Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) – Movie Review

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) – Movie Review

Some films leave you entertained, and others leave you moved. Where the Crawdads Sing belongs in the second category. For me, this isn’t just another romance drama — it’s one of the best I’ve seen in years. To put it into perspective: The Notebook has always been my all-time favorite romance movie. After watching Where the Crawdads Sing, it officially holds the #2 spot. That’s how powerful this film is.

This story has heart, sadness, mystery, and life lessons all woven together. It’s an emotional ride that makes you think, makes you feel, and keeps you asking, “Okay, what happens next?”

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What It’s About (Spoiler-Free)

Based on the best-selling novel by Delia Owens, the film follows Kya Clark, known as the “Marsh Girl,” who grows up isolated in the marshlands of North Carolina after being abandoned by her family. She raises herself in the wild, learning survival, resilience, and independence. But when a local man is found dead, Kya becomes the prime suspect, and her life is thrust into the center of a small-town mystery.

At its core, the movie is about survival, resilience, and the pursuit of love and belonging — all while showing how the human spirit can overcome life’s hardest trials. It touches on abuse, loneliness, prejudice, and heartbreak, but also beauty, hope, and endurance.

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Cast & Performances

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya Clark (phenomenal performance — raw and emotional)

Taylor John Smith as Tate Walker

Harris Dickinson as Chase Andrews

Michael Hyatt as Mabel

Sterling Macer Jr. as Jumpin’

David Strathairn as Tom Milton

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What Stands Out

✔️ The cinematography is breathtaking — the marsh becomes its own character.
✔️ The performances feel deeply human and grounded.
✔️ The balance of romance, mystery, and drama keeps you engaged the entire 2 hours and 2 minutes.
✔️ It’s a movie with lessons about perseverance and overcoming abuse, pain, and loneliness.

Be warned: the film includes heavy emotional themes and some triggering moments, but it also inspires strength and healing.

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Rating

⭐ 10/10 — Easily one of the most powerful dramas I’ve ever seen.

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Where to Watch

As of now, Where the Crawdads Sing is available on:

Netflix (subscription)

Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy)

Apple TV (rent/buy)

Vudu (rent/buy)

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Final Thoughts

This is more than just a movie — it’s an experience. It will make you sad, it will make you reflect, and it will stay with you long after the credits roll. Where the Crawdads Sing is the kind of film I think high school students should watch as part of learning about resilience and life’s hard lessons.

It’s long, yes — but worth every second.