Verity

What’s it about?

An aspiring writer is hired as a ghostwriter for a bestselling author. As disturbing family secrets are uncovered, fiction and reality become harder to separate.

The facts

• Directed by Michael Showalter
• Starring Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada 2), Dakota Johnson (Materialists), and Josh Hartnett (Fight or Flight)
• English language
• Runtime: 116 minutes
• Based on the novel by Colleen Hoover with the same name

Why did it get this rating?

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

The following information breaks down the film's rating and content warnings. It does not mention any character names or delve into plot points. If necessary, we occasionally include minor spoilers to help keep audiences informed about what they are watching

Violence

Violent scenes include:

• A man straddles a woman and starts strangling her. Another character suffocates the victim by covering her nose and mouth. You see the victim struggle before going still, appearing dead.
• A character narrates a description of a stabbing told from the perspective of the offender – who appeared to enjoy committing the violent crime.

The film also includes some bloody violence:

• Blood suddenly splatters over a character as they approach a crosswalk.
• A background shot shows a man’s bloodied body on the bonnet after a car crash. The accident isn’t shown on screen.
• A character bites a knife and their mouth bleeds.

Cruelty

There are a few moments in the film where characters act cruelly and some viewers may find this upsetting or hard to watch. Examples include:

• A brief narrated flashback shows a woman – who never wanted children - neglect and attempt to kill her infant twins. You see her turn the baby monitor off and ignore their cries, plan to suffocate them, and almost place a pillow over them but is interrupted. A few years pass in the flashback, and you see her take the twins (now young children) out in a canoe with no life jackets and deliberately tip the boat over. The scene is shown briefly in aerial view.
• A woman pricks the hand of another, who appears mute and paralysed, drawing blood with a pin. She vows to steal the woman’s house, career and husband.
• A man drugs a woman, positions her in the driver’s seat of a car, and places a brick on the accelerator which sends the car crashing in to a tree. The woman is hospitalised.

Sex scenes 

Several sex scenes portrayed through positioning, movement, and vocalisations.

In one scene, a woman is shown masturbating in the bath. Her buttocks and breasts are briefly visible. The scene takes a dark turn when a person she fantasises kissing bites her lip, making it bleed.

Offensive language

Occasional offensive language includes “f**k" and its variations, often used in moments of stress and as a reference to sex. “C*nt" is used in a moment of cruelty.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• It Ends with Us – content breakdown