<Li> Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon, Susie's mother . After Susie's murder, her mother despairs and abandons the family . Weisz stated that playing the character and the film and novel's "uplifting theme" made her look at life as a "treasure" and the film gave her a "positive feeling" rather than a "depressed" one . </Li> <Li> Susan Sarandon as Grandma Lynn, Susie's grandmother . Sarandon stated that her character is like a "comic relief" and that her character deals with the pain of Susie's death by drinking, smoking and shooting guns . </Li> <Li> Stanley Tucci as George Harvey, a serial killer who murders Susie . Tucci stated that he had researched his role by watching documentaries and reading books by criminal profiler John E. Douglas about catching serial killers . Tucci stated that his wife, Kate, had strongly urged him not to accept his role in the film because she felt, after reading the novel, that the subject matter was "too harrowing ." </Li> <Li> Michael Imperioli as Detective Len Fenerman, the detective in charge of investigating Susie's death . </Li>

Who plays the bad guy in lovely bones