Based on the book by Jane Harper and written for screen by Harry Cripps and Robert Connolly, who also directed the film, THE DRY feels every bit like reading a mystery slowly unraveling its story and characters.
Eric Bana is Aaron Falk, a detective that is visiting his small hometown in Australia after many years. His purpose is simply to pay respects at a funeral of the death of an old friend. The death has some complicated issues as the current investigation shows that before killing himself, his friend murdered his wife and son, abondoning only his 3 month old, crying in a crib. The parents of his deceased friend have asked Falk to stay and investigate the case. However, Falk has to deal with his own troubled past that led to him and his father leaving when he was a teenager. Some of the townsfolk are unhappy to see his return and both the past and present mysteries play an intricate part in the story telling.
The town is going through a long drought that has led to a hard time for many families and the farming. The juxposition of Falk investigating the murder/suicide in a bleak, dry town to his flashbacks as a teenager playing in a river with lush greenery all around divides the movie effectively. Director Robert Connolly fines a nice balance that allows the audience to feel the desolate landscape. The environment of the town is an equally important character that Connolly achieves in immersing the audience into. The town seems harder from before and both mysteries unravel differently while both being equally captivating.
THE DRY is full of supporting characters that feel authentic and have possibilities as suspects. It’s not your traditional murder mystery who-dun-it, but THE DRY has a certain procedural movement that invites the audience to makes guesses, effectively keeps the audience involved. It’s great to see Eric Bana on screen as he plays the stoic detective dealing with the internal pain of his past while keeping his cool as he questions the people from his hometown. But the dynamic truly works best with the help of the town’s sheriff, Raco (Keir O’Donnell), and strangely appears to be the only law enforcement in town. Raco is young and appreciates Falk’s help as he agrees that something feels off about the case. O’Donnell brings an energy and likability to the film that is much needed in such a dour environment.
Dark and somber, THE DRY is recommended for those who like to sit down with a decent mystery.
