "On the one hand she’s got a fragility, a sort of vulnerability, and on the other she’s got a real inner strength—a core of steel and an unshakeable sense of what is right. I think Keira nails that." The film leans into this duality, with Lo’s determination to uncover the truth placing her in increasing danger, both physically and psychologically. A standout scene, as described by Brit + Co, finds Lo trapped in a pool with the cover closed, pounding on the glass as her oxygen runs out—a moment that had viewers holding their breath right alongside her.
The supporting cast, though not always given ample screen time, adds texture and tension to the proceedings. Hannah Waddingham, in particular, provides moments of levity that punctuate the film’s otherwise claustrophobic mood. Guy Pearce, fresh off an Oscar-nominated turn as a wealthy villain in The Brutalist, brings a simmering darkness to Richard Bullmer, a man whose motivations are as murky as the waters surrounding the yacht. Pearce himself admitted to Variety that he’s drawn to "characters that have internal darkness and things that they’re dealing with themselves because it’s just interesting stuff to play."
But The Woman in Cabin 10 is more than just a whodunnit. It brushes up against deeper themes of privilege and morality. As Decider noted, the film "explores the grotesque entitlement of far-beyond-rich people," raising uncomfortable questions about the nature of charity and empathy. Would the Bullmers have started their foundation if Anne hadn’t been diagnosed with a terminal illness? Is it possible for the ultra-wealthy to truly understand suffering without experiencing it themselves? While the film ultimately refocuses on its pulpy, suspense-driven plot, these questions linger in the background, adding a layer of complexity to the otherwise straightforward mystery.
Knightley’s recent career choices have seen her embracing the thriller genre with gusto, from her acclaimed turn in Netflix’s Black Doves to her upcoming involvement in a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Her performance in The Woman in Cabin 10 is being hailed as one of her most compelling to date, with critics lauding her ability to embody both vulnerability and resolve. "Lo is the ultimate embodiment of earnest determination," Brit + Co wrote, "and from providing the world with ‘human interest [pieces] for inhumane times’ with her work to trying to survive a potentially deadly holiday, Keira’s performance draws you right into the middle of the story."
Despite its strengths, the film isn’t without its critics. Some reviewers felt that the story doesn’t grip as tightly as its stellar cast might suggest, and that certain supporting characters are underused. Still, even detractors conceded that the film’s big twist—revealing that the passenger who went overboard was actually Anne Bullmer, murdered by her husband to keep their fortune in the family—delivers a genuine shock. The film’s moody palette and atmospheric tension make it a perfect watch for anyone craving a mystery between summer blockbusters and Halloween horror.
So, does The Woman in Cabin 10 live up to the hype? According to Decider, it’s "a solid B- of a thriller that’s a little too poker-faced for its own good, but gets the job done competently. STREAM IT." For fans of Agatha Christie, Hitchcock, or anyone who enjoys a good locked-room mystery with a modern twist, this latest Netflix offering is well worth the watch.
With a powerhouse lead performance, a capable director, and a story that keeps viewers guessing until the very end, The Woman in Cabin 10 cements Keira Knightley’s place as a formidable force in the crime thriller genre—proving that sometimes, the most gripping mysteries unfold in the most confined of spaces.
