Where the Crawdads Sing is a 2022 mystery drama film directed by Olivia Newman, from a screenplay written by Lucy Alibar. Newman is best known for her debut film, the 2018 Netflix original drama First Match, which she wrote and directed. Where the Crawdads Sing is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by author Delia Owens. Published in 2018, the book was selected by Reese Witherspoon for her book club helping with the trajectory that would eventually lead to the big screen. Witherspoon also serves as executive producer on the film.

Abandoned as a girl, Kya raised herself in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the marsh girl haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world; but when one of them is found dead, she is immediately cast by the community as the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what actually happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to reveal the many secrets that lay within the marsh.

The cast includes Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer Jr., and David Strathairn.

Where the Crawdads Sing made its debut in theaters on July 15th, courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing.

THE GOOD

I have been a movie guy for as long as I can remember, more than likely since before I could even walk. I guess you could look at me as Jim Carrey’s Chip character in the movie Cable Guy, partially raised by movies and television shows, just slightly less clingy and certainly not as psychotic. But in all seriousness, movies have always been at the center of my universe. When it came to reading, not so much. I mean sure, I read plenty of books in high school, like the classic The Catcher in the Rye, but that was required. After high school, my interest in reading faded fast, and when people mentioned a book they thought I should read, I would always respond by saying I will watch the movie when it comes out. But as it happened I matured into a productive member of society, and in the process discovered that I enjoy reading a good book.

My love for movies hasn’t changed either, and instead, I found a way to combine the two. I jump at the opportunity to read a book that is either based on a movie that I have always considered a favorite, like Black Hawk Down for example or when a trailer for a movie or series releases that is based on a book I try and read it before the movie comes out, like the Netflix original film The Gray Man (our preview and trailer here), which I am currently reading. When the trailer for Where the Crawdads Sing dropped, all I was hearing was how incredible the book was and how excited fans of the book were for the movie. So naturally, I grabbed a copy of the book, and my wife and I both gave it a read, and boy was it good! She of course finished it first and nagged me to finish so we could have our own little book club discussion. Naturally, my wife and I quickly became a part of the crowd anxiously awaiting the middle of July when the film would finally hit theaters. Well, that day is finally here. Did the movie live up to the best-selling page-turner? Keep reading to find out!

I’ll admit I was nervous simply because of the fact that book-to-film adaptations tend to have an uphill battle when it comes to living up to the expectations of the source material, but I am pleased to report that Where the Crawdads Sing is a very worthy adaptation that was able to bring this amazing book to life. I genuinely enjoyed this movie which for me felt very much like a journey as I re-lived the incredible life of Miss Catherine Danielle Clark, aka Kya Clark, or better known as The Marsh Girl. As I sat there in the theater consisting mostly of women in their late 60s, I was anxiously waiting to see how the story would play out on the screen, and it did not disappoint. Kya’s secluded shack in the marsh was exactly how I envisioned it, and just like when I read the book I was in awe of the tranquil, albeit very lonely, life she led. When a book I really like becomes a movie, I am hit with a hefty case of FOLSO (Fear of Leaving Something Out). Okay sure I just made up that acronym, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

Books simply have too much content to fit in a movie without making it 5-hours long, which is why they are often made into a series or at the very least a two-part movie. For this reason, we as fans of the book and eventual viewers of the film are left hoping they include our favorite parts of the book, but the reality is the powers that be, in this instance being Lucy Alibar who wrote the screenplay, are mostly concerned with including enough to ensure the story feels whole. And I have to say, she did one heck of a job with Where the Crawdads Sing. And it was no simple task as Kya’s journey is told in a span of several years, with important moments in her life taking place from when she was just a little girl, right into adulthood, and eventually leading up to the incident that lands her in a courtroom with her life and the freedom she holds so dear hanging in the balance. Viewers need to see the Kya we fell in love with in the book, and I believe that is exactly what we got with this movie. Just a job well done all around.

