Introduction

Above Suspicion (2019), directed by Phillip Noyce, is not merely another crime thriller. It is a study in desperation, corruption, and the fatal cost of blurred boundaries. Based on the real-life scandal involving the first FBI agent convicted of murder, the film reveals how power and desire can twist into tragedy. Emilia Clarke, shedding her iconic roles of fantasy and strength, delivers a raw, vulnerable performance that anchors the film in grim realism.

Plot Overview

The story unfolds in Pikeville, Kentucky, a town ravaged by poverty and addiction. Susan Smith (Emilia Clarke), trapped in a life of deprivation, seizes an opportunity when FBI agent Mark Putnam (Jack Huston) recruits her as an informant. What begins as a transactional relationship spirals into intimacy, betrayal, and a dangerous obsession. As the power imbalance widens, the inevitability of tragedy looms large, culminating in a crime that shocked both the Bureau and the nation.

Performances

• Emilia Clarke as Susan Smith: Clarke immerses herself in the role of a woman both charming and broken, haunted by the knowledge that her escape routes are few. Her performance lends the film a haunting fatalism.
• Jack Huston as Mark Putnam: Huston captures the duality of a man caught between duty and temptation, portraying a subtle descent into moral decay.
• Supporting Cast: Thora Birch and Johnny Knoxville add texture to the Appalachian setting, embodying the town’s grit and weariness.

Direction and Style

Phillip Noyce infuses the film with a noir sensibility, layering Susan’s narration over stark Appalachian landscapes. The voiceover recalls the tradition of classic crime dramas, but with an added sense of inevitability. The muted tones and shadow-heavy cinematography emphasize the claustrophobic world Susan inhabits. While the pacing occasionally falters, the film maintains a constant undercurrent of dread.

Themes and Subtext

• Power and Exploitation: The relationship between Susan and Putnam becomes a microcosm of gendered power struggles, highlighting how vulnerability can be weaponized.
• Addiction and Desperation: The film explores the destructive cycle of dependence—not only on drugs but also on validation, power, and escape.
• Fatalism: From the opening narration, the film signals Susan’s tragic end, creating a sense of inevitability that lingers long after the credits roll.

Strengths and Weaknesses

What works best in Above Suspicion is Clarke’s layered performance and the film’s unflinching portrayal of a doomed affair. The Appalachian setting is vividly drawn, capturing the despair of a forgotten America. However, the film struggles with uneven pacing, and some secondary characters feel underdeveloped. Despite these flaws, its noir sensibility and psychological depth elevate it above formulaic crime dramas.

Conclusion

Above Suspicion is not a conventional thriller—it is a character study wrapped in the trappings of true crime. For viewers seeking a fast-paced crime saga, it may feel restrained. But for those drawn to human flaws, power dynamics, and the tragic collision of desire and consequence, the film resonates deeply. Emilia Clarke’s performance alone makes it worth watching, as she crafts a portrait of a woman both complicit and victimized in a world stacked against her.

Where to Watch

Above Suspicion is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, and Apple TV, as well as for digital rental or purchase.