BLU-RAY REVIEW

Where The Crawdads Sing

Featured In Issue 263, September/October 2022

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
57883
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Sexual content and some violence including a sexual assult
(Retail Price):
$38.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
125
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
9/13/2022
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Olivia Newman
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

Based upon the novel by Delia Owens, "Where The Crawdads Sing" is a captivating mystery which tells the story of Kya, an abandoned girl who raised herself to adulthood in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For year, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world, but when one of them is found dead, she is immediately cast by the community as the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what actually happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to reveal the many secrets that lie within the marsh. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes "Adapting A Phenomenon" (HD 09:35), "Creating The World" (HD 06"10) and "Women In Focus" (HD 05:45), six deleted scenes (HD 17:57), lyric video: "Carolina" by Taylor Swift (HD 02:55), upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa Mini LF camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is gorgeous as is the marsh setting that predominates. The imagery is pure naturalness. Hues are warm and rich with excellent saturation. Flesh tones are natural throughout. Contrast is perfectly balanced with natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation and perfect white levels. Resolution is superb with sharp and clear imagery. Fine detail is exhibited in facial features such as lines, skin pores, and hair. Clothing is finely resolved. The natural environment is sharp. Objects are finely resolved. This is a wonderfully photographed picture that is visually captivating. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is rich in environmental atmospherics that enhance the realism of the settings. Sound effects such as the motors on the marsh boats are completely realistic. The sound of the Atlantic waves and fireworks in the distance enhance the settings. The sound of birds and a hawk and seagulls are real. Foley sound effects are precise. The orchestral score is wonderful and complementary. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible with excellent spatial integration. This is a wonderful holosonic® soundtrack with an enveloping surround field that enhances the spatial dimensionality. (Gary Reber)