The Woman in Cabin 10 review: Keira Knightley’s nautical thriller drowns in mediocrity

It’s a horrible factor to be doubted while you’re sure of the reality. That’s what occurs to Laura Blacklock in Keira Knightley’s new thriller when she watches somebody die aboard a luxurious yacht. Nobody believes her when she studies the homicide, regardless that she’s a journalist. In actual fact, nobody believes that the sufferer ever existed in any respect. 

Fortunately, this journalist will most likely have a far simpler time convincing you simply how boring The Lady in Cabin 10 really is.

Netflix doesn’t precisely have the perfect observe file with regards to their unique film slate, particularly within the motion/thriller style. With duds like Crimson Discover, Again In Motion and The Grey Man taking over a giant chunk of the streamer’s high ten most watched movies of all time, my expectations for brand spanking new films like this are sinking sooner than… Laura’s abdomen watching that poor passenger drown.

It doesn’t assist that co-writers Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse are most well-known for penning Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, or that the movie is directed by Simon Stone, a former stage director who helmed Carey Mulligan’s so-so biopic The Dig in 2021. Nonetheless, I’ve at all times rooted for Keira Knightley, and with the success of final yr’s Black Doves — to not point out the exceptional solid she’s joined by right here — there was at all times an opportunity that The Lady in Cabin 10 would possibly end up higher than anticipated.

Sadly, my optimism was as delusional because the boat’s gaslighting crew makes Laura out to be. 

Based mostly on Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, The Lady in Cabin 10 begins off intriguingly sufficient with a devoted tackle the ebook’s central thriller. Specifically, who was thrown overboard, and why kill somebody out at sea when you possibly can’t escape? Except it seems nobody was actually murdered in any respect… 

After Blacklock studies seeing a passenger thrown overboard, the crew do a head rely and claims that nobody is lacking. Evidently Laura should have imagined all of it, together with a bloody handprint she noticed on the glass, which is lacking now too. Solely Laura’s ex-boyfriend, Ben, offers her the advantage of the doubt as she begins an investigation into what actually occurred.

There’s loads of scope to mine pressure from the movie’s claustrophobic setting, evoking traditional Hitchcockian suspense with a contemporary spin on what it means to be a lady gaslit within the trendy period. Nonetheless, the one pressure I ended up feeling was the urge to set the movie to a sooner velocity or danger drowning within the mediocrity of all of it. 

It’s not that the twists simply play it protected, both. They actually do to start out with, telegraphing the concept that one thing extra is likely to be taking place early on. However then the ship is steered from boring to unhinged with unbelievable turns that unmoor the movie’s sense of actuality. By no means thoughts that uninteresting Netflix sheen, which so lots of their unique movies are characterised by. It’s the script itself that feels unreal, hurtling right into a ultimate stretch that’s nigh on nonsensical. 

A lot of this comes right down to how poorly the movie’s greatest twist lands and the way unlikely it’s that the opposite characters didn’t know what was taking place sooner. Saying extra would spoil one of many script’s livelier moments. On the plus aspect, this large reveal arrive loads sooner than you would possibly count on, so issues aren’t dragged out additional.

To be truthful to the writers, this twist is integral to the supply materials, so it’s not like they may have scrapped it with out drastically altering the core of this story. And with out having learn the ebook myself, I think about that the reveal most likely works much better on web page than display as a result of our creativeness does a whole lot of the heavy lifting.

Keira does a whole lot of heavy lifting too, centring the narrative with one of many movie’s higher performances. Nonetheless, there’s solely a lot you are able to do with such a soggy script. Man Pearce and Hannah Waddingham additionally convey some star energy aboard, however not half as a lot as you’d count on from both seasoned performer. 

Star Trek: Discovery’s David Ajala is among the movie’s few standouts, sparring with Knightley’s journalist within the function of her charming ex. At any time when they’re on display collectively, The Lady in Cabin 10 comes dangerously near feeling like a movie made by precise folks. You realize, as an alternative of an AI algorithm that’s midway by way of plundering {the summertime} seashore learn at your nearest airport bookshop.

However then gifted stars like Kaya Scodelario and Gugu Mbatha-Uncooked present up in thankless nothing roles and immediately, we’re reminded once more that that is an unique Netflix thriller. Mbatha-Uncooked, particularly, is burdened with one of many worst traces dedicated to movie in latest reminiscence. You’ll realize it while you hear it. 

Writer Ruth Ware defined not too long ago to Tudum that her story stays well timed a decade on: 

“Cabin 10, at its coronary heart, is a few lady who experiences one thing fallacious, studies it honestly, and isn’t taken critically due to who she is.”

And she or he’s proper. Sit by way of The Lady in Cabin 10 and also you too will really feel such as you skilled one thing fallacious. There’s little question about it.  

Do you have to watch The Lady in Cabin 10?

Like an airport seashore learn you would possibly tackle vacation, The Lady in Cabin 10 isn’t going to alter your life. In actual fact, you’ll seemingly neglect it as quickly because the credit begin to roll. Personally, I’d fairly get misplaced at sea than misplaced on this story once more, however if you happen to’re searching for one thing simple and senseless to get caught into, Keira Knightley’s newest Netflix thriller would possibly simply do the job. 

The Lady in Cabin 10 is out now on Netflix. You’ll be able to join right here, with accounts ranging from £5.99/$7.99 per 30 days.

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