In Michael Showalter’s Verity, a capable cast keeps this campy psychological thriller afloat, even as logic and credibility often go missing. Yeah, it’s probably best to leave your brain at the door for this one - it’ll be easier to enjoy. And, to be fair, there IS enjoyment to be had. This is based on the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, after all, so you know you’re in for something equal parts juicy, steamy, and mysterious - with a very heavy helping of “trash.” And I mean that as a compliment… mostly. Because that kind of material can be a whole lot of fun when the camp factor is dialed up, the performances know exactly what movie they’re in, and the filmmakers give the audience a wink or two along the way. We get glimpses of that here, but too much of Verity is played remarkably straight. Guys, this is the kind of subject matter that even some soap operas might look at and say, “that’s a bit much.” Thankfully, there’s a nice cast dynamic keeping things afloat, with Anne Hathaway especially delivering a deliciously juicy performance (in the limited moments we get with her anyways). Josh Hartnett does his best with the material too, making the most out of his charm and striking looks, while Dakota Johnson occasionally feels like she’s slipped right back into Fifty Shades of Grey territory. And while Johnson’s deadpan, often deliberately flat delivery may turn some viewers off, I personally find her subdued personality to be a uniquely cheeky presence. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about watching her react to all the insanity around her like she’s only mildly inconvenienced by it that just works. The problem is that while this main cast does an admirable job of keeping the increasingly eye-rolling plot from completely falling apart, no one is really having fun with it. There are hints of a much more entertaining movie hiding underneath Verity - one that truly embraces its pulpy, ridiculous, sexy and downright bonkers nature. Instead, the film keeps one foot planted firmly in serious psychological-thriller territory, even when the material is practically begging it to wink at the audience. In the end, Verity is a mildly entertaining guilty pleasure that gets the job done – keeping it watchable all the way through.