No. 62 (2022) WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING July 25th.

 

Film No. 62 (2022)  July  25th.  11.00 AM   Cinema 4.  UNITED CINEMAS,  Rockingham.

 

"I feel so invisible. I wonder if I'm here at all." (Kya confides in Tate about her perception of herself in her late teens).

The much awaited film version of the best selling novel by Delia Owens, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, is here. It has opened to packed houses and underwhelming reviews but is being well received by the public in general. There is nothing surprising here. It deserves all of the above.

The story of Kia Clark, abandoned in the swamplands of North Carolina by her family and left to deal with and discover life  by herself, from an early age, forms the foundation for a riveting read. The fact that over 10 million copies of the novel sold in three years is testament to the novel's popularity. I've not read the book so I had no vision of what sort of film I was expecting. Describing it as a film to fit neatly in THE NOTEBOOK, DEAR JOHN, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE stable may be off putting for some. Me, well I enjoyed my 125 minutes with CRAWDADS, more for the company I was keeping (mum and sister) than for the quality of the film's narrative. But that's not to say the film is bad, it's not.

CRAWDADS is cast perfectly. Daisy Edgar-Jones (NORMAL PEOPLE) playing Kya is good reason extra dollars will flow the film's way. Its locations, sets and scenery are immaculately established. Producers knew the film and audience they wanted to attract. It's smart film making. Those who've read the book will come and those who haven't and enjoyed the films of this ilk are certain to turn up, tissues in hand!

So, after all of that would I recommend WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING? Yes, I would. But, put your brain into "sleep" mode. Buy popcorn in a bucket and give yourself over to this lavishly made, soppy, even mushy, drama. Maybe, just maybe, this film represents the perfect post lock-down remedy. 8GUMS.