The Woman in Cabin 10 (2025 Film)
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Release Date | October 10, 2025 |
| Director | Simon Stone |
| Genre | Psychological Thriller, Mystery |
| Based On | The 2016 novel by Ruth Ware |
| Starring | Keira Knightley (as Lo Blacklock), Guy Pearce (as Richard Bullmer), Hannah Waddingham, Kaya Scodelario |
Plot Summary
The story centers on a young, ambitious travel journalist named Laura “Lo” Blacklock (Keira Knightley).
- The Assignment: Lo is invited to cover the maiden voyage of the Aurora Borealis, a small, exclusive luxury superyacht cruising the North Sea with a handful of wealthy, elite guests. Lo is already frazzled, recovering from a recent traumatic home invasion.
- The Incident: On the first night, after a private dinner, Lo is woken by what she believes is a scream followed by a loud splash coming from the balcony of the cabin next to hers (Cabin 10). She rushes out and is convinced she saw a body being thrown overboard.
- The Doubt: When Lo reports the incident to the crew, she is met with skepticism. The ship’s security insists that all passengers and crew are accounted for, and records show that Cabin 10 was never occupied by a guest.
- The Gaslighting: Lo is systematically gaslit and made to doubt her own sanity, which is exacerbated by her anxiety and previous trauma. She realizes she is trapped on the ship with a killer who is desperate to keep the crime a secret.
- The Investigation: Lo risks her life to investigate the mysterious woman and the cover-up, navigating a limited cast of suspects and an increasingly claustrophobic environment, forcing her to confront a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by the ship’s wealthy owner.
Key Differences from the Book
The Netflix adaptation made some notable changes from the original novel:
- Protagonist’s Trauma: In the film, Lo’s trauma is changed from a home invasion to witnessing the murder of a source, making her quest for the truth directly linked to her professional identity.
- Anxiety/Unreliability: The film deliberately removed some of the book’s emphasis on Lo’s anxiety and struggles with medication, as the director felt it played into a trope where a woman’s testimony is easily dismissed due to mental health concerns.