By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"VERITY" KEEPS ITS SECRETS CLOSE TO THE VEST
I haven't read any of
Colleen Hoover's best-selling novels, but I've seen and enjoyed all of her movies that have been adapted from her work ("Regretting You" and "Reminders of Him"), including Hoover's new psychological thriller
"Verity" from director
Michael Showalter ("Oh. What. Fun.") and screenwriter
Nick Antosca (TV's "Cape Fear").
While there is a certain familiarity to Hoover's books and their movie adaptations, it hasn't diminished their appeal. Instead, that familiarity seems to have only endeared her to a legion of devoted fans. In 2023, Time magazine named Hoover one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
And it never fails that these movies soar because of the terrific cast attached to them. Like Dakota Johnson ("Materialists"), who stars here as Lowen Ashleigh, an up-and-coming published author who is bummed when just a handful of people show up at a local bookstore for one of her readings. Lowen would like to be rich and famous, especially since she's just been evicted from her home.
Her agent and former love interest, Corey (Ismael Cruz Cordova, TV's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power"), believes things are going to get better if she just hangs in there. And sure enough, they do get better.
Turns out Corey is contacted by a publisher who wants Lowen to ghostwrite and complete Verity Crawford's (a low-key but effective Anne Hathaway, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "The End of Oak Street") last book in her best-selling series. Apparently, Verity had a severe medical setback, and doctors aren't sure if she'll make a full recovery. She can't talk or walk and is under the care of Jeremy, who is also raising their young son, Crew (Brady Wagner, "Liz Here Now"). When we do see Verity talking, it's during flashbacks of how she and Jeremy met and how her whole writing career was launched.
But what an opportunity for Lowen. I mean, this is a dream come true. Lowen has only published one book, and now she's about to take over writing for one of the best-selling authors in the world. Lowen can't believe it and is stunned when she arrives with Corey to a meeting to hash out the details, only to discover that Verity's tall, dark and handsome husband Jeremy (an excellent Josh Hartnett, "Trap" and TV's "The Bear") is behind all the maneuvering to get her on board.
And as luck would have it, Lowen and Jeremy had just met prior to their office meeting in a bizarre and frightening way.
Here's the rub. Lowen must live in the house with Jeremy, Verity, and their son. Jeremy believes that Lowen will have a better connection to the work and the overall vibe would just be better that way. Oh, and there is a vibe coming for sure.
Once Lowen settles into the Crawford home, the atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling. What initially seems like an incredible career opportunity begins to feel more like a trap, as Lowen discovers that there are secrets lurking behind the walls of this seemingly perfect family. The deeper she gets into Verity's unfinished manuscript, the harder it becomes to separate fiction from reality. Some of what she reads is disturbing enough to make her question just how well she ever really knew the people around her.
Johnson gives Lowen an appropriately uneasy presence as a woman who knows she's stepped into something far more complicated than she bargained for.
Hartnett is equally effective as Jeremy, bringing just enough warmth and mystery to keep you guessing about what he's really thinking. And Hathaway, even while confined to a bed for much of the film, manages to make Verity's presence felt long after the character leaves the room. The three actors create an intriguing triangle in which trust is constantly shifting.
Director Michael Showalter keeps things moving at a good clip, allowing the story to build its suspense without getting bogged down in too much exposition.
There's also plenty of mystery, romance, and uneasiness to keep you locked into what happens next.
Then there are those little details that make you wonder whether you're watching a love story, a family drama or something much darker. Just when you think you've figured out who can be trusted, the movie drops another clue that sends you back in a different direction. That's where "Verity" works best. It keeps you asking what you're seeing without giving away all its cards.
There are a few other big twists and turns that those unfamiliar with the book probably won't see coming but will enjoy. The final stretch is where the movie really kicks into gear, leaving Lowen--and the audience--with some serious questions about everything that has happened inside the Crawford household.
The ending doesn't spell everything out, either, and that's probably for the best. Instead, it leaves you with a tantalizing tease that opens the door to even more questions. It's the kind of ending that will have audiences talking on the drive home and asking what they would have done if they were in Lowen's shoes.
"Verity" isn't a perfect psychological thriller, but it has enough twists, strong performances, and creepy family secrets to make it an incredibly good one.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"VERITY"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
