Verity

Synopsis: Hired to be a ghostwriter for renowned author Verity Crawford, Lowen Ashleigh's assignment takes a dark turn when she discovers chilling autobiographical notes. As she wrestles with disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity's husband, she soon finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession. 

Movie Review: 

Michael Showalter directs "Verity," an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel that attempts to channel the vibe of 90s erotic thrillers with steamy moments, cheesy dialogue, and plot twists. Unfortunately, it falls flat due to being tedious and uninspired, featuring some of the most awkward acting performances I've witnessed this year. Dakota Johnson portrays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer with genuine talent but no readers. The film tries to make her likeable through her down-to-earth nature and shy demeanor, yet her performance comes across as flat, lifeless, and one-note—her character lacks emotional depth, which actually made me chuckle during supposedly emotional scenes. Anne Hathaway takes on the role of Verity Crawford, a celebrated author in a comatose state who essentially just sits motionless throughout the film. Despite her limited screen presence, she manages to deliver solid work and ends up being the standout for me. Josh Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford, Verity's husband, and he brings genuine charm and appeal to the role of a seemingly perfect guy harboring dark secrets that keep you wondering. Even with a weak script full of cringe-worthy lines, Hartnett commits to an over-the-top, theatrical performance. Brady Wagner plays Crew Crawford, the young son, and he delivers an impressive, understated performance that feels genuine and grounded—his character actually won me over. The opening 15 minutes grabbed my attention with an intriguing mystery setup, but once that's established, the pacing drags and feels stagnant until a ridiculous twist arrives. There are actually two twists: the first one is decent and logical, but the second one near the end is predictable, irritating, and cringeworthy, which really undermines the payoff. "Verity" is a lengthy, dull, and predictable thriller that aspires to captivate but simply doesn't land. I'm rating it 2/5 stars.

Director: Michael Showalter 

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnet, Brady Wagner, Ismad Cruz Cordova, Irna Dvorovenko, Sienna Kulvotiz, KK. Moggie and Tom Galantich 

Runtime: 114 Minutes