Anne Hathaway (left) stars as Verity Crawford and Josh Hartnett (right) as Jeremy Crawford in filmmaker Michael Showalter’s “Verity” (Photo Credit: Alisha Wetherill/2026 Amazon Content Services, LLC).
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(“Verity” trailer courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios)
All the single fellas.
All the single fellas.
The nightclubs are usually the place to holler at the ladies.
But this weekend, if the advanced screening in Houston is any indication, movie theaters will be packed with beautiful ladies watching “Verity” starring Anne Hathaway, which is a dark and sometimes dull psychological thriller that will throw moviegoers for a loop towards the end.
While those ladies might not be single, they will probably be there without a man and that is good enough because being committed does not always stop the freaky, deaky, sneaky.
Full disclaimer, fellas.
Speed read the novel, which the movie is based on, and then ask the ladies to join their book club.
Then they will think you are sensitive, and you will be in there like swimwear.
Back to the movie review.
In “Verity,” the titular character Verity Crawford (Hathaway, “The End of Oak Street”) has a dream of a life.
Many people dream of becoming the best in their fields.
Many people dream of becoming famous around the globe.
Many people dream of that great spouse and adoring children.
And some people dream about living in a luxurious mansion, sitting on many cares with a marvelous view of nature in rural Vermont.
While that often stays a dream for many, because reality presents some nightmares that many never recover from, all those dreams become a reality for Verity.
Her novels become instant bestsellers, with fans clamoring for more.
Even when approached by police officers during emergencies, Verity is questioned as much about her next book as she is about the actual emergency.
Verity is often a guest on the biggest podcasts like “Call Her Daddy.”
And is interviewed by some of the most respected journalists like Gayle King.
Additionally, her husband Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett, “Oppenheimer”) is equally as successful in his career in real estate.
But all the outward appearances of success and dreams fulfilled do not separate affluent people from the trials and tribulations of life.
Verity’s novels often deal with sinister characters and storylines.
While fiction is obviously made up, art often imitates reality.
Therefore, if a person has enough dark and twisted thoughts to create evil storylines, do they really think like that themselves?
Because of that possibility, Jeremy stops reading his wife’s work after her first novel is completed.
Jeremy does not want to believe that his loving wife could be more like her characters than she wants to put on.
Despite the malevolent nature of Verity’s “fictional” characters and the diabolical storylines of her novels, no one can argue about her success.
The popularity of Verity’s novels has given the Crawford a picturesque lifestyle.
But one tragedy, or more, could ruin the façade of a picturesque life and reveal maliciousness that might make Verity’s own characters blush.
The only bad thing about being a successful novelist, or any artist for that matter, is that your fanbase does not like waiting long for their next creative fix.
And when Verity must pause from writing for a significant period, her publishing company does not want to lose the momentum that she has gained.
As a result, the publishing company begins looking for somewhat unknown novelists in the same vein as Verity to ghostwrite for her until she can begin working again.
The publishing house selects author Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson, “21 Jump Street”) as Verity’s ghostwriter.
Although Verity and Lowen operate in the same space as authors of thrillers, their careers could not possibly be in different places.
While fans clamor for the next novel by Verity, Lowen can count the number of people at her book readings on her hand.
Those in attendance do not even silence their phones as Lowen unenthusiastically reads her latest “masterpiece.”
One attendee tells a caller that she is not too busy to talk in the middle of Lowen’s presentation.
But Lowen must have something going for herself if a major writer and publishing company chose her to ghostwrite the next best-selling novel.
Plus, Lowen desperately needs the money.
But the only problem about writing for someone else is that a writer must get inside the head of the other person.
It does not help if the ghostwriter has never read the author’s books either.
To accomplish the task at hand, Lowen must move to Vermont to live with the Crawfords, so that she can become Verity at the computer.
Although her agent Corey (Ismael Cruz Cordova) warns Lowen to be careful because she does not know the Crawfords, he probably could not have even imagined the treachery that awaits her in rural Vermont.
There is nothing wrong with the actors’ performances in “Verity.”
Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with the beginning and ending of “Verity” because both are quite compelling.
It is just everything in between that drags a bit.
The movie is a bit dull as Lowen begins the research and writing process once she moves in with the Crawfords in Vermont.
Naturally, the visuals in “Verity” are dark for the most part because Verity’s mental state is probably dark.
Additionally, her physical condition is not a happy situation.
Therefore, vibrant visuals would not be appropriate.
Despite the darkness, “Verity” has its sensual and sexy scenes, like when Verity and Jeremy first meet.
Unfortunately, the movie is sometimes not as sexy as the ambiance inside the theater.
But because of those visuals, the men of the Regal Court will not be disappointed if they give “Verity” two hours of their weekend.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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