Slow burn turned thrill-ride: 'Verity' review

Directed by Michael Showalter, Verity stars Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford, a twisted genius harbouring a dark secret (or so we might believe) and Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, an aspiring young writer who is hired to help Verity complete unfinished work. The story unfolds through the eyes of Lowen and we follow her journey as she begins to piece together the truth behind the phenomenon of Verity Crawford, where it is soon revealed that Lowen has not been set a simple administrative task. 

Despite enjoying the film overall, I cannot help but feel as though it tried too hard to be a slow burner. For the last hour or so, I was having to stifle constant gasps with my eyes glued to the screen, but the prior 45 minutes seemed to exist only to showcase Verity and her husband's long-gone sex life, intertwined within boring anecdotes about how the pair ended up together. Before the story really got going, I feared I had been conned into paying to watch another sloppy romance flick trying to be edgy, though I must preface that I have not read the original novel, so any criticisms I have of the storyline may not be the fault of Showalter or screenwriter Nick Antosca. 

Once the story leaned into being a true thriller, however, the characters really came into their own, making for much more enticing viewing. Anne Hathaway shone with her raw depiction of Verity’s mental instability and seeing the transition of her character from charismatic to so cold and methodical was a testament to her admirable range. 

On the other hand, despite Johnson’s depiction of Lowen as a protagonist that I truly felt connected to, Lowen’s character development felt far less natural than Verity's, with her final form seeming to contradict her pre-established morals without the audience being given much reason to believe that this change would occur.

Outside of the plot and performances, one reason why Verity was such an enticing watch was the score, curated by Volker Bertelmann. The ominous nature of the film's soundtrack helps instil a growing sense of dread that perfectly complements the twist and climax, ensuring that Verity shifts from being just another snog-fest to one of the most gripping pieces of cinema in my recent memory. 

I recommend Verity to anyone who is a fan of classic thrillers or wishes to see something that strays from the classic tropes of other ‘BookTok’ adaptations. If you plan on needing a bathroom break during the screening, make sure you do so in the first half of the film!