Verity is in theatres today, and it’s one of the year’s most talked-about releases. The film adapts Colleen Hoover‘s best-selling novel and opens in U.S. theatres on October 2. It’s directed by Michael Showalter, who previously worked with Hathaway on The Idea of You, and written by Nick Antosca.

The story

Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired to complete the work of bestselling author Verity Crawford, played by Anne Hathaway, after an accident leaves Verity unable to finish.

While going through Verity’s office, Lowen finds a hidden autobiography full of dark secrets. Lowen has to work out whether the pages are twisted fiction or a warning about Verity’s real life.

The cast

• Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford
• Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh
• Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford, Verity’s husband
• Supporting players include Ismael Cruz Córdova, Brady Wagner, Irina Dvorovenko, K.K. Moggie and Michael Abbott Jr.

The sapphic storyline

The film’s central love triangle is between Verity, Lowen and Jeremy, but the trailer made clear there’s more going on. In one teaser scene, Lowen is kissing Jeremy when the man she’s kissing is suddenly replaced by Verity, who then bites Lowen’s lip until it bleeds.

The tone is erotic and menacing all at the same time. Some of the nightmares in Verity’s books include Lowen making out with her, which delighted us queer fans when they saw the trailer.

Johnson has been open about how she felt shooting those moments. She called them “spicy sapphic scenes” that were very technical but incredibly enjoyable.

Fans who go in expecting a lesbian love story may be surprised, but anyone who likes their queer subtext dangerous and glamorous will find plenty to enjoy.

Hathaway and Johnson: the bond on and off screen

The leads seem to get on very with them both being very playful with each other in press tours they have done for the film. In a variety of press interviews, Johnson said she would happily kiss “Annie” (Hathaway’s preferred name) for the rest of her life.

They’re also on the same side of the book’s biggest fan debate. Both are firmly Team Letter in the Team Manuscript vs. Team Letter argument, though Hathaway had to understand the opposing view to play Verity.

In another interview, the cast joked about what a Mexican telenovela version of the film might be called, with Hathaway suggesting “Verdad o Verity”.

From the many interviews they have done it sounds like the set sounds was a lot of fun even though the dark twists and turns of the film. Hathaway said that lying in bed for hours on certain filming days felt like a vacation.

Hartnett, for his part, said he had always wanted to work with Hathaway, and that Johnson was excellent in the role and was a really nice person.

Should you watch it?

If you loved the book, you’ll want to see how the film handles its twists. If you’re here for Hathaway and Johnson, the tension between them is definitely the best reason to buy a ticket.

Have you watched it yet? Tell us what you think!