The Woman in Cabin 10
- Feb 22
- 2 min read
An all-star cast of true characters make THE WOMAN IN CABIN 1O a very enjoyable thrill ride of a mystery. It also helps that you get to spend two hours in some luxurious global settings while trying to solve its riddles.
Settle in as the soaring score by Benjamin Wallfisch (Twisters, IT, Alien: Romulus) seduces you into the strange happenings aboard a real $150 million yacht that serves as the parlor for all kinds of bad doings afoot.
Keira Knightley elevates the film as reporter Laura Blacklock. She's still reeling from her last assignment when she accepts what appears to be a puff assignment, taking a journey on the yacht of tech Billionaire Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce). He's gathered the richest of the rich for a charity voyage in which their enormous contributions are only exceeded by their eccentricities.
The cast is excellent.
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) and David Morrissey (The Walking Dead) are Heidi and Thomas Heatherley, Art Malik (The Living Daylights) is the ship doctor who is always ready with a prescription to fix anything and Christopher Rygh is perfectly cast as a mysterious global rock star who seems to be hiding from his demons.
David Ajala is very good as Ben, the photographer hired to capture the voyage, who also happens to be Laura's ex boyfriend.
The opening scenes in London are excellent, establishing who Laura is through her long conversation with her editor. It's a smart, well written intro to a complex character devoted to her craft. That commitment has clearly brought her to some very dangerous places. Won't this cruise be a welcome break from that?
Shortly after the voyage begins, Laura hears a violent confrontation in the cabin next to hers. Running out to her balcony, she sees a woman in the water.
But there is no body to be found.
And there WAS no guest in Cabin 10....
A modern day take with strong vibes of Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes", a highly polished whodun-what is unveiled, one clever piece at a time.
The settings are everything.
The production design and locations are first rate. While the boat is stunning, every time they get off of it, the landscape matches it, especially the scenes in Norway.
Pearce (Memento, Alien:Covenant) is excellent as Bullmer, controlling everything around him like a puppet master, but seemingly concerned about Laura as she appears to become unhinged.
Is she losing her grasp on reality? Knightly is terrific as a woman who begins to doubt her own thoughts and motives.
I never came close to figuring things out and loved the reveals.
The film is beautifully shot by Ben Davis (The Banshees of Inisherin, Guardians of the Galaxy). His moody, sweeping camera shots and Wallfisch's music are mystery nirvana.
How do you account for a woman going overboard that was never on the ship?
Ignore the critics bitching because they seem to hate everything that Netflix does.
Pop the popcorn, turn down the lights and immerse yourself in a world of opulent wealth, stunning global settings and lethal greed & ambition.
THE WOMAN IN CABIN 1O gets a solid B.
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