A faithful adaptation that's as captivating as its source material.
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Directed by Olivia Newman from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar, Where the Crawdads Sing is a faithful adaptation of the 2018 novel of the same name by Delia Owens. The story follows an abandoned yet defiant girl, Kya, who raises herself to adulthood in a North Carolina marshland, becoming a naturalist in the process. When the town's hotshot is found dead, she is the prime suspect and tried for murder. Daisy Edgar-Jones leads the cast featuring Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer, Jr., and David Strathairn.
Touching on the film's mystery, you will find yourself engrossed with baited breath as the plot unfolds. Edgar-Jones navigates the role of Kya with such ease and grace, delivering a performance that will engage audiences throughout. Also worth noting is Strathairn’s endearing portrayal of Tom Milton, a character who has a meatier role in the film compared to the books–a welcomed change that is sparse in book-to-film adaptations.
If Edgar-Jones’ engaging performance isn’t enough to draw you in, the stunning visuals and melodic score definitely will. Mychael Danna’s music paired with Polly Morgan’s cinematography help bring the marsh to life and shape the distinct aesthetic of the film. The hauntingly beautiful Taylor Swift-penned “Carolina” also makes a perfect closer for the film, echoing its story of a girl and her secrets with the marsh.
Film adaptations have the tendency to fall short of their source materials but with Where the Crawdads Sing, Newman successfully breaks the stereotype and delivers a true feature that breathed visual life to Owen’s written words, it wouldn’t matter if you’ve read the book or not. Either way, the chilling twist at the end will sure get to you.
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