Erotic thrillers thrive on a willingness to embrace the absurd and the melodramatic, a quality that Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson bring in spades to Michael Showalter's latest film, Verity. Based on Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, the movie boasts an intriguing premise and a star-studded cast, promising a dark, sexy, and torturous experience. However, despite the leads' committed performances, Showalter's directorial choices lean towards caution, resulting in a film that is merely "fine" rather than the gripping thriller it could have been.
The Premise of Verity
Verity centers on Verity Crawford (Hathaway), a celebrated author known for her dark and vivid imagination, who maintains an idyllic public image. Her life is presented through charming talk show appearances, contrasting with her private struggles. The narrative shifts to Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a struggling writer whose career prospects are grim. An abrupt, violent encounter on her way to an important meeting introduces her to Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), Verity's husband. He offers Lowen a lucrative opportunity to ghostwrite Verity's next book from their secluded mansion in Vermont.
The situation becomes complicated when Lowen discovers that Verity is living in the same house, incapacitated by a severe car accident. This setup blends Gothic atmosphere with erotic thriller conventions, evoking comparisons to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. The central tension builds as Lowen and Jeremy grow closer, all while Verity, the unseen, paralyzed author, looms in the background.
Performances in the Dark
Hathaway and Johnson fully embrace the demands of the erotic thriller genre. Hathaway, in particular, shines when portraying Verity's "true" self through a manuscript discovered by Lowen. These scenes showcase Hathaway relishing a different, more uninhibited persona compared to the polished author seen earlier. She captures Verity's complicated feelings about motherhood and her ambition.
Johnson, drawing on her past roles, delivers a smart, deadpan performance as Lowen. Lowen harbors her own secrets and finds herself increasingly drawn to Jeremy and Verity's dark narrative as she delves into the ghostwriting project. Her fascination with Verity's manuscript fuels her own descent, blurring the lines between admiration and obsession. A telling detail of Lowen's uninhibited nature is her habit of stirring her coffee creamer with her finger.
However, the film falters with Josh Hartnett's portrayal of Jeremy. His performance is described as flat, failing to sell the more dramatic lines and lacking the magnetism needed for the erotic thriller context. This weakness impacts the central dynamic, as Lowen's attraction to Jeremy, while pivotal, lacks a compelling foundation when compared to the intensity of her fascination with Verity.
A fantasy sequence where Jeremy morphs into Verity highlights Lowen's complex desires—not just for Jeremy, but for Verity's entire life and identity. This moment, featured in the trailer, hints at the deeper psychological exploration the film could have undertaken, but the narrative ultimately reverts to focusing on Lowen and Jeremy's developing relationship.
A Safe Approach to Sensuality
The film's handling of sensuality and its more explicit moments also comes under criticism. While scenes like Lowen biting the headboard, reenacting Verity's place in bed, suggest a potent blend of envy and lust, director Michael Showalter appears hesitant to fully explore these themes. Instead of leaning into the potentially messy and dramatic aspects of passion, the film opts for a more controlled and "serviceable" approach. The sex scenes, while present, lack the assured, dramatic intensity seen in films like Basic Instinct, where even absurdity felt earned.
Ultimately, Verity captures the spirit of an erotic thriller by inviting the audience to suspend disbelief and enjoy a wild ride. Yet, its directorial restraint prevents it from fully committing to the genre's inherent absurdity and dark sensuality. The film is functional and visually polished, with its stars giving their all, but it stops short of delivering the truly unhinged, captivating experience that its premise and cast seemed to promise.
Verity releases in theaters on October 2nd.
