Suspect, released in theaters on October 23, 1987, is a taut blend of courtroom drama, mystery, and moral tension that explores not only the machinery of justice, but the humanity often lost within it. Starring Cher, Dennis Quaid and Liam Neeson, the film fuses procedural intrigue with emotional depth, anchored by a cast that elevates what could have been a standard legal thriller into something far more absorbing.
The story begins with two shocking events: a Supreme Court justice’s suicide and the brutal murder of his secretary. When police arrest Carl Anderson (Neeson), a deaf and mute homeless veteran, the connection appears cut and dry.
Assigned to defend him is overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher), whose compassion and determination drive her beyond protocol.
Riley suspects that Anderson is innocent, but building a defense means navigating a maze of political interests, misplaced evidence, and professional risk.
Enter Eddie Sanger (Quaid), a charming Washington lobbyist chosen as a juror for the case. Against all ethics, Sanger approaches Riley outside the courtroom, convinced the prosecution has the wrong man.
Their illicit partnership, both romantic and investigative, pushes them into a dangerous chase for the truth through the halls of power and corruption.
As evidence surfaces and connections between the murder and the judicial elite emerge, Riley realizes that uncovering the killer could destroy more than her career.
Peter Yates (Bullitt, Breaking Away) directs with precision, choosing realism over spectacle.
The streets of Washington D.C. and its cold, bureaucratic interiors create an atmosphere of moral fog—no one here is entirely clean or safe.
Cher’s performance as Kathleen Riley is both empathetic and grounded; she balances vulnerability with fierce intelligence, proving her dramatic range in one of the strongest roles of her career.
Quaid complements her with roguish charm and sincerity, while Neeson’s near-silent portrayal of Anderson is haunting—communicating deep pain and dignity without a single spoken word.
John Mahoney, Joe Mantegna, Philip Bosco, Bill Cobbs and Michael Beach round out the cast.
Cher and Liam Neeson in Suspect (Photo/TriStar Pictures)
Reception for Suspect
Suspect grossed $4.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office and trailing Fatal Attraction ($8 million) and Prince of Darkness ($4.7 million).
The film would gross $18.8 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Upon release, Suspect earned praise for its performances and smart, layered writing by Eric Roth, who would later pen Forrest Gump and The Insider. Over the years, it has endured as a quietly underrated entry in the legal thriller genre—less flashy than A Few Good Men yet more humane than most of its contemporaries.
Suspect remains a compelling reminder that justice, truth, and compassion are often strangers in the same courtroom, and sometimes the bravest defense is the one mounted against the system itself.
