Verity Crawford, portrayed by Anne Hathaway, is at the center of a gripping narrative in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, which concludes with an ambiguous ending. The film closes with Verity's final interview, where she discusses themes of certainty, leaving the audience questioning her true nature. Was she a sociopathic figure or a tragic victim?
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The plot follows Lowen, a struggling writer played by Dakota Johnson, who is tasked with finishing Verity’s book series after a car accident renders Verity unable to communicate. As Lowen delves into Verity's life and a series of confessions documented in an autobiographical manuscript, she uncovers a dark secret about Verity’s past involving her twin children and a sinister incident that leads to one child’s death.
Director Michael Showalter maintains the intricate and unsettling essence of Hoover’s original work, which captivated readers since its publication in 2018. He emphasizes the horror and surprise elements within the story. “I wanted to preserve those moments that are like, whoa, that just happened,” Showalter told TIME. Meanwhile, Hoover, who also produced the film, aimed for the audience to experience the same emotional intensity found in her book.
As the narrative unfolds, Lowen becomes increasingly entwined with the Crawford family, developing a complicated relationship with Jeremy, Verity's husband. The film portrays various layers of reality, contrasting Lowen’s quest for success with Verity’s troubled past. The dynamic intensifies when Lowen finds Verity’s manuscript, which details her grievances as a mother and the darker thoughts she harbors.
The film’s climax occurs when Lowen suggests a malevolent solution to Verity’s situation, prompting a chain of events that leads to Verity’s apparent death. However, this conclusion, including the cover-up of her demise, diverges from the original novel, allowing for a tighter focus on the evolving relationships among the characters.
In a twist, the film reveals a letter from Verity, contradicting the manuscript’s confessions, suggesting it was merely an exercise in creative writing. This revelation deepens the complexities of loyalty and truth within the narrative, leaving viewers uncertain about Verity's true character and intentions. Hoover has noted that this duality has sparked intense discussions among readers, reflecting differing beliefs about which narrative to trust.
Ultimately, the film concludes much like the novel, presenting viewers with an open-ended question about truth and authenticity in storytelling. The last scenes evoke a sense of unresolved tension, emphasizing that both Verity and Lowen are caught in a web of manipulation and self-deception, echoing themes prevalent throughout the narrative. This leaves audiences pondering the essence of Verity's character long after the credits roll, inviting varied interpretations and discussions on the nature of reality in fiction.