Netflix’s The Woman in Cabin 10 arrives with strong source material, high expectations, and a built-in audience thanks to its bestselling novel origins. Unfortunately, while the premise is intriguing, the execution ultimately falls short.
Based on the New York Times bestselling novel, The Woman in Cabin 10 attempts to deliver a psychological mystery set aboard a luxury yacht. What viewers get instead is a rushed, uneven thriller that never fully commits to its mystery.
Is The Woman in Cabin 10 Based on a Book?
Yes. The Woman in Cabin 10 was originally a New York Times bestseller before being adapted into a Netflix film. That fact alone raises expectations, especially for fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers and investigative mysteries.
And honestly—you can tell the book was probably very good.
The problem isn’t the concept.
The problem is the adaptation.
Plot Summary: A Journalist, Trauma, and a Yacht Full of Secrets
The movie centers on a journalist and writer who is still dealing with trauma from a previous investigation. In her past work, she attempted to uncover something significant, but the person she was interviewing ended up passing away. That failure weighs heavily on her.
Instead of taking time off to heal, she jumps straight back into work.
That’s when she receives an unusual opportunity.
A famous philanthropist, who is terminally ill with cancer, invites her aboard a luxury yacht. The goal? To document her final days, her philanthropic plans, and how she intends to distribute her fortune before she dies.
Once aboard the yacht, the journalist finds herself surrounded by wealthy elites, including rock stars, the philanthropist’s husband, friends, and other powerful figures.
On paper, this is the perfect setup for a tense, claustrophobic mystery.
The Central Mystery: What Happened in Cabin 10?
The core premise of The Woman in Cabin 10 revolves around one unsettling incident.
While trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend, whom she unexpectedly sees on the yacht, the journalist accidentally enters Cabin 10. Inside, she encounters a woman she does not recognize—someone she never formally meets.
Later that night, she hears disturbing noises that strongly suggest a murder.
When she begins asking questions and looking for the woman from Cabin 10, things quickly spiral. No one else remembers this woman. There’s no record of her existence. Slowly but surely, the journalist is made to look like she’s losing her grip on reality.
A Mystery That Doesn’t Feel Like a Mystery
This is where the movie begins to lose its footing.
Rather than watching the journalist actively uncover clues, the audience ends up discovering information at the same time she does—or worse, before she does. There’s very little true investigation happening.
The film constantly tells you something is wrong, but it rarely shows meaningful detective work.
Throughout the movie, it becomes clear that someone is trying to frame her, but the suspense never fully builds. Instead of tension escalating, the story feels like it’s sprinting from plot point to plot point.
For a mystery thriller, that’s a major issue.
Pacing Problems: Too Much Story, Not Enough Time
One of the biggest flaws in The Woman in Cabin 10 is its runtime.
At roughly an hour and a half, the movie feels compressed to the point of damage. Entire ideas, character motivations, and story beats feel glossed over—not because of plot holes, but because the film simply moves on too quickly.
Moments that should have been suspenseful or emotionally impactful are rushed past without breathing room. You can almost see where entire scenes or subplots were likely cut for time.
This story needed more space.
The “Gotcha” Moments and Final Reveal
To be fair, the movie does include a few surprise moments and twists. There is a “gotcha” reveal, and technically, the journalist does solve the case.
But none of the surprises truly land.
Instead of shocking the audience, most twists feel more like:
“Oh… okay. I get it.”
The climax hinges on a lengthy final monologue, where—after being dismissed and disrespected the entire movie—everyone suddenly decides to let her speak.
It’s convenient.
It’s unrealistic.
And it feels earned only because the movie needs it to end.
The Ending: Neat, Tidy, and a Little Corny
The film wraps up with a very clean conclusion. Loose ends are tied. The journalist gets validation. There’s even a soft, reassuring moment suggesting healing and closure.
It’s not offensive—but it is corny.
After such a tense setup, the ending feels overly safe and emotionally rushed, like the movie wanted to put a bow on everything as quickly as possible.
Final Verdict: Is The Woman in Cabin 10 Worth Watching?
The Woman in Cabin 10 is not a terrible movie—but it’s definitely a missed opportunity.
You can see the potential.
You can feel the strength of the source material.
But the rushed pacing and underdeveloped mystery hold it back.
Would I watch it again?
Maybe—but only as a background movie. Something you can throw on while talking, scrolling, or casually paying attention.
Final Score:
⭐ 5 out of 10
Not bad.
Not great.
Just… there.
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