Where The Crawdads Sing

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)