Where the Crawdads Sing puts a premium on all of the necessary elements that make or break a film. The casting decisions were perfect making for some stellar acting and genuine chemistry between the leads, the pacing of the story fell into place nicely and unraveled just how I had hoped, the cinematography was fantastic, and the score/soundtrack made everything feel real. The film has some intense scenes with lots of drama and suspense, but also tells a great love story and includes plenty of heartwarming and sometimes very sad moments. You might want to bring a few tissues to the theater just in case. The book tells a fairly elaborate story and jumps back and forth between timelines as we learn more about Kya and her journey, and the film found a way to tell the story in the same way. Just like the book, the mysterious death of a well-known local man and subsequent murder investigation quickly became the talk of the town, particularly once the Marsh Girl became the primary suspect. The film flows extremely well and the 2-hours really fly by, thanks to the fact that the story has so many interesting elements giving screenwriter Lucy Alibar plenty to work with. The book left quite an impression on me, and I am thrilled to say the film did as well.

When it comes to Where the Crawdads Sing, a major plus for the film is the acting which needless to say would make or break a film based on such a beloved novel. Fans of the book already had a vision of what the characters should look like, and I have to commend the casting team for the amazing job they did here. First and foremost, the gorgeous and talented Daisy Edgar-Jones was the perfect choice for Kya, better known as the Marsh Girl. As beautiful as she was fiercely independent to a fault at times, Edgar-Jones felt like she jumped from the pages of the book onto the screen. As a fan of the book it really was quite an experience watching her become this character. She did her justice and then some. This movie simply does not work without the right person in this role, and she was just fantastic throughout. Time and time again I found myself just lost in her eyes, and no matter what when I looked at Edgar-Jones I saw Kya, it was unmistakable.

My next favorite character in the book was also very well cast, and that would be Taylor John Smith who took on the role of Tate. A huge part of Kya’s journey, Tate’s character is a constant presence with quite a unique story arch as it relates to his connection to Kya. Like a lemonade stand on a scorching summer day, I was buying what he was selling. From his infectious smile to his genuinely good-natured demeanor and high character, which translated perfectly from the book, Smith owned his role. Another very important character who is at the core of the film’s backstory is that of Chase Andrews, played by Harris Dickinson. I won’t go too in-depth at the risk of spoiling anything for those of you who haven’t seen the movie or read the book, but he is a pivotal character. Dickinson was tasked with playing a tough role in terms of some of the scenes he is involved in, and he does a really nice job remaining believable even during some of the more intense moments. I really like Dickinson as an actor who was fantastic in the 2021 action thriller The King’s Man (our full review here), which you can now stream on HBO Max and Hulu.

Aside from Kya and Tate, I am fairly confident that any fan of the book would say that the next most important casting decision rested with two other pivotal characters, which would be Jumpin’ and Mabel. I fell in love with Jumpin’s character in the book right from the start, and in each chapter I looked forward to Kya’s next interaction with him. His wife Mabel followed his lead as the two became the beating heart of Kya’s support system. As a girl who was shunned and written off by nearly every other person in her life, she was forced into becoming independent and self-reliant. But even so, Jumpin’ and Mabel sacrificed a great deal to look out for and protect this little girl from the start. I was beyond nervous about who they would cast as Jumpin’, and I thought Sterling Macer Jr. was fantastic in the role. His intentional demeanor and sheer kindness came to life with Macer Jr.’s performance, and that put an ear-to-ear smile on my face. I am so glad he was given this opportunity and he is deserving of some praise because this movie does not work as well as it did without him.

Michael Hyatt, a great actress who is best known by me for her role in the FX series Snowfall, takes on the role of Mabel. Hyatt is known for playing strong roles, and I loved her as Mabel. Her relationship with Jumpin’ was a critical part of the book, and she had incredible chemistry with Macer Jr. in the film. Hyatt is one of those actresses that can say a lot without saying anything at all, she just gives you that look and you know exactly what she is trying to say. So yeah, I was very pleased with how two of my favorite characters were portrayed on-screen. I also really liked the decision to cast veteran actor David Strathairn as lawyer Tom Milton. In order for it to be believable that Kya would open up to a lawyer, it needed to be someone who had a welcoming presence and also someone that really seemed to fit within the world that Kya knew. Milton was a local man who had crossed paths with Kya before, and I thought he nailed his role. Logan Macrae played the role of Jodie Clark and he was incredible as well. Even though he didn’t get a ton of screen time, he was involved when it mattered and I was very impressed with him. He was another one of my favorite characters in the book. Rounding out the cast is Garret Dillahunt who was great as Pa, Jojo Regina and Luke David Blum who did a nice job as young Kya and Tate, Will Bundon who I really liked as young Jodie, Ahna O’Reilly as Ma, and lastly, Bill Kelly who I thought did a very nice job as Sheriff Jackson.

