Rent Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

Intriguing and lovely characterisation - Where the Crawdads Sing review by RG

Was recommended this and so glad we watched. Intriguing and compelling storyline with excellent characterisation and stunning scenery. Enjoyed and recommend

A Wasted Flawed Drama - Where the Crawdads Sing review by GI

This is a really wasted opportunity, a drama that makes such little sense and tries to be clever that it fails totally. Such a pity too as Daisy Edgar-Jones is such a talent and deserved better. She is the best thing about the film and she is perfect as the doe-eyed loner who becomes a murder suspect. Unfortunately the narrative opens much and explores little with a final twist that is utterly ridiculous and destroys everything that was any good and came before it. This is the story of Kya (JoJo Regina as the child Kya and Edgar-Jones as the adult) who is deserted by her mother and siblings leaving her with a violent and abusive father (Garret Dillahunt) in their small shack in the North Carolina marshlands. Here we have the first glaring flaw in the tale, why would this small child be left in this situation? Anyway eventually Kya ends up alone but survives by collecting mussels and selling them to a local friendly shopkeeping couple. As an adult she is illiterate but a talented wildlife artist, shunned by the suspicious locals who call her Marsh Girl but also being beautiful, shy and sexy she attracts the attention of two boys, one a decent soon-off-to-college lad and the other the stereotypical sports jock who eventually turns out to be a cad. He's found dead in the marsh and Kya is No.1 suspect. This cues a boring courtroom drama section with David Strathairn as a kindly, old lawyer defending her. The evidence against her is so weak that the trial has no drama and the venom from some of the witnesses is inexplicable. And here we have another key issue in that the animosity towards this girl is just not fitting her depiction. Kya is portrayed as a shy, polite, above all clean young woman who causes no problems to anyone so the suspicion in which she is held and drives the push to call her a murderer is not explored properly. The film looks great and the central performance is good but everything is so predictable and clichéd and as I say the finale does not fit in anyway the film's direction. A failure and one that could have been excellent.

Magnificent - Where the Crawdads Sing review by DM

I have not read the book, so was not sure what to expect.

This was a winner for me, the superb backdrop of the Carolina marshes and swamps was itself a character, fine female lead and good supporting actors. This film is well made charting the incredible story of Kya, from her abusive father, the breakup of her family and her life living among the creatures that inhabit this wonderful place. The ending even has a twist, so I heartily recommend this film.

Totally unconvincing - Where the Crawdads Sing review by GregB

I bailed out after 15 mins. Plenty of better things to spend my time on.

Possibly the book was better but this was predictable shmaltzy cotton wool.

a good yarn! - Where the Crawdads Sing review by NR

I have'nt read the book,but I found the film to be absorbing,and just about plausible.

Period details seemed to be well thought out,and only a little tub thumping revisionist sentiment crept in to the plot,so it did'nt spoil it.