Directed by Sophie Kargman in her feature debut,Susie Searchesfollows an awkward college student who has a true crime podcast, as she investigates the disappearance of a local celebrity. The film asks, “How far will a podcaster go to capture her audience?”
The dark comedy had its world premiere at the2022 Toronto International Film Festival and was based on a short film that Kargman made in 2020. Leading the film isKiersey Clemonsas Susie, following her acclaim inFairfaxand ahead of her upcoming role inThe Flash.The cast continues with Alex Wolff, Jim Gaffigan, Rachel Sennott, Ken Marino, Issac Powell, and Dolly Wells.
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Kargman believes that her film is for everybody - from “Gen Z to older millennials” - as it touches on the universal desire to be liked. She tells us, “At the end of the day, I wanted to create a character that we were rooting for, in spite of her complicated choices. My hope is that we all see ourselves in Susie. People aren’t good and bad. People are just human, fallible, and complicated. We’re just trying to get by and to navigate thisshifting culture to being ‘very online’.”
Game Rant spoke with Sophie Kargman about her inspirations behind Susie Searches, casting Kiersey Clemons, her dream audience for the film, and more.
Game Rant: I interviewedKiersey Clemons forFairfaxand she was so charming, so I was excited to see her in this film. What did she bring to the character Susie?
Sophie Kargman:Kiersey’s emotional agility is special. Her ability to navigate Susie’s tonal shifts are incredible. This is a character that we are rooting for, but she’s complicated. Kiersey is one of those actresses that is just so fun to watch. I loved watching her prior to casting her. I love watching her and everything she does, and Suzy is no different. Adding to that, her ability to take direction is incredible. I would give her a little tweak and we would only have to do 2 or 3 takes for every scene. We were very quick. When you aremaking a movie on a budget, time is not your friend, so you have to be very specific about what you want.
GR: You mentioned that Susie is a very complex character. It’s easy to love her, but she also makes some strange decisions. Can you talk about the duality of this character and any challenges you had writing her?
Kargman:Yeah, I mean, it’s off the page. That also comes into casting. I was so excited to cast Kiersey because she is so innately likable. This character is complicated. She is slightly more ambiguous, but she’s human. At the end of the day, I wanted to create a character that we were rooting for, in spite of her complicated choices. My hope is that we all see ourselves in Susie. People aren’t good and bad. People are just human, fallible, and complicated. We’re just trying to get by and navigate this shifting culture to being ‘very online’.
GR: I really enjoyed the film’s commentary on media. Was there any specific event or social media post that inspired you to create the story?
Kargman: I wanted to make a movie that felt topical, universal, and commercial. I wanted to tap into something that feels personal to everyone. That was the impetus for me. My co-creator and writer ofSusie Searches, William Day Frank, and I wanted to make an elevated genre film, but also a detailed character study that speaks to our society’s current fixation with love and wanting to be loved and to be seen. It sounds really cheesy, but it’s a cautionary tale about what happens when this need for instant celebrity goes too far.
Especiallyin this day and age of insta-celebrity, for instance, celebrities and influencers get paid to literally post online, anyone can do that. But it’s like, how far are you willing to go to get that audience? What are you willing to do? The universal dilemmas of this film are in these questions. If you could achieve your lifelong dream overnight, would you do that? Or how far would you go to commit a seemingly victimless crime? And then, how far would you go next?
GR: That’s intense. We have discussed what you’re hoping to inspire in people while they’re watching this film. Who do you see as your audience?
Kargman:I hope it’s a story that connects in some way shape or form to everyone, from Gen Z to older millennials. It speaks to a younger audience, it’s their topic of space right now, but I think this question or desire to be seen is timeless. It’s something that anyone can relate to no matter what age.
GR: Definitely. There were socialites, before influencers. It’s all the same. What was your biggest takeaway from making this film?
Kargman:One thing that was really important to me was knowing the names of everyone on my crew. I had one of our team members, print out a photo for everyone from craft services to transportation. I wanted to know their names and what they look like before our first day on set. Everyone is an essential part of the process. I couldn’t do anything without each and every crew member on set. I’m the captain, but it takes a village.
Susie Searcheshas its world premiere on June 23, 2025 at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
