The Dry (2020 film)

Category: Modern Australian murder-mystery

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On paper, Australian cinema should be absolutely killing it - Australia has produced world-class talent like Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Toni Collette and so many more, but for whatever reason, Australian cinema just can't get bums in seats - maybe it's because Australian-produced movies are often so low budget that they look shitty in comparison to (and thus can't compete for attention with) Hollywood blockbusters; some Australian movies come across as if they were written by the bleeding heart brigade such that the castigation of the general audience permeates through (thus turning away the people needed to make a movie financially viable); or sometimes, Australian movies are just too fucking cringy.

For whatever reason, Australians just have a general apathy about Australian cinema. So much so that when the Australian press gets excited about an Australian film, it's strikingly weird - and right around the time when The Dry came out, it definitely had quite a bit of buzz around it. In this instance, the buzz was deserved - The Dry is a great movie.

The Dry is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Jane Harper, and stars Eric Bana as a police detective who goes back to his childhood town for a funeral whereupon he begins to investigate the apparent murder-suicide perpetrated by one of their own and against one of their own. 

But a murder-mystery wouldn’t be a murder-mystery unless there is a juicy sub-plot, so complicating matters is that the detective himself was allegedly complicit in the death of a school friend, and their family and some of the town still hold a grudge.

I won't spoil the movie, so all I will say plot-wise is that along the way, secrets are revealed, and the more that is revealed, the less you know (until the big reveal at the end, of course). The big reveal at the end, now, you may well have seen it coming from a mile off, but it still feels good to square the circle.

One of the strengths of the film is how it highlights loneliness, and in more than one way. The emotional estrangement of the main character from those he grew up with as he was suspected of being complicit in the death of someone, alongside the separation he felt as he was chased out of town; the separation the town feels regarding a heinous act apparently committed by one of its own; the loneliness of life away from the big city; and the strain of life during a drought in regional Australia.

Also adding to the film is that it was filmed in regional Victoria. Regional Victoria is a beautiful part of the world, and I'm lucky to have traveled through Victoria enough to know when I see it on film. Not only that, but a lot of the extras are locals, so the behind-the-scenes is worth a watch.

There is a sequel called Force Of Nature that is out now so we'll see how that goes.

Final verdict: pretty darn good.

Star Rating: 4.5/5