Where the Crawdads Grow

Synopsis: 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, she opens herself to a new and startling world. However, when one of them is found dead, Kya immediately becomes the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to reveal many secrets.

Movie Review:

“Where the Crawdads Sing” is directed by Olivia Newman and is based on the popular novel of the same name. I thought this was a mediocre court room drama that had some great performances from its cast with a predictable love story that felt like a Lifetime movie. Daisy Edgar-Jones is by far the best part about this movie. She plays Kya a young outcast abandoned by her family and abusive father who lives in the marshlands but uses her talents and resourcefulness to survive. David Strathairm plays Tom Milton her defense lawyer. These two characters had great on-screen chemistry that was central to the plot of the movie. The unfolding mystery relies mainly on Kya’s flashbacks throughout the film which might be confusing for some viewers who do not like jumping from present to past. Taylor John Smith plays Tate Walker a respectable teenager she meets and falls in love with. He offers her friendship, confidence, and love but ultimately betrays her trust when he abandons her too. Harris Dickinson plays Chase her second lover. The character is unlikeable, and no one is sad that he becomes the murder victim. Personally, I was not a fan of the movie. However, others that I know really enjoyed it. I am giving “Where the Crawdads Sing “a 2.5/5 stars.

Director: Olivia Newman

Cast: Daisy Edgar Jones, Taylor-John Smith, Harris Dickinson, David Strathairn, Michael Hyatt, Anna O’Reilly, JoJo Regina, Sterling Mace, Jr., and Garret Dillahunt

Runtime: 125 Minutes