‘Susie Searches’ Review: Kiersey Clemons’ True Crime Podcaster Attracts More Attention Than She Bargained For

variety.com:

J. Kim Murphy The morbid draw of true crime — vicariously experiencing other people’s tragedies by sifting through the elements that caused them — goes under the microscope in the kitschy whodunnit “Susie Searches.” Sophie Kargman’s feature debut, expanded from her short of the same name, plays on the dangers that come when voyeur becomes an interference, but the sort-of thriller doesn’t have the bite to investigate the provocative sympathy it has for its meddling antihero.

An aspiring gumshoe, Susie is first introduced as a precocious grade schooler, sitting beside her mother, Anne (Jammie Patton) as the two read a detective novel — the nice kind that encourages adolescent curiosity and ends with a virtuous sleuth catching a mustache-twirling menace.

An affecting montage shows the pair continuing their shared hobby as the years pass. Anne falls ill as her daughter dutifully cares for her, growing into a wannabe wunderkind (Kiersey Clemons), now a college student hosting her own true crime podcast, but still as wide-eyed as a child.

Early on, “Susie Searches” recalls the tone of those kid-appropriate, Nancy Drew-style mystery novels. Adam Reamer’s affectionate production design evokes the friendly colors of kindergarten arts and crafts.