by Jeremy Kazieva,
Verity is the type of psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing everything you witness—and, perhaps most importantly, everyone you believe you can trust. Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel and directed by Michael Showalter, the film immerses audiences in a disturbing world where reality, fiction, desire, and manipulation become increasingly difficult to separate.
Dakota Johnson stars as Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is hired to finish the bestselling book series of Verity Crawford, played by Anne Hathaway, after a mysterious accident leaves Verity unable to continue writing. Lowen moves into the Crawford family’s isolated home, where she begins examining Verity’s unfinished work and discovers disturbing revelations about the family. Soon, the line between what is real and what is written becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish.
Johnson delivers a suitably controlled performance in the lead role. As Lowen attempts to make sense of the people around her, Johnson convincingly captures her growing paranoia, curiosity, and fascination as the situation takes increasingly disturbing turns. Josh Hartnett complements her performance with an intriguing sense of uncertainty as Jeremy Crawford, leaving viewers constantly questioning what his true motives might be.
But the biggest reason to watch Verity is Anne Hathaway. She completely embraces the movie’s heightened tone, creating a character who can be terrifying, vulnerable, manipulative, and strangely magnetic. Hathaway understands exactly what kind of thriller this is and never seems afraid to lean into its more outrageous moments.
Showalter’s direction gives the film a polished, atmospheric look, while the secluded Crawford estate becomes an effective setting for the story’s escalating tension. The movie also embraces its erotic-thriller elements more openly than the novel, adding another layer to Lowen and Jeremy’s increasingly complicated relationship.
However, Verity occasionally struggles under the weight of its own twists. Some developments feel deliberately sensational, and the screenplay sometimes pushes characters into questionable decisions simply to keep the mystery alive. Viewers looking for a grounded psychological thriller may find parts of the story excessive.
Ultimately, it’s the performances and eerie atmosphere that keep the film engaging. Verity may not be a flawless thriller, but it remains a stylish, entertaining, and unpredictable adaptation that embraces the guilty pleasure of keeping audiences guessing about who is actually telling the truth.