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Above Suspicion is a 2019 American crime thriller film directed by Phillip Noyce, from a screenplay by Chris Gerolmo, based upon Joe Sharkey's non-fiction book of the same name revolving around the murder of Susan Smith. It stars Emilia Clarke, Jack Huston, Sophie Lowe, Austin Hébert, Karl Glusman, Chris Mulkey, Omar Miller, Kevin Dunn, Thora Birch and Johnny Knoxville.
It was released in the United States on May 7, 2021, by Lionsgate.
Contents
Plot
Susan Smith is a drug addict who lives with her abusive boyfriend Cash and two young children in a run-down trailer in Pikeville, Kentucky. She meets an ambitious rookie agent assigned to an FBI field office who recruits Susan as his informant for a high-profile case. Susan believes her bad luck may finally be changing, but as their relationship deepens, so does the danger, setting in motion a downward spiral of jealousy, betrayal and violence resulting in one of the most notorious crimes in FBI history.
Cast
Emilia Clarke as Susan Smith
Jack Huston as Mark Putnam
Sophie Lowe as Kathy Putnam
Karl Glusman as Joe-Bea
Austin Hébert as Randy McCoy
Thora Birch as Jolene
Johnny Knoxville as Cash
Brian Lee Franklin as Rufus
Luke Spencer Roberts as Bones
Kevin Dunn as Bob Singer
Chris Mulkey as Todd Eason
Omar Benson Miller as Denver Rhodes
Matt Combs as Lead KSP Trooper
Brittany O'Grady as Georgia Beale
Production
The film was announced during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Philip Noyce was set as director, with Emilia Clarke and Jack Huston cast as the film's two main leads. The production began filming in Lexington, Kentucky on May 24, 2016. Omar Benson Miller was cast on May 25, 2016, with May 27 seeing the additions of Thora Birch and Johnny Knoxville to the cast, alongside numerous other supporting actors. Filming took place in central and eastern Kentucky – in Lexington in Fayette County, and in Bourbon and Harlan counties – in 2016.
Release
The film was released in Egypt on March 27, 2019. Its theatrical release in the United States and on VOD was on May 7, 2021 by Lionsgate.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 25% based on 40 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 46 out of 100, based on nine critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
