Verity Ending Explained and How the Final Twist Changes the Movie

Directed by Michael Showalter, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s polarizing novel Verity is out in theaters. The psychological thriller stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. It delivers tension and turns before landing on a final discovery that reframes the entire story.

The plot follows struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, played by Johnson. She receives a major career opportunity when Jeremy Crawford, played by Hartnett, asks her to complete the successful book series written by his famous wife, Verity Crawford, played by Hathaway.

Warning: Full spoilers for Verity follow.

The offer includes financial compensation and living arrangements in the Crawfords’ remote Vermont mansion. Lowen and Jeremy fall in love while Verity lives in the same house, paralyzed after a car crash.

Lowen finds a hidden manuscript in Verity’s office while working on the book. The text reveals that Verity resents her twin children, Harper and Crew, and finds no joy in motherhood.

The manuscript also claims that Verity orchestrated the boating accident that killed her daughter.

Verity’s ending explained

Lowen places a baby monitor in Verity’s bedroom during the third act to test whether she is lying about her paralysis. The device reveals that Verity has been faking the extent of her injuries.

After reading the manuscript, Jeremy and Lowen believe Verity is dangerous. Jeremy kills her in a rage while Lowen instructs him on how to avoid police suspicion. They cover up the murder by dumping Verity’s body in the lake.

One year later, Jeremy and Lowen expect their first child together. Their collaborative book release is successful, and they prepare to leave the Vermont house with Crew and their new baby.

Lowen packs their belongings and finds a letter hidden under a loose floorboard in Crew’s bedroom. Written by Verity and addressed to her son, the letter explains that the manuscript was merely an exercise in antagonistic journaling. Verity wrote from a villainous perspective to develop characters for her novels and never intended for anyone else to read it.

The letter states that Jeremy drugged Verity and caused the car crash. Verity explains that she faked her paralysis to stay safe from Jeremy while waiting for an opportunity to escape with her son.

How the ending shifts our understanding of the movie

Verity’s letter changes the meaning of the narrative. The final twist reveals that the monster Lowen imagined was just another fictional creation. The letter also exposes Jeremy as the true danger rather than a victim of cruelty.

The movie ends with Jeremy calling Lowen so they can leave the house. Lowen wipes away her tears, hides the letter, and heads downstairs to continue their relationship.

Verity is in theaters now.

Source: Polygon