The Woman in Cabin 10 Ending Explained

Nivedita Dubey
October 20, 2025

Summary:

The Woman in Cabin 10 ends with a shocking twist involving identity theft, murder, and greed aboard the Aurora Borealis.
Journalist Laura “Lo” Blacklock uncovers a deadly scheme by Richard Bullmer and his accomplice, Carrie.
The film, starring Keira Knightley, concludes with justice served and a reflection on truth and illusion.

Netflix’s The Woman in Cabin 10 pulls viewers into a world of luxury, paranoia, and deception. Starring Keira Knightley as a journalist caught in a web of lies aboard a lavish yacht, the mystery thriller leaves audiences wondering: what was real, and what was imagined? Based on Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, the movie’s ending ties together its biggest secrets in one chaotic, satisfying finale. Let’s break down what really happened aboard the Aurora Borealis.

What Is The Woman in Cabin 10 About?

The Woman in Cabin 10 _ Official Trailer _ Netflix

The film follows Laura “Lo” Blacklock (Keira Knightley), a travel journalist invited to cover the maiden voyage of the luxury yacht Aurora Borealis, owned by the wealthy and mysterious Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce).

At first, it seems like the perfect assignment a chance to write, relax, and recover from a recent trauma. But things take a dark turn when Lo witnesses what looks like a woman being thrown overboard from the cabin next door Cabin 10.

When she reports what she’s seen, the crew insists that no one is missing. The passenger list is complete, and there’s supposedly no record of a woman in Cabin 10. Everyone around her begins to question her sanity, suggesting she might be imagining things due to stress and medication.

But Lo knows what she saw and her search for the truth uncovers far more than she bargained for.

Who Is the Woman in Cabin 10?

Throughout the film, Lo tries to uncover the identity of the mysterious woman she saw fall or be pushed overboard. Eventually, she learns the truth: the woman is Carrie, an employee of Richard Bullmer.

Carrie was hired to impersonate Richard’s terminally ill wife, Anne, as part of an elaborate plan. Richard wanted to fake Anne’s continued presence on the yacht so he could later inherit her wealth without suspicion. But when Anne discovers the deception, things spiral out of control.

In a chilling sequence, Richard murders Anne, throwing her body overboard the event Lo witnessed and attempts to keep Carrie quiet. From that point on, everyone aboard becomes part of a deadly cover-up.

What Happens at the End of The Woman in Cabin 10?

As the story builds to its climax, Lo finds herself in grave danger. Richard and his associates realize that she knows too much, and they decide to lock her away to prevent her from exposing them.

Trapped in a room deep within the yacht, Lo’s survival seems unlikely until she finds an unexpected ally: Carrie, the same woman she thought had been killed.

Carrie, guilt-ridden and terrified, decides to help Lo escape. Together, they try to gather evidence and expose Richard’s crimes. However, their plan quickly unravels as Richard discovers their alliance.

During the confrontation:

Ben, Lo’s ex-boyfriend who had been on the yacht, tries to help her but is fatally wounded.
At a gala aboard the ship, Lo manages to expose Richard’s entire scheme, revealing that Carrie is not Anne and that the real Anne was murdered.
Richard attempts to flee, but in the ensuing chaos, Sigrid, Anne’s head of security, shoots him.

The film ends with Richard’s death and justice finally being served though at a heavy cost.

Does Lo Survive?

Yes, Lo survives, but not without scars. After everything she’s endured, she’s left grappling with the blurred lines between truth and illusion.

In the aftermath, she writes a reflective article about Anne Bullmer’s charitable legacy, using her platform to shed light on the story’s moral core how greed and deception can destroy even the most privileged lives.

Carrie, now free from Richard’s control, returns home to her daughter, symbolizing redemption and closure.

What Does The Ending of The Woman in Cabin 10 Mean?

The ending of The Woman in Cabin 10 isn’t just about solving a murder it’s about truth versus perception.

Throughout the film, Lo struggles with anxiety and trauma, and her credibility is constantly questioned. The finale confirms that her instincts were right all along but it also shows how easy it is for powerful people to manipulate reality.

By the end, Lo proves that persistence and moral conviction matter, even when everyone doubts you. The story’s resolution with Lo surviving and telling the truth mirrors the classic psychological thriller theme: seeing is believing, even when no one believes you.

How Does the Film Differ From Ruth Ware’s Novel?

Netflix’s The Woman in Cabin 10 stays close to Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel but streamlines several subplots for pacing.

Key Differences Include:

Lo’s Psychological Depth: The film reduces the focus on Lo’s internal anxiety and post-traumatic stress, opting for a faster-paced, visually driven narrative.
Character Roles: In the book, some secondary characters play larger roles in building suspicion around Lo’s sanity. The movie simplifies these interactions to maintain focus on the central mystery.
The Ending: The book’s ending is slightly more ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation about Lo’s survival and the aftermath. Netflix’s adaptation opts for a clear resolution, ensuring viewers see justice served.

Overall, the film stays true to Ware’s tone claustrophobic, tense, and morally complex while making it more cinematic for streaming audiences.

Who Stars in The Woman in Cabin 10?

The Netflix adaptation brings together an impressive cast that perfectly captures the story’s tension and emotional depth.

Keira Knightley as Laura “Lo” Blacklock, the determined journalist.
Guy Pearce as Richard Bullmer, the charming but dangerous yacht owner.
David Ajala in a supporting role.
Additional cast members include Sigrid Holmen as the head of security and Carrie, whose dual role drives much of the mystery.

The performances especially Knightley’s ground the film’s psychological tension in realism, turning a high-seas thriller into a character-driven story about fear and truth.

The Woman in Cabin 10 premiered on October 10, 2025, exclusively on Netflix. Directed by Simon Stone, the film runs for 1 hour and 32 minutes.

Despite mixed critical reception and an IMDb rating of 5.9, the movie has sparked widespread discussion for its themes of paranoia, perception, and justice especially its haunting final act.

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