Verity

Colleen Hoover's 2018 bestselling novel Verity has finally been brought to the big screen under Michael Showalter's direction. Transitioning from romantic comedies to psychological thriller, Showalter shows a different kind of courage with this adaptation while reaping the rewards of bringing together two powerful actresses like Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway in the same project.

Verity: The Other Side of Truth presents a story told through the eyes of writer Lowen Ashleigh, where reality and fiction dangerously intertwine. Lowen is hired to complete the novel series of successful thriller writer Verity Crawford, who was injured in a tragic accident. While working at the Crawford family home, she discovers Verity's autobiography, and the disturbing truths within fundamentally change Lowen's life. The film practically leads viewers through a labyrinth via constantly shifting perceptions of reality and unreliable narrators.

Michael Showalter's directorial style presents the humanistic approach we're familiar with from works like The Big Sick and The Eyes of Tammy Faye within a darker palette here. However, this transition isn't entirely seamless. While Showalter's strength in giving characters human depth is felt throughout the film, the oppressive atmosphere required by the psychological thriller genre isn't adequately captured in some scenes. Cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe's shots create a claustrophobic effect in the interior spaces of the Crawford mansion, while in exterior shots, the foggy, melancholic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest perfectly complement the film's mood.

Dakota Johnson, who has been making bold and independent choices in her career in recent years, once again takes on a daring role. In portraying the character of Lowen, she subtly reflects the inner world of a woman oscillating between desperation and uncertainty. Johnson's moments of silence speak far more than her dialogue. Anne Hathaway, though appearing on screen sparingly as Verity in an almost ghostly presence, leaves an incredibly powerful impact in flashback scenes and various video recordings. Hathaway's Verity is both fragile and manipulative, both victim and perhaps perpetrator. Josh Hartnett, as Jeremy Crawford, delivers perhaps the most layered performance of his career. Hartnett, whom we haven't seen in years, masterfully dances the fine line between a grieving husband and a potential threat.

Screenwriters Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo appear to have faced some challenges in translating the complex structure of Hoover's novel to cinema. The novel's strength—the tension created by internal monologues and written texts—doesn't fully translate to the visual medium. Particularly the pages of Verity's autobiography, which had great impact in the book, fall into the exposition trap in some scenes when used as voice-over in the film. However, the story's core mystery and shocking twists are largely preserved.

Theodore Shapiro's minimalist approach to the film's musical design is noteworthy. Shapiro chooses to use the power of silence, avoiding overly dramatic music. While this choice is effective especially in suspense scenes, it causes some emotional moments to feel incomplete. In the editing department, Jennifer Lame's signature is present. Lame, who demonstrated her success in works like The Menu and Oppenheimer, shows it again in Verity, particularly managing the transitions between past and present fluidly.

There are also interesting details from behind the scenes of the film. It's said that Dakota Johnson finished the novel in one night before accepting the role and formed a deep connection with the character of Lowen. Anne Hathaway worked with real physical therapists for Verity's wheelchair scenes and conducted research to understand the psychological effects of mobility restrictions. The Crawford house used during filming is actually a historic mansion in Oregon, and by the film's end, this house itself becomes almost a character.

Verity: The Other Side of Truth, while carrying the classic problems of book adaptations, prompts viewers to think with its strong acting performances and questions about reality. The film explores the dark side of the writing world, how creativity and fiction can dangerously intertwine with real life. It can be considered a nice contribution to the psychological thriller genre, which has also been popular with Turkish audiences in recent years.

Although Showalter's direction doesn't meet all the requirements of the genre, the importance he gives to characters and the performances he elicits from actors make the film worth watching. Especially the ambiguity left to the viewer in the finale and the open-ended conclusion are the kind you'll continue discussing long after finishing the film. Was Verity telling the truth or was everything fiction? Here, Showalter avoids giving a definitive answer to this question, trusting his audience and showing the courage to leave the film open-ended.