Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Based on the global best-selling Novel by Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing follows Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) who lives in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. She was abandoned by her family as a child and raised herself. The people of the nearest town, Barkley Cove, shut her out of their community and labelled her the Marsh Girl. Rumours about Kya have always spread around town. So when Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson), a man she was once involved with, is found dead in the marsh, Kya becomes the main suspect and is put on trial for his murder.
Reese Witherspoon picked Owens’ n\Novel to be part of her Hello Sunshine Book Club back in 2018 and has been attached to this Adaptation ever since. Witherspoon and Co-Producer Lauren Neustadter’s Film Production company of the same name have finally brought this story to the big screen. Their attachment to the novel shows as Where the Crawdads Sing is a loyal Adaptation that fans of the Novel will appreciate.
Further, the faithful Screenplay written by Lucy Alibar, packs in all the important plot points. She brings audiences into this story through the courtroom. Kya becomes a suspect immediately and it’s through the trial and her conversations with her lawyer Tom (the ever-brilliant David Strathairn) that we learn about the mysterious Marsh Girl. Thankfully, Alibar keeps the courtroom jargon to a minimum and rather focuses on Kya’s story. We are taken through her history from childhood, her first love, and her turbulent relationship with Chase Andrews.
Fans will be happy with the depiction of Kya’s first love with Tate (Taylor John Smith). He teaches her how to read and write and they slowly fall in love with each other. The strong chemistry between Edgar-Jones and Smith makes an impact, however, it feels as though too much time was spent on developing their romance. Therefore, taking away from the main murder storyline. It’s when we get to the relationship Kya had with Chase that everything kicks into high gear. Dickinson is a great fit to play this snake in sheep’s clothing character. His natural charisma works to reel the audience in and then hit them with Chase’s sinister side.
Through it all is the magnetic presence of Edgar-Jones. She is cast perfectly as Kya and will make fans of the Book proud. She mesmerizes as teen Kya. The teenage giddiness she exudes is infectious. Additionally, Edgar-Jones excels at maturing Kya into adulthood. Kya has always had to provide for herself, making it a difficult task to accomplish. But Edgar-Jones achieves this feat. She changes the way she stands and makes Kya more assertive. And that is the true heart of Where the Crawdads Sing. Throughout the story one thing becomes clear, Kya is the only one she can rely on. It’s an inspiring story that shows a woman providing for herself, succeeding against all odds and staying true to who she is.
Sony Pictures Canada release WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING on Friday, July 15, 2022.
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