On the technical side of things, Where the Crawdads Sing genuinely impressed me. I’ve touched on it some already, but any book that translates to the big screen has a great deal of ground to cover. First, anyone who read the book is expecting a certain feel for the film, plus readers have already envisioned what the film should look like when appearing on-screen. With that being said, I honestly feel like they knocked it out of the park. Taylor Swift fans will be very pleased with her original song Carolina which she wrote and performed for the film. It is the perfect way to close out the film as it plays during the end credits.

The cinematography from the talented Polly Morgan really made me feel like I was right there with Kya digging mussels out of the marsh in North Carolina, and the score/soundtrack from Mychael Danna set the tone and no doubt helped to bring some tears down the faces of viewers. The weight of the more dramatic or even just more exciting scenes were felt thanks to the film’s soundtrack. The camera work helped to make the story feel more intimate which was great, with several unique and well-intentioned shots to really capture the feel of the book. Director Olivia Newman clearly bought into the vision and made it a reality. The books setting is almost entirely in the marsh and the film sticks with that continuity making for a gorgeous and very satisfying experience.

THE BAD

Believe it or not, I don’t have many things to complain about when it comes to Where the Crawdads Sing, but I guess that shouldn’t be too surprising if you have been paying attention to this review. With sky-high expectations thanks to a best-selling novel that has been devoured by book clubs all over the world, it was going to be a fine line turning it into a quality movie but they managed to do just that, and then some. Admittedly I was teetering a bit during the opening of the film as it sort of felt like they were going out of their way to kickstart the backstory by forcing some of the dialogue, but I soon realized that was necessary as they had to get to a good starting point as quick as possible to ensure the key elements of the story were included. The film did leave out a few key parts that I would have liked to have seen, but screenwriter Lucy Alibar found a way to effectively tell Kya’s story without making too long of a film.

And let’s be honest, the book club crowd isn’t surviving a movie longer than 2-hours, I mean all of that wine at home sure isn’t going to drink itself. And that’s not a diss, I love books and I also love wine. True story. The ending felt a bit rushed, but again it did touch on what made the book so great and gave me the emotional conclusion to the story I was looking for. Although Jumpin’ and Mabel are a big part of the film, I would have liked to have seen a bit more of their backstory that the book touches on especially since they are crucial to the story. I will say that the acting was a bit shaky during the younger years, primarily the actors playing young Kya and young Tate, but it wasn’t that big of a deal as they played a pretty small role all things considered. So yeah, not much else negative to report.

THE VERDICT

An immersive book-to-film adaptation boasting beautiful cinematography and captivating performances from leads Daisy Edgar-Jones and Taylor John Smith, Where the Crawdads Sing defies lofty expectations and delivers an entertaining story of love, loss, and incredible perseverance. Bringing to life the complex and inspirational story of the outcast known as the Marsh Girl, the film prioritized the source material from start to finish which was huge in terms of how well everything worked. I’m honestly confused by the criticism from the majority of so-called critics, but as far as I can tell most of them either haven’t read the book or just like to complain. I’ll admit that the film does feel like in many ways it caters to fans of the book, but as a film based on a hugely successful book, isn’t that sort of the point?

As I touched on earlier in the review, a 2-hour film can’t possibly include everything from the book and it was missing a few things I would have liked to have seen, but that is just par for the course. So many elements of the book that were left out would have required separate build-up easily adding 20 to 30 minutes to the film which is not feasible for the average moviegoer. But at the end of the day, the right decisions were made and the film works very well as is. If you haven’t read the book I HIGHLY recommend it, but you can absolutely see the movie before reading it. To be honest, going that route will not only make it so you can appreciate the movie that much more, but it will also allow you to really get sucked into the book. I had been looking forward to the release of Where the Crawdads Sing for quite some time, and it left me genuinely satisfied and wanting more. I can’t wait to see it again. Ignore the out-of-touch critics who can’t seem to get out of their own way and check this one out in theaters, you won’t regret it.