Is Verity (2026) really as bad as the critics say? Or is there something more interesting hiding beneath the surface of this widely criticized psychological thriller?
In this spoiler-free review, we’re taking a closer look at Michael Showalter’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett.
There’s a mysterious household, a ghostwriter stepping into another woman’s life, and a story that makes us question everything we think we know. Surprisingly, Verity reminded me of two unexpected literary classics by Henry James and Oscar Wilde.
What does Verity have in common with The Turn of the Screw? Can we trust a written confession? What happens when fiction becomes a disturbing reflection of its creator, almost like The Picture of Dorian Gray? And why isn’t a shocking plot twist necessarily the same as true ambiguity?
Along the way, I compare the movie with Hoover’s original novel, question some of its unusual psychological observations, and explore whether Verity works as an erotic thriller, or simply confuses showing more with suggesting more.
And, of course, I have a few things to say about the film critics who seem to have barely survived the screening.
No major plot twists or ending spoilers for the movie or novel.
Have you seen Verity or read the book? Do you think the critics were too harsh? And which did you prefer: the novel or the movie adaptation?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Welcome to Afterworld Movie Nights, where we explore the strange, beautiful, and occasionally ridiculous ideas that movies leave behind.
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