Apr 29, 2026 11:56am IST
‘Verity’ Trailer Review: Get Ready for a Twisted Tale of Obsession
It’s time for cinephiles to enter the dark and visceral world of Colleen Hoover as the week got off to a terrifying start with the trailer of “Verity,” her bestselling novel, dropped a few hours ago.
Starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, this psychological erotic thriller follows Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford (Hartnett) to complete the books of his injured wife, Verity (Hathaway). As Lowen moves into the couple's home to work, she becomes trapped in a sinister triangle of obsession, soon discovering that the famous author is hiding secrets far more disturbing than the fiction she writes.
What’s hot
The trailer wastes no time pulling the audience into the middle of the drama. It starts with a scene so gripping that it sets the tone for the entire film. The footage opens with Johnson and Hartnett sharing a passionate kiss, but as they pull apart, the mood shifts instantly. Hathaway suddenly appears in Hartnett's place, wearing a cunning, wicked smirk. While Johnson looks completely frozen in shock, Hathaway’s expression is cold and calculated, proving she is a master of these mind games.
And if that wasn't enough to set your nerves on edge, her words certainly do the talking. In the trailer, Hathaway delivers a chilling warning. "Even with my continuous warning, you’re going to continue to ingest my words. But know one thing: There is no light where we’re going. Darkness ahead."
The rest of the trailer only opens up a deeper can of worms. We see Johnson’s Lowen falling into a heated romance with Hartnett’s Jeremy, but the atmosphere is constantly suffocating. Even in their most intimate moments, the bedridden Verity is never truly absent; her presence lingers in every room, watching and waiting, turning a simple love affair into a dangerous game of shadows.
What’s not
The only real downside? We only wish the trailer was longer. As we watch Lowen become deeply entangled with the Crawford family, navigating a maze of secrets, lies and manipulation, it's hard not to want more immediately. That said, it gives us just enough to keep us on the edge of our seats without spoiling the biggest twists.
So, we have no real complaints there; the mystery is perfectly set.
The film is directed by Michael Showalter, who previously worked with Hathaway on the romantic comedy, “The Idea of You.” The film also features actors Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo and Reid Scott.
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