Netflix’s ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ Ending Is a Predictable Disappointment

by

I was completely hooked by *The Woman in Cabin 10* when it dropped on Netflix on October 10, 2025! It’s a really clever mystery-thriller that instantly reminded me of Hitchcock, and it quickly became the most popular movie in the US. Keira Knightley plays Lo Blacklock, a journalist who’s clearly struggling with something and isn’t exactly seen as trustworthy after a really difficult experience. She gets invited on this fancy charity cruise on a huge yacht filled with wealthy philanthropists, and she *sees* a murder happen. The problem is, no one else believes her!

Simon Stone really knows how to direct a thriller, and *The Woman in Cabin 10* benefits from his confident hand. It’s a classic, engaging mystery, and the acting is consistently strong. While the central puzzle isn’t exactly groundbreaking – I figured out parts of it a little too early – the movie throws enough unexpected curves at you, especially in the frantic final scenes, to keep you thinking. And honestly, after watching the ending, I think some things definitely warrant a second look. Let’s break down what *actually* happens in that final act.

What Is ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ About?

Inspired by Ruth Ware’s popular novel, *The Woman in Cabin 10* is a thrilling mystery filled with suspense. The new Netflix series starts with Laura “Lo” Blacklock, a journalist still shaken after witnessing a murder—a car plunging into the water. Her bosses suggest a break, so Lo takes a luxurious cruise to Norway on the *Aurora Borealis*, a massive yacht owned by the wealthy and charitable couple, Anne (Lisa Loven Kongsli) and Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce). Lo is given Cabin 8.

The first night on the yacht, Anne actively avoids Ben, her ex-boyfriend and a photographer she recognizes. Trying to escape him, she enters Cabin 10, which is next to Cabin 8. Inside, Lo quickly spots a young blonde woman wearing a hoodie. Later, Lo is woken up by screams. Rushing to her balcony beside Cabin 10, she hears a splash, notices blood on the wall, and thinks she sees a woman fall into the water.

When Lo reports what she saw to the ship’s authorities, she’s told that no one is registered to Cabin 10 and that the blonde woman she describes doesn’t exist. Desperate to prove she’s not imagining things after a traumatic experience, Lo finds herself the target of a murderer onboard. The harder she tries to convince others of what happened, the more they doubt her.

How Does Lo Solve the Mystery of Cabin 10?


Parisa Taghizadeh/Netflix

Lo had a private conversation with Anne Bullmer, who revealed she was dying of cancer and had undergone chemotherapy, explaining her shaved head. Anne specifically chose Lo to cover the charity cruise. Later, after seeing a woman drown, Lo told the other passengers what happened, but they didn’t believe her and thought she was lying.

Lo, only able to confide in Ben, examines a photo from his camera – it’s the blonde woman she saw in Cabin 10, but taken months earlier at a different event. She also uncovers more clues to back up her story, like blonde hair in the cabin’s sink and scratches on the balcony railing, as well as a missing guest photo. Just when it appears Lo might be making things up, someone unexpectedly shoves her into the pool and then closes the cover, trying to drown her.

After viewers learn Lo is being honest, she uncovers a crucial piece of the puzzle. She spots the blonde woman on deck again and realizes the woman is wearing a wig – she’s actually shaved her head. Lo confronts the woman, whose name is Carrie (played by Gitte Witt), and discovers Richard hired her to pretend to be Anne. It all comes down to money: Anne had cut Richard out of her will before she died. Richard’s elaborate plan was to murder Anne by throwing her overboard, then have Carrie briefly impersonate her – just long enough to sign a new will leaving her fortune to him.

How Does ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ End?


Parisa Taghizadeh/Netflix

As a total cinema devotee, I was on the edge of my seat during the climax of *The Woman in Cabin 10*! It all goes down at this incredibly fancy charity gala in Norway. I’d figured out Richard was trying to get rid of his wife to steal her money, and Lo was determined to expose him. She crashes the gala, where Carrie is being forced to pretend to *be* Anne as part of Richard’s elaborate scheme. But Lo finally manages to get Carrie to speak up and tell everyone the truth, and thankfully, Anne’s assistant, Sigrid, backs them up. It was a relief to see Lo finally get some allies to help bring Richard down!

During a fancy event held in a greenhouse by the lake, Lo stepped onto the stage, took the microphone from Richard, and confessed to murdering Anne. He revealed he’d also manipulated Carrie into pretending to be Anne to steal her inheritance. Richard initially protested his innocence, dismissing Lo as unstable. However, once Carrie confirmed Lo’s account, Lo read a letter from Anne. The letter showed Anne had removed Richard from her will and instructed that all company property be sold and given to an outside organization.

Richard suddenly grabs Carrie and holds her hostage with a knife, running towards a lifeboat to try and escape. Lo chases after them, and Sigrid manages to shoot Richard in the shoulder from afar with a rifle. While Richard is choking Carrie, accusing her of betrayal, Lo sprints to the dock and hits him hard with something solid. Richard collapses, injured and unconscious. Lo and Carrie hug, relieved. Shortly after, the police arrive and take Richard into custody.

Later on, Lo publishes an article revealing Richard Bullmer’s crimes. An intern praises her work, and Carrie video calls Lo, inviting her to visit. Lo, who was questioned throughout her time on the yacht, is proven right, and she offers a knowing smile as the story ends.

Despite its stylish look and a strong performance from Keira Knightley, *The Woman in Cabin 10* doesn’t quite deliver on its promise as a classic suspenseful thriller. The film had a chance to really play with the audience, keeping us guessing about the main character’s trustworthiness and whether she was truly involved in the mystery, but it didn’t fully explore that potential.

The story resolves Lo’s involvement too quickly, which unfortunately weakens the suspense that could have built throughout the book. Additionally, the reveal of Carrie’s shaved head makes the connection to Anne feel overly simplistic and convenient. Addressing these issues during the writing process would have significantly strengthened the central mystery in *The Woman in Cabin 10* and made it more impactful.

Read More

2025-10-14 03:37