Netflix’s latest chart-topper, The Woman in Cabin 10, is a twisty thriller that keeps viewers hooked… until its biggest flaw surfaces. The film, starring Keira Knightley, follows journalist Lo as she investigates a potential murder aboard a luxurious yacht. The premise is simple: Lo witnesses what she believes is a woman thrown overboard, only to be gaslit by the ship’s crew who insist no such incident occurred.
The story unfolds with classic thriller pacing. Lo, invited to profile wealthy philanthropists Richard and Anne Bullmer, finds herself caught in a web of deceit. The twist? Anne isn’t who she seems. The “Anne” seen after the supposed overboard incident is actually a lookalike, Carrie, hired by Richard to impersonate his wife and secure her fortune.
The film plays with paranoia effectively. Lo’s insistence on a crime is met with denial, leaving viewers questioning her sanity alongside her. The tension builds as Lo digs deeper, becoming increasingly isolated and desperate to prove what she saw. The deception is bold: Richard uses facial recognition to find a near-identical replacement, and Carrie maintains the charade with minimal disguise.
However, the film’s biggest misstep is its suspension of disbelief. The audience is meant to accept that a group of close friends – people who supposedly know Anne well – fail to notice the obvious differences in appearance, voice, and mannerisms between the real Anne and her imposter. This plot hole undermines the otherwise clever scheme, leaving viewers wondering why no one questions the blatant switch.
The Woman in Cabin 10 is a fun, fast-paced thriller, but its reliance on convenient blindness from supporting characters weakens the narrative. The film succeeds in creating suspense, but its final act feels less like a satisfying reveal and more like a missed opportunity for realism. Despite the plot hole, the story still delivers entertainment value, but it’s a reminder that even a well-crafted thriller can falter with logic.
