Keyser Söze
Keyser Söze (/ˈkaɪzər ˈsoʊzeɪ/ KY-zər SOH-zay) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects, written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. According to the main protagonist, petty con artist Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), Söze is a crime lord whose ruthlessness and influence have acquired a mythical status among police and criminals alike. Further events in the story make these accounts unreliable; in a twist ending, a police sketch identifies Kint and Söze as one and the same. The character was inspired by real-life murderer John List, and the spy thriller No Way Out, which featured a shadowy KGB mole who may or may not actually exist.
| Keyser Söze | |
|---|---|
The Usual Suspects' Roger "Verbal" Kint, possibly Keyser Söze, in a police lineup | |
| First appearance | The Usual Suspects |
| Created by | Christopher McQuarrie |
| Portrayed by | Kevin Spacey Scott B. Morgan (flashback) Gabriel Byrne (flashback) |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Roger "Verbal" Kint |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Crime lord, con artist |
| Nationality | Turkish |
The character has placed on numerous "best villain" lists over the years, including AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains. Spacey won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, turning him from a character actor into a star. Since the release of the film, the character has become synonymous with infamous criminals. Analysis of the character has focused on the ambiguity of his true identity and whether he even exists inside the story's reality. Though the filmmakers have preferred to leave the character's nature to viewer interpretation, Singer has said he believes Kint and Söze are the same person.