The Dry

The Dry is a 2020 Australian mystery-drama film adaptation of Jane Harper's debut novel of the same name. Powerfully directed by Robert Connolly, the film is a riveting thriller that tightly coils the suspense around the plot, simmering steadily to a deeply satisfying denouement. The Dry's spotlight gets lit not only by the grim intrigue of its murder-mystery but also by the engrossingly authentic portrayal of rural Australia, exhibiting a stern yet endearing testimony of its distinctive milieu.

Starring the gifted Eric Bana in the leading role, the film simultaneously underscores his seasoned artistry and a narrative that's acutely aware of its dramatic finesse. Bana's character, Aaron Falk is a Federal Agent who returns to his drought-stricken hometown, Kiewarra, after a gap of two decades. After receiving news of a harrowing incident, wherein his childhood friend Luke Hadler apparently murders his wife and son before taking his own life, Falk finds himself drawn out of self-imposed exile. The incident triggers an avalanche of memories, awakening dormant demons and Falk's unresolved past.

Falk's homecoming introduces him to a community fraught with suspicion, mired in a quagmire of rural despair and resentment. Mirroring the parched backdrop of the town desperate for rain, the atmosphere is fermented with a dry melancholy, accenting the distress and discomfort of the inhabitