Verity debuted over the weekend, leaving fans polarized about the film based off of the best-selling Colleen Hoover thriller. The star power was there with Anne Hathaway taking on the title role and Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett rounding out the cast. However, the performances weren’t as chaotic or intense as they could have been.
Many of the book’s main plot points were hit. Lowen’s (Johnson) descent into reading Verity’s hidden autobiography, Jeremy (Hartnett) falling for Lowen while dealing with the grief over losing his young daughter, and ultimately his wife. However, what wasn’t there was something the book readers have been talking about since watching the adaptation.
How Is The Verity Movie Different From The Book?
Fans who read the popular book know that the movie left out many major details of the plot. Perhaps the biggest one is the children. In the film, it’s revealed that Verity and Jeremy have two children, twins Crew and Harper. However, that’s not the case in the source material.
The novel reveals that Harper’s twin sister was named Chastin, and that Crew was their younger brother. Chastin was cut from the film entirely, making Crew Harper’s twin instead. In the book, both Chastin and Harper die under different, but equally suspicious circumstances.
This is a plot point that can easily steer the reader’s into a huge realization or opinion when it comes to the twist ending. In addition, Verity’s appearance was changed. The book describes her as a blond, but Anne Hathaway kept her signature brunette locks for the movie.
The Film Was Far Less Haunting Than The Book
Furthermore, the plot change about Verity’s children wasn’t the only thing left out of the movie. There was also a plot about Lowen sleepwalking that was completely kept out of the film, likely for pacing. Lowen is also physically haunted by Verity much more in the book, making for a more intense, spooky, and mind-twisting consuming experience.
This is something that many have complained about when it comes to the movie, revealing that the film didn’t express just how tormented and infatuated Lowen really was with Verity. The climax also felt rushed. Once first big twist of the movie was revealed, things quickly escalated without the buildup that often makes the payoff more enjoyable.
The ending was much like the book, but because of all of the skipped plot points and the decision to make the film less haunting than the book felt, many fans weren’t impressed with the movie as a whole, and they took to social media to talk about it.
Fans Weren’t Thrilled With The Adaptation
“The movie was so-so, the book is way better,” one person commented via X. “I didn’t like it. It changed too much from the book. Literally removed so many important things I was looking forward to,” said another. “Dakota Johnson just sleepwalking through Verity,” a third critic declared. “Some of the most unhinged parts were completely left out,” a fourth comment read.
However, many who didn’t read the book before seeing the movie had other opinions. “It was okay. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great. I didn’t the read book. The acting was blah,” one non-book reader tweeted. “I kinda liked the movie and didn’t read the book may be that might be one reason.. not knowing anything helps I guess!” said another.
Team Letter or Team Manuscript?
The end of the movie and the book leave fans wondering who was actually telling the truth. Was Verity’s manuscript really the true story about what happened to Harper? Was she so obsessed with Jeremy that she couldn’t stand another person having his unconditional love and attention?
Or, was it all just a writing exercise that she needed to help her get into the headspace of a villain and become the author of dark, chilling, horrific stories? We may never know, but every fans seems to have their opinion, and they are very much split. There’s not an overwhelming consensus either way, and that’s one of the most fun things about the story.
Verity’s Box Office Success
Verity took the top spot at the box office on Friday with $15.1 million opening in more than 3,500 theaters in North America. Throughout the opening weekend, the film is estimated to bank more than 33.6 million, per Variety. The film is the fourth novel by Colleen Hoover to be adapted. The others include Regretting You, Reminders Of Him, and It Ends With Us, which caused controversy behind the scenes with lead actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
The film also marks Dakota Johnson’s best box office opening in eight years, since Fifty Shades Freed. However, the CinemaScore was only rated at a C+ by opening-night audiences.
Whether you loved the book and movie, one thing is for sure. Book lovers will show up to see adaptations, and they won’t be shy about sharing their critics online afterward.
Amanda Lynne focuses on human interest news, entertainment topics, and trending news. She has nearly 20 years of experience writing online news for several outlets.
