A psychological thriller leaves audiences questioning who is the true villain of the story
In short: In the 2026 film Verity, a struggling author moves into a lakeside home to finish a book series for a catatonic writer. She soon uncovers a dark manuscript that pits husband against wife, leading to a web of deception where the truth remains dangerously elusive until the final, chilling frame.
Directed by Michael Showalter and based on Colleen Hoover's 2018 novel, Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh, played by Dakota Johnson, as she steps into the lives of the Crawford family. The narrative centers on the mysterious Verity Crawford, portrayed by Anne Hathaway, who is supposedly left catatonic following a tragic accident that claimed her daughter, Harper. As Lowen assists Verity's husband, Jeremy, played by Josh Hartnett, she discovers a hidden autobiography that paints Verity as a cold, manipulative figure who resented her own children and attempted to harm them to secure Jeremy's affection.
The plot takes a darker turn when Lowen and Jeremy begin an affair and conspire to end Verity's life, staging it as an accident. However, the discovery of a final letter from Verity complicates the morality of the entire situation. The letter claims the autobiography was merely a creative writing exercise, and that it was actually Jeremy who attempted to murder her, forcing her to feign catatonia to survive. The film concludes with Lowen choosing to suppress this revelation, leaving the audience to decide whether the true monster is the wife who wrote of murder or the husband who acted upon it.
Critical reception to the film has been notably mixed. While some reviewers, such as Matt Zoller Seitz, praised the performances and the film's self-aware, playful tone, others like Clarisse Loughrey criticized it for relying on derivative thriller tropes. With a 34% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a C+ grade from CinemaScore, the adaptation is seen by many as a polarizing experience that leans heavily into excessive melodrama. Despite these critiques, the film's exploration of unreliable narratives and domestic suspense continues to spark debate over the nature of truth within its twisted, gothic framework.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Verity (film)
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