The phrase “made for TV movie” is increasingly meaningless in the streaming era, but still, you know one when you see one. Netflix and Amazon have both made successful inroads in the realm of Hallmark-style Christmas rom-coms, and with The Woman in Cabin 10, Netflix gives us a glossy version of a Lifetime thriller, full of aspirational locations, gaslighting villains, and untrustworthy men. The excellent cast — which includes Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce and Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham — are all punching way above the quality of the script, which has a tendency to state the obvious. The introductory scene, for example, is literally just Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw explaining the protagonist’s career and personality to the audience, although both actors are so casually engaging that I was happy to let it slide.
Adapted from the bestselling novel by Ruth Ware, The Woman in Cabin 10 stars Knightley as Laura Blacklock, a workaholic investigative journalist who just got back from a traumatic assignment. Urged by her editor to take a break, she agrees to a working vacation: A trip on a gorgeous luxury yacht belonging to billionaire Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce), who wants her to write about his latest charity project. His wife Annie (Lisa Loven Kongsli) is terminally ill, and this voyage is in her honor, joined by a group of guests including Annie’s private doctor (Art Malik), a tech CEO (Christopher Rygh), a mean but charismatic rich lady (Hannah Waddingham), an influencer (Kaya Skodelario) and, awkwardly, Laura's photographer ex-boyfriend (David Ajala).
