Where The Crawdads Sing Movie Review

A genre that is back in a big way, is the fiction crime genre. With movie adaptations of ‘Deep Water’, ‘The Woman in The Window’, ‘The Dry’ and now ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ releasing in the last 18 months. As a fan of the crime-drama genre, I am all for the genre experiencing a resurgence. ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ by author Delia Owens Has been one of the best-selling novels over the past 5 years. The book's popularity is palpable and evident through the film's impressive $135 million take at the worldwide box office. The film follows the story of a woman, named Kya (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones) who raised herself in the Deep South and becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a man she was previously involved with. The film boasts an impressive cast with the likes of Daisy Edgar-Jones, Harris Dickinson, Taylor John Smith and David Strathairn. With an impressive cast, an interesting premise and beloved source material, I was excited to see how this adaptation would fare. So, how was ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’?

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ is one of 2022s best thrillers so far. The film's source material was made to be adapted, with the Deep South feeling lived in, haunting and its very own character in the story. The standout in the film is the wonderful Daisy Edgar-Jones who continues to showcase her acting prowess and asserting herself as one of Hollywood’s best young talents. After roles in this years ‘Fresh’, ‘Under The Banner of Heaven’ and now ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, her resume is building quite nicely. She is able to give a complex performance, with a lot of layers, which is very impressive given she was only 23 when making this film. The supporting cast are all equally as compelling in the film as well, with Harris Dickinson following up his great turn in ‘The King’s Man’ earlier this year, with another solid performance. David Strathairn once again proves that he is Mr reliable. If you need a distinguished gentleman in your film, he’s your man.

The mystery itself is complex with a lot of twists and turns. The story is elevated by its unique take on the murder-mystery, thriller genre, inserting romance and the complexities of relationships in the Deep South during this time period. The way the story evolves during the runtime of the film, keeps you guessing and trying to stay one step ahead of the film. The adaptation works perfectly as a complex murder-mystery with a lot more going on under the surface than your run of the mill crime-drama. If you’re looking for a rainy-day thriller, or something to pop on to really at night, ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ fills that void and will keep you guessing.

‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ is tense, well-acted, well-directed and an overall thriller. I had a great time with this film and am eager to check-out the acclaimed novel it is based on. ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Head on over to your local Sanity or online to pick-up your copy today, you won’t want to miss out on this one.

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here