
On a lavish yacht for an assignment, a journalist sees a passenger go overboard. But when no one believes her, she risks her life to uncover the truth.
Type: movie
Release Date: October 9, 2025
Based on Ruth Ware’s 2016 thriller novel, The Woman in Cabin 10 unfolds as a claustrophobic mystery at sea. It stars Keira Knightley as Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist, who boards a luxury cruise and thinks she witnesses a murder — but no one believes her. The tension, the setting, and the unraveling puzzles position it as one of 2025’s notable mystery thrillers.
If you search “mystery thriller latest movies 2025” or “best mystery movies to watch”, this is one that will surface often.
Lo Blacklock is jaded and burnt out. She’s covering a once-in-a-lifetime cruise for a terminally ill philanthropist and her husband. On the first night, Lo hears a scream and glimpses what appears to be a woman thrown overboard. But when she checks, no one is missing and no one saw it. Thus begins her spiral into distrust, paranoia, and danger.
As she digs deeper, she uncovers deception, identity swaps, and hidden motives. Twists and half-truths mark almost every turn. In the ending, the truth about the “Anne” on board — or rather, the impersonator “Carrie” — comes to light.
Keira Knightley (Lo Blacklock) brings emotional vulnerability to a role that requires both skepticism and courage. Critics agree her performance is a key anchor that makes us care.
Supporting Cast: Guy Pearce and Gugu Mbatha-Raw add weight to a cast that occasionally feels understaffed in their motivations.
Cinematography & Atmosphere: The film is beautifully shot — the cruise ship, the sea at night, the corridors and decks all contribute to an unsettling isolation and claustrophobia.
Pacing & Tension: Many reviews note that the first half has promise, but the suspense ebbs in the middle. The final act tries to regain momentum.
Strengths:
Strong lead performance and emotional grounding
Memorable setting with good production values
Solid twists (though not necessarily completely unpredictable)
Weaknesses:
The middle acts drag
Some plot turns feel telegraphed too early
Side characters often serve only as puzzle pieces
Overall, The Woman in Cabin 10 is “handsomely mounted but emotionally muted.”
If you like the idea of a locked-room style mystery on water, and enjoy following a protagonist whose own doubts and fears become part of the puzzle, this film has appeal. It may not be perfect, but its strengths often outweigh its flaws.
In a list of “best mystery thrillers 2025”, it deserves a place — though perhaps not at the very top.