The Real Reason Where The Crawdads Sing Is Rated PG-13
The 2018 best-selling novel "Where the Crawdads Sing" took author Delia Owens over a decade to write, according to an interview with CBS. The novel recently received a film adaptation of the same name directed by Olivia Newman and produced by Reese Witherspoon. The story follows a young girl, Kya Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who grows up in a marsh in the coastal region of North Carolina.
Mostly alone for the majority of her life, Kya is both loved and disliked by the nearby townspeople as her coexistence in nature is a rarity among people. The success of the book and the story of fearless femininity in nature is one that many audiences have taken an interest in. Though the adaptation synopsis may make it seem like a wholesome coming-of-age story, "Where the Crawdads Sing" has actually earned itself a PG-13 rating, meaning that some content in the film may be inappropriate for children under thirteen per Atlas Cinema. Those who haven't read the book before watching the movie may be left wondering why a PG-13 rating is necessary for the film.
Where the Crawdads Sing has depictions of traumatic events
The 2022 film following the story of Kya in "Where the Crawdads Sing," earned itself a PG-13 rating simply by following the storyline of the 2018 novel which inspired it. While there are moments depicting joy, education, and wonder, there are also integral moments that include emotional trauma and violence. These are the reasons the film may be inappropriate for some audiences — such as those who may be too young for the content or those just looking to see a feel-good film. Common Sense Media dives into the film's rating and calls to attention ways that the movie can be discussed after watching by both those who have read the book and those that haven't.
The novel's author, Delia Owens, believes that the movie translated her story and what she was creating in her mind well. In an interview she did with Reese Witherspoon published on the CBS News website, she details her emotions regarding the final product. "They start talking, and my words come out! And it was the most surreal — it was part real, part invented or created, and yet that's what a movie does, you know? It was bringing all these elements together. It was beautiful." With the author's approval of the adaptation, it's safe to say that the movie won't be any less enjoyable for those who haven't read the book.