Where the Crawdads Sing combines mystery, murder, romance, and the North Carolina swamp in a story that spans 75 years. Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Kya, the youngest member of an abused family living deep in the woods off the edge of a swamp. One by one her family, including her mother, escape an abusive husband and father. His death leaves the ten-year-old Kya to fend for herself. Daisy Edgar-Jones (Of Normal People among other films) fits the role. As she grows into a budding teenage beauty, clean-cut Tate Walker, played by Taylor John Smith befriends the "Swamp Girl" teaching her to read and write. Friendship turns into love. When college time comes, Tate vanishes leaving Kya vulnerable to local rogue Chase Andrews played by Harris Dickinson. Tate returns after college. The resulting love triangle results in murder and a sensational trial. Where the Crawdads Sing fits the pattern of earlier romance stories. It reminds me of Fried Green Tomatoes or The Notebook or several of the other films based on Nicholas Sparks novels. The young attractive actors help divert viewers thoughts about the validity of all this. Where the Crawdads Sings knows its audience.
