Based on the New York Times best seller by Ruth Ware, Netflix brings you this lively and tense mystery which stars Kiera Knightley as award winning British journalist Laura ‘Lo’ Blacklock who’s invited to a three day exhibition on a luxury state of the art yacht named the ‘Aurora Borealis’ on it’s first voyage by an infamous billionaire Richard Bullmer (Guy Pierce) and his Norwegian billionaire heiress wife Anne Bullmer played by Lisa Loven Kongsli, to cover them and their very influential, wealthy and powerful friends. She is convinced to accept the offer to go by her editor Rowan, played by fellow British starlet Gugu Mbatha Raw. She agrees to go as she is still recovering from the trauma of witnessing one of her key sources and informants getting killed while she was still investigating a very important story and case. Laura also bumps into her ex-boyfriend and world class photographer Ben Morgan, played by David Ajala, who’s taking pictures to document the events on the yacht. The guests on board are some of the most powerful, wealthy and influential individuals in the world, and things take a turn when Laura wakes up in the middle of the night witnessing a woman thrown overboard. Her world is turned upside down again and her journalistic instincts kick in. The more she starts to investigate, the more she becomes suspicious as the guests deny her claims, and she begins to feel like she is being gaslighted, even as she starts to try and piece this odd puzzle together. Laura starts to discover that there is a far greater and darker story of greed, secrets, and conspiracy here, and how she could be in grave danger, but she will stop at nothing to discover the truth. It is beautifully shot and the cinematography really matches the mood of the story, including the colouring of the film, using very dark and cold colours.
Its a very entertaining film with a very talented and experienced cast, led with charm really well by Kiera Knightley, instantly being likable and engaging as Laura. You feel that her being a journalist is not just a job, but her calling jumping off the screen, continuing her successful renaissance and return to our big and small screens. The Woman in Cabin 10 went to number 1 in Netflix’s top 10 when it was released and as I write this over a month later, it is in 10th place in the rankings of Netflix’s top ten films. The Woman in Cabin 10 is directed by Simon Stone, and I hope we go on more adventures with the feisty journalist Laura ‘Lo’ Blacklock as there is a sequel mystery written by Ruth Ware: The Woman in Suite 11.
In a interview with Netflix, Kiera Knightley spoke with www.netflix.com/tudum about her character below:
“She’s a very serious journalist who initially is incredibly embarrassed about going on a superyacht cruise and writing about these people, and then discovers that there’s more to the story than she thought,”
“Lo is dogged, and once she knows that something’s going on, she doesn’t take no for an answer. She just goes for it and goes for it and goes for it.” – Kiera Knightley
Below are some of the main characters and suspects who are taking part in this luxury journey on the Aurora Borealis yacht :
Richard Bullmer is the host and organiser of the cruise, a charming and suave British aristocrat whose oil heiress and socialite wife Anne is battling cancer. The Aurora Borealis ultimate destination is a fundraiser gala in Anne’s hometown in Norway, meant to raise money and awareness for the disease. He invites a group of his wealthy and powerful friends to help him with the endeavour. Richard will go on to discover that this voyage will be far from smooth sailing.
Anne Bullmer is Richard Bullmer’s wife, a Norwegian oil heiress and socialite who’s developed a heart of empathy. She is battling cancer and has a conversation with Laura which starts a domino effect of events leading to revelations.
Ben Morgan is a very talented world-class photographer, who is hired to document the ‘Aurora Borealis‘ voyage. He is also Lo’s ex boyfriend and they had a complicated break-up, so there is a deep rooted past there, with unresolved feelings. But when passengers on the yacht doubt her story Ben proves to be a loyal ally and friend to Lo.
Adam Sutherland is a wealthy playboy and heir who brings a self-deprecating, jaded, nonchalant wit and laid back manner to the Aurora’s voyage.
Lars Jensen is the larger than life and socially awkward Nordic tech magnate whose board is always looking over his shoulder, so he has a girlfriend on the yacht with him for optics, which was organised by his company’s board, the influencer and model Grace Phillips. He does not enjoy the limelight but that will be tested, with Lo’s belief she witnessed a possible murder on the yacht.
Grace Phillips is a fame obsessed model and influencer. She was hired by Lars Jensen’s board to be his girlfriend for just the publicity and optics, she is there to help Lars with his image and enjoy the trappings of the very wealthy and powerful for her own benefits.
Dr. Robert Mehta is Anne’s personal physician and family doctor. He is a close friend of Richard’s and is there to keep eyes on her and to monitor her health. There is much more to Dr. Mehta, he and the Bullmer’s have a long history that goes back years.
Heidi Heatherly is the wife of Thomas Heatherley, an old-money heir and ultimate power couple of extreme power and vast wealth. Heidi is never shy in giving her thoughts, in which she can appear to be antagonistic, blunt and confrontational if you get on her wrong side, though she does enjoy a good time and enjoys the banter of it all, even thriving on it. She starts to clash with Lo when things escalate on the voyage to Norway.
Thomas Heatherly is a brusque old-money heir and a close friend of Richard Bullmer. Thomas and Heidi are the ultimate power couple and still very much in love with each other and have each other’s back. They are very philanthropic with their vast wealth, and Richard has invited them due to their power and influence to help him in his charity venture as investors and supporters. Tempting them on this beautiful luxury cruise where they are wined and dined.
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