Where the Crawdads Sing

No way these people, especially kya, showered every day.

Give it a little grit.

Cinematography was beautiful. But the whole story was rushed and hallmark-ized. Plus the entire trial, which was full of gotcha moments in the book, was glazed over with a boredom lens. So disappointed.

Where the Crawdads Sing is based on the novel of the same name, by Delia Owens. It tells the story of Kya(Daisy Edgar-Jones). Kya who grows up alone in the woods of the deep south, is the prime suspect in a murder investigation. This is because she used to be in a relationship with the victim.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a great film. Director Olivia Newman has a done an impeccable job adapting the source material which has become a worldwide phenomenon. The emotional moments will make you tear up. The romantic elements are the highlight of the movie. The suspense is nail-biting & it's there, right till the very last scene. The cinematography by Polly Morgan is breathtaking & captures the gorgeous locales in all their glory. The main flaw is that, the romance element is quite predictable. Daisy Edgar-Jones is spectacular as Kya Clark. Taylor John Smith is brilliant as Tate Walker. Edgar-Jones & Smith have electrifying chemistry in all their scenes together. Harris Dickinson is outstanding as Chase Andrews. David Strathairn is fantastic as Tom Milton. Michael Hyatt & Sterling Macer Jr. Are perfect as Mabel & Jumpin', respectively. The supporting cast is excellent. Where the Crawdads Sing is a must watch for fans of the novel & romantic drama fans. Go & admire the unbreakable spirit of our protagonist!

Without reading the book you will probably enjoy what this film has to offer. Read the book and you will find that this film could have offered so much more.

The film skims only the surface of what Kya and her Marsh have to offer. The depths remain untouched, unexplored.

Kya's story is told but not felt. Her loneliness, her isolation, her survival. Her profound connection to the nature that surrounds her.

I didn't want to be disappointed. I was looking forward to the story being brought to life. I thought Kya was cast well. The images of the Marsh were beautiful. But something was missing. I didn't just want to see. I wanted to feel too.

Read the book. Loved it. This is not one of those reviews that says movie ruined the book. It is different in the book tho. Daisy Edgar Jones is a great actress and does nothing wrong here but is totally unlike the vision of Kya in my head. The best thing about the movie is the cinematography. With no sound this movie would be lush. The dialogue is clunky though, a lot of the supporting actors wooden particularly the love interests. The courtroom scenes are predictable. David Straitharn is great as a cut price Atticus Finch. The middle section of the movie lags and feels like a Hallmark movie , however by the end I was sucked in and left the cinema smiling.

Plot synopsis without spoilers is basically a young girl fending for herself in the marshlands is charged with murder.

Better than the mainstream reviews suggest.

Beauty in words. Beauty in images. Beauty in music. Beauty in a performance. Beauty in an actress.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a well-made movie with a story and a character that keep you heavily invested. The romance aspect really works, and this is coming from a guy who doesn't normally go for romance. Pulling on your heart-strings is an understatement.

I wasn't planning on watching this movie but I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed it and would watch it again. (1 viewing, opening Friday 7/15/2022)