New Horror Thriller Verity's Official First Reactions Are In

Published Sep 25, 2026, 11:43 AM EDT Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Controversial author Colleen Hoover is returning to theaters with Verity. First reactions to the adaptation of Hoover's novel Verity are in, with stars Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett facing the music as viewers and critics alike wait for its wider release. The horror thriller already seems to be dividing those lucky enough to see it before its theatrical release on October 2, with some divisive reactions to the highly anticipated movie. Entertainment editor Chloe Williams stated that Amazon MGM Studios' adaptation of Hoover's novel, "#Verity is an absolutely wild ride, & the tone & aesthetic make it the perfect fall movie. Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett & Anne Hathaway lead the charge, but Brady Wagner's Crew is my favorite! If Dakota's going to do 1 thing, it's wear a blouse & messy bun. I love her for that." Hannah Pistoia shared an Instagram reel with her early reaction to Verity, including the caption, "My head is SPINNING!!!" With a debrief after the movie, both appeared stunned by the conclusion while discussing which team they were supporting after watching the entire movie. Jamie from It's Your Film Sis shared her take on Amazon's adaptation Verity and stated, "‘Verity’ is the kind of psychological thriller you’re gonna need to see with friends just so you can immediately yap about it after." Letterboxd was littered with early reactions as the premieres and early screenings for Verity began to roll out. Evermore999 posted a review and stated, "I have a feeling that this will be the worst movie ever made." Allison Huberty went as far as to say, "Colleen Hoovers worst film adaptation to date. Physically cringed most of the time. Headboard scene made me want to vom," with a two and a half star rating. Another Letterboxd user, Sopha, was not a fan of the Hoover adaptation and posted this review: "At times this felt like someone was reading a terrible romance novel or fanfic out loud but overall it was a solid adaptation. I have one itch however.. the scene where cheekbone botched jeremy kisses her forehead, very awkward editing," with a three-star rating. Miguel Araiza stated that Verity is comparable to "gone girl from temu," with a rating of 2 and a half stars. Laura gave an impressive four-star rating and said, "Held up to the book, it’s the only CoHo story worth a d*mn. Josh Hartnett is not hot. Letter or manuscript?" Letterboxd user George stated, "I am a lover of the trashy thriller and this doesn't have enough of either component," with a two-star rating. However, Bekkalimon disagreed and gave a four and a half star rating by adding, "I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked, and enjoyed this movie." More to come...