Our take
Verity adapts Colleen Hoover's bestselling psychological thriller with Anne Hathaway as incapacitated author Verity Crawford, Dakota Johnson as ghostwriter Lowen, and Josh Hartnett as husband Jeremy. Rated R for sexual content, some nudity, language, violence, and bloody images. Expect explicit intimacy, a romance crossing ethical lines, chilling autobiographical manuscript revelations, child-endangerment themes from the source novel, and morally twisted obsession. The book was controversial for its handling of domestic violence and child harm; the film carries the same adult-only profile. Not appropriate for teens despite the romance marketing, strictly 17+
Uplifting themes
No clear positive messages found in this title No positive role models found in this title
AMU ages are independent editorial opinions. They are not legal classifications and are not issued by the Classification Board, the MPAA, or any other official classification body. Official labels on this site, such as PG or R, come from those bodies or our data sources, not from AMU. AMU guides are not a substitute for official classification. Cuts and details can differ by version. Use them as one input only. You decide what is right for your family.
Story (may spoil tone)
Lowen Ashleigh is hired by Jeremy Crawford to ghostwrite novels for his bestselling author wife Verity, who is unable to finish following an accident. Lowen gradually uncovers Verity's disturbing truths while residing at the Crawfords' home to work.
Details
Violence Bloody images, car-accident aftermath, and violent revelations in the m…
Bloody images, car-accident aftermath, and violent revelations in the manuscript
Language Strong language throughout the R-rated adult thriller
Strong language throughout the R-rated adult thriller
Sex / nudity Explicit sexual scenes and nudity are central to the R rating and marke…
Explicit sexual scenes and nudity are central to the R rating and marketing
Drugs / alcohol Adult lifestyle context may include incidental drinking but not a prima…
Adult lifestyle context may include incidental drinking but not a primary theme
Frightening Disturbing manuscript revelations and psychological manipulation create…
Disturbing manuscript revelations and psychological manipulation create sustained tension
Self-harm / suicide Dark themes present in source material but not as primary focus in film…
Dark themes present in source material but not as primary focus in film materials
Sexual violence Source novel and adaptation deal with coercive dynamics and disturbing…
Source novel and adaptation deal with coercive dynamics and disturbing confessions
Child peril / abuse Child endangerment and harm themes from the novel are expected in the a…
Child endangerment and harm themes from the novel are expected in the adaptation
Bullying / discrimination Psychological manipulation and power imbalance between characters domin…
Psychological manipulation and power imbalance between characters dominate
Gore / death / weapons Bloody images including accident scenes cited in the official R-rating…
Bloody images including accident scenes cited in the official R-rating descriptors
Dangerous behaviour Ethically compromised romance and snooping through private manuscripts…
Ethically compromised romance and snooping through private manuscripts modeled on page
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Obsession, manipulation, and blurred reality between fiction and truth…
Obsession, manipulation, and blurred reality between fiction and truth drive the plot
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement Family tragedy and loss underpin the Crawford estate's dark secrets
Family tragedy and loss underpin the Crawford estate's dark secrets
Talk after watching
- Lowen cannot tell whether Verity's manuscript is truth or fiction. How do we judge unreliable narrators?
- Lowen grows close to Jeremy while working in the Crawford home. What ethical lines does she cross?
- The novel sparked debate about how stories portray domestic violence. Should films adapt controversial books?