# Verity Review: Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson Can’t Salvage Another Failed Colleen Hoover Adaptation

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/verity-review-anne-hathaway-and-dakota-johnson-cant-salvage-another-failed-colleen-hoover-adaptation/
- Published: 2026-09-30T21:27:58+00:00
- Topics: Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Film, Paranormal, Weird & Viral

## Key points

- Fourth Colleen Hoover adaptation struggles despite strong cast and acclaimed director
- Film plays too safely, missing the unsettling and campy tone of the source material
- Plot faithfully adapted but lacks the psychological intensity readers found compelling

## Summary

Michael Showalter's film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's psychological thriller *Verity* represents the fourth attempt to bring a CoHo novel to screen, following unsuccessful outings for *It Ends with Us*, *Regretting You*, and *Reminders of Him*. Despite boasting an acclaimed creative team—director Michael Showalter and screenwriter Nick Antosca—and a powerhouse cast including Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, the film reportedly fails to recapture the unsettling, campy essence of Hoover's source material, opting instead for a safer, more conventional approach to the twisted narrative.

The plot follows Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a struggling writer hired to ghostwrite bestselling author Verity Crawford's (Hathaway) remaining novels after a car accident leaves her catatonic. Whilst working in the Crawford family's Vermont home, Lowen discovers a secret manuscript that raises disturbing questions about Verity's true character and intentions, particularly regarding her relationship with her husband Jeremy (Hartnett). Whilst the film adheres closely to the novel's plot structure and the cast fully commits to their roles, critics consensus indicates the adaptation lacks the sinister, seductive energy that distinguished Hoover's book, resulting in a competent but ultimately underwhelming thriller that squanders its potential.

## Coverage

- [Polygon: Hathaway and Johnson impress, but Verity lacks gothic thrills](https://www.polygon.com/verity-review/)
- [Variety: ‘Verity’ Review: Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway Drift Through Another Listless Colleen Hoover Adaptation](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/verity-review-dakota-johnson-anne-hathaway-1236893315/)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: Verity’ review finds its mystery increasingly illogical and underwhelming](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/verity-review-anne-hathaway-dakota-johnson-josh-hartnett-1236714142/)
- [Deadline: ‘Verity’ Review: Dakota Johnson And Anne Hathaway Play Authors In Psychological Thriller But Are They Really Alter Egos For Colleen Hoover?](https://deadline.com/2026/09/verity-review-dakota-johnson-anne-hathaway-colleen-hoover-1237142838/)
- [Collider: Anne Hathaway’s ‘Verity’ Is a Mostly Faithful Book Adaptation That Still Plays It Too Safe | Review](https://collider.com/verity-movie-review-anne-hathaway-dakota-johnson-josh-hartnett/)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: Anne Hathaway Says This ‘Verity’ Scene Almost Made Her Break Character — And It Involved a Foot Rub](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/anne-hathaway-verity-break-character-premiere-1236717148/)
- [Fox News: Anne Hathaway takes charge at the 'Verity' red carpet in viral moment](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/anne-hathaway-takes-charge-verity-red-carpet-viral-moment)

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