Although the film adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing deviates significantly from Delia Owens’ bestselling novel, these differences showcase the unique strengths of the cinematic medium. Since its release in 2018, the book quickly became a literary phenomenon, lauded by Reese Witherspoon’s book club shortly after its debut, and has sold over 18 million copies, securing its place among the top-selling books in history. Given this immense popularity, it was inevitable that a film adaptation would follow.
Just four years post-publication, the movie featured a prominent cast led by Daisy Edgar-Jones (known for her roles in Normal People and Twisters). While the film received mixed critiques from critics, it resonated strongly with audiences, amassing over $140 million against a modest $24 million budget (according to The Numbers). Although it lacks the novel’s revered status, the film benefitted from its adaptations of key narrative elements.
Condensing Kya’s Childhood
A Slower Exploration in the Novel
Although Where the Crawdads Sing draws inspiration from reality, its narrative centers around the fictional life of Kya. One of the film’s significant alterations is its brevity regarding Kya’s childhood.
The novel takes a broad, epic approach in detailing Kya’s formative years, exploring her bond with her older brother Jodie and illustrating her parents’ tumultuous relationship, culminating in her father’s transformation into an abusive figure. In contrast, the movie briskly outlines Kya’s early life through succinct flashbacks during her discussions with her lawyer, allowing for a more compact storytelling style suitable for a two-hour film.
This condensation, while minimizing the depth of Kya’s childhood backdrop, retains its crucial role in shaping her character for the audience. A longer format such as a television series might have explored these themes further; however, the film’s pacing benefits from this streamlined narrative.
Kya’s Discovery of Chase’s Engagement
A Cinematic Impact
The movie enhances the impact of Kya learning about Chase’s engagement through a poignant scene. When Kya encounters Chase and his fiancé Pearl outside a grocery store, she discovers the engagement ring on Pearl’s finger. This moment intensifies Kya’s feelings of betrayal and shame, underscoring how Chase viewed her merely as the “Marsh Girl,”never valuing her as an equal partner. This sense of humiliation is compounded later when Chase becomes physically aggressive towards Kya.
The Evolution of Kya’s Artistic Journey
Empowerment in the Film
Initially portrayed as illiterate due to her difficult upbringing, Kya’s journey towards literacy unfolds when she meets Tate, who teaches her to read and write. This newfound ability opens vast creative avenues for Kya, enabling her to express her thoughts through art and writing, leading to her emergence as a published author—an integral theme in both versions of the story.
Notably, the methods through which Kya achieves publication differ between the book and the film. In the novel, Tate provides Kya with a list of publishers after returning from college, a gesture meant to rekindle their relationship. Conversely, the film presents Tate giving her this list before he leaves for college, signifying his faith in her talent. This shift grants Kya more agency and autonomy, reinforcing her growth as an independent character.
Revising the Conclusion
An Ambiguous Finale
The core storyline of Where the Crawdads Sing revolves around Kya facing trial for Chase’s murder, with a lingering ambiguity about her culpability. While she is ultimately exonerated in both the novel and the film, the revelation that she did indeed kill Chase serves as her pivotal moment of liberation from his oppressive influence. The adaptation alters some aspects of this climactic reveal.
Both versions conclude with Kya and Tate sharing a prosperous life together. However, in the film, Tate only discovers a shell necklace belonging to Kya, a piece of evidence hinting at her connection to Chase’s death, whereas the novel introduces a poem by Amanda Hamilton—a pseudonym for Kya—that serves as a more direct confession. The omission of Amanda Hamilton from the film left certain mysteries unresolved, leaving the audience to ponder Kya’s motivations.
Ending the film with these unanswered questions fosters an intriguing ambiguity. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s premiere in 2022, writer Lucy Alibar and director Olivia Newman discussed their intentional choice to enhance Kya’s enigmatic nature:
Newman: I think Kya is a real enigma, and there is something very mysterious about her and so we wanted to maintain that mystery throughout the movie.
Alibar: We wanted to keep it a little more ambiguous honestly because I think life is a little more ambiguous. I think we live in a world now where we become accustomed to a kind of one-tweet answer for so many things and everybody is more complicated than that. Everything is more complicated than that. The world’s more complicated than that.