{
  "id": 11379332,
  "title": "Thriller has steam to spare, but story slogs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/thriller-has-steam-to-spare-but-story-slogs",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T07:01:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/2026/10/02/thriller-has-steam-to-spare-but-story-slogs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This new adaptation of a 2018 book by Colleen Hoover is being marketed as a sexy psychological thriller. The film features a lot of sexual content and is lacking in both thrilling moments and plausible human psychology. Despite having a beautiful modernist lake house and excellent knitwear, the movie mostly feels like a tedious experience with slow pacing, unconvincing characters, and a lack of atmosphere. The lead actress, Dakota Johnson, appears to be enjoying her role despite the weak script. The director, Michael Showalter, seems to have missed the mark on crafting an engaging mystery or suspense in this gothic tale set in an isolated house.",
  "summary": "Based on a 2018 book by hugely popular, wildly polarizing author Colleen Hoover (whose novels It Ends with Us, Regretting You and Reminders of Him have also been made into […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Film marketed as sexy psychological thriller",
    "Slow pacing and unconvincing characters",
    "Dakota Johnson enjoys role despite weak script"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The film's failure to deliver on thrills and believable characters undermines its marketable elements, leaving it a tedious experience that even the lead actress's enthusiasm can't salvage.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}