Where the Crawdads Sing

Kya Clark grows up abandoned on the windswept marshes outside a small North Carolina town, learning to fend for herself and to read the rhythms of the wetlands. As she ages she makes fragile human connections, most notably with Tate, who teaches her to read, and later with the more worldly Chase. When Chase is found dead, suspicion falls quickly on Kya because she lives apart and is easy to scapegoat. The story alternates between her solitary life in nature and the town's unfolding investigation, showing how rumor, memory, and social prejudice shape the search for truth without giving away how the case is resolved.

Released in 2022, the film was directed by Olivia Newman and adapts Delia Owens' best-selling novel, with Lucy Alibar credited on the screenplay. Daisy Edgar-Jones headlines the cast alongside Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, and David Strathairn.

The movie opened to strong audience interest, turning the novel's built-in popularity into a solid box office run. Its theatrical performance benefited from word of mouth and the film's accessible blend of romance, mystery, and scenic cinematography.

The adaptation renewed attention to Owens' book and inspired fresh online discussion about the marsh setting, costume visuals, and memorable moments that viewers kept returning to in clips and commentary. The film's imagery, especially scenes in the tidal wetlands, became a frequent point of reference on social platforms.

Audience response skews positive, reflected in an average vote of 7.533 out of 10 from over 2,100 votes, and many reviews singled out Edgar-Jones for her commitment to the role. Critics often praised the movie's atmosphere and naturalistic visuals while pointing to uneven pacing and tonal shifts. Central themes include how isolation shapes identity, the social penalties of being an outsider, and the contrast between human law and the more indifferent logic of nature.