Movie: Where the Crawdads Sing

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

Hell Hath No Greater Fury Than——  

Plot Overview

In the North Carolina bayous of 1953, prolific Ma (Ahna O'Reilly) had all she could take from whiskey-drinking Pa (Garret Dillahunt,) so she left him (“Ma never came back”) with five younguns to raise. By and by, the four oldest left, as well, and after five years so did Pa, leaving thirteen-year-old Kya to fend for her­self. She dug mussels that she traded at the General Store run by a kindly colored couple: “boy”—they've been called worse—James “Jumpin'” Madison (Sterling Macer Jr.) and his Bible-thumpin' wife Mabel (Michael Hyatt.) Her child­hood friend Tate Walker (Luke David Blumm/Taylor John Smith) taught her letters & ciphers, encouraged her to publish her nature art, and went away to college (“People don't stay”) with promises to return.

A disappointed-in-love Kya (Daisy Edgar–Jones) now in her early 20's was easy pickin's for popular Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson) who kept her out of sight as a side dish, promising to marry her to get the advantage. That deal went south, but he pursued her with force, ignored her threats, and then died in a dubious setting. “Swamp Girl” Kya became the prime murder[?] suspect, defended in court by sympathetic lawyer Tom Milton (David Strathairn) before a jury of her so-called peers. Lest this sweet thing gain unexamined sympathy from a naive audience, let me correct a couple erroneous beliefs she harbors: The female praying mantis is only known to chow down on her (smaller) post-coital mate under stress of captivity, not in the wild, and the wee fire­fly is a vegan, hardly a cannibal.

Ideology

There was only one piece of physical evidence linking Kya to the corpse, and that with an indeter­min­ate time­line, but if you pay close attention, you'll see links as well to Jumpin' and to Tate who both disapproved of Chase, but the law developed neither as an alternative suspect. Kya's lawyer did, how­ever, establish an alibi for her, more than one had a right to expect for a recluse. Motive was the clincher, a jilted woman having ample.

She had a male-female conflict à la, (Prov. 30:33) “Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.” A continuing aggravation over time can change a state of tranquility to one of quarrel like (liquid) milk changing when churned to (solid) butter. And an irritation to some critical area like wringing the nose can make it bleed. In this movie are the metaphors of kitchen matches being struck to produce flame, of fire­works launched to produce a display, and of fire­flies lighting the night with flashes of light. So too can Kya reach her flash point after manipulation. Pa made Ma's face bleed when he struck her. So is Kya's mind vulnerable after having her home trashed by Chase (“He could come back.”)

“Crawdads” proceeds like a morality play: A mother's influence is early removed from a girl's life, the kid lasts only a day in school, and church attendance w/Bible instruction is hit or miss. She uses nature for guidance along with the seeping influence of the sexually liberated sixties. The two fellows in her life become like either the monogamous snow goose or the ill-fated mantis. Kya needed better guidance, as was once remarked in a Peter Marshall sermon: “We need Keepers of the Springs who will realize that what is socially correct may not be morally right. … ¶“The school is making no attempt to teach the principles of Christ. The Church alone cannot do it. They can never be taught to a child unless the mother her­self knows them and practices them every day” (152, 155.)

Production Values

“” (2022) was directed by Olivia Newman. It was based on a novel by Delia Owens and adapted for the screen by Lucy Alibar. (Authoress Owens appears in the film sitting in the front row behind lawyer Tom when Chase's mother is testifying.) The film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, and Harris Dickin­son. Edgar-Jones lathers on a rich, multi-layered per­for­mance as the central figure; the other characters aren't much developed. Kya's abusive father played by Garret Dilla­hunt appeared to have been held back from giving his all to any ugly scenes.

MPAA rated it PG–13 for sexual content and some violence including a sexual assault. It was filmed on location in Louisiana, USA. It featured a minimalist trial and a stun­ning southern back­drop. Its time­line flip flops shame­lessly. The writing seemed amateurish, and the direction lacked the abandon needed to properly exploit the film medium. How­ever, the brief scripture quotation and the church people scene were well executed. It's almost like a faith-based flop but with­out the faith. It's 2 hours 5 minutes long.

Review Conclusion w/a Christian's Recommendation

This movie was cute as it showcased life au naturel with troubles of its own. The best I can say is it's different and it does portray Bible quotation and church attendance—what little is seen of both—in a favorable light. It's light­weight fare that won't rock your world but can serve to pass the time.

Movie Ratings

Action Factor: Weak action scenes. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Special effects: Wake up and smell the 1990s technology. Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Three stars out of five.

Works Cited

Scripture quoted from the King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software.

Marshall, Catherine. Sermons and prayers of Peter Marshall. Mr. Jones, Meet the Master. Copyright 1949, 1950 by Fleming H. Revell Company. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 37th printing. Print.