SYNOPSIS: SEIZED is a gripping, stranger-than-fiction investigative thriller that plunges audiences inside the troubling police raid on the Marion County Record. What begins as a shocking small-town incident quickly spirals into a national story, exposing how corruption, politics, and decades-long tensions turned a quaint Kansas community into a battleground over the First and Fourth Amendments. The film unfolds in real time through police body-cam and surveillance footage, revealing the raid’s chaos, the bombshells that followed, and the devastating personal toll on the newsroom, including the tragic death of its 98-year-old co-owner.
As time marches on, the line between truth and fiction is not only blurred, but is oftentimes purposely distorted. Even as technology has reached unprecedented heights, where video proof and/or a digital footprint are typically present, the facts and the truth seem to elude some. Whether it’s to avoid accountability or avoid being wrong, the new pandemic is cognitive dissonance and the double-downing on bad behavior and lies.
“This is an attempt to silence the press.”
No matter how bad things get, the truth will always prevail; that’s the hope, anyway. Directed by Sharon Liese, Seized is a subtle yet powerful reminder to stand firm in the face of corruption. This rousing documentary is a small example of the abuse of power that real journalists and many citizens have been attempting to expose for longer than our nation is willing to admit. Told through an unbiased lens that leaves no reputation unexamined, Seized has everything a compelling documentary can have: an interesting and important topic, grudges, conspiracy, deception, retaliation, and an unfortunate death. This First Amendment film is not just captivating, it’s vital. Small-town drama quickly becomes big-picture problems.
Detailing the 2023 raid on the Marion County Record, a newspaper in the center of the cozy community of Marion, Kansas, the fallout reveals uncovered secrets, fractured town cohesion, and a fatal spark that draws national attention. Using recent college graduate and new Record journalist Finn Hartnett as the audience surrogate, he brings balance to the narrative, providing an outside perspective to the town’s lingering shame. Giving all sides involved an opportunity to offer their perspectives, as in the investigations and ongoing lawsuits, the truth rises to the top. As the documentary jumps between what happened then and real-time, the man at the heart of it all is the editor and publisher of the newspaper, Eric Meyer.
As he pursues justice and upholds the freedom of the press, his journalistic integrity comes into question, as does the integrity of the local government and law enforcement. While this may not be a haunting, murder-driven documentary, it is the kind of story you follow because cases like these often become landmark cases that change laws. How much can a government get away with if unchallenged? What can’t law enforcement do if they go unchecked and are given free rein? As is laid out and insinuated by Meyer and others involved, we’re witnessing smaller cities and towns become testing grounds for unfathomable, unconstitutional, and downright un-American laws and power grabs as those in charge want to control everything; the 2023 raid is a perfect example. It always starts small, and if there is no pushback, it only gets worse. Moreover, that is exactly what Eric understands, and director Sharon Liese presents.
“If you speak out against the Record, you will face consequences.”
A highlight of Seized is its incredible craftsmanship. The ever-unfolding narrative ensures the audience is always engaged. You’re expecting to hear only how something went down a few years ago, and also get the tail end of the journey playing out in real-time. In addition to interviews, the small Kansas community is allowed to speak for itself. We’re able to listen to why residents love where they live and witness what makes Marion special to them. However, with the good also comes the bad, and they are not shy about what they dislike, and for some, it’s the newspaper. As it lays out facts for both sides of this dispute, the documentary allows you to pick your own side, even if both have unlikable qualities. Rife with gossip, old rivalries, and an attack on the press, Seized is a gem that shouldn’t go undiscovered.
Impact & Influence
Seized doesn’t just start a conversation; it declares a refusal to remain silent. Hopefully, it influences others to stand up to corruption. PTTP.
Seized had its World Premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Director: Sharon Liese
Rated: NR
Runtime: 94m
Seized is a subtle yet powerful reminder to stand firm in the face of corruption.
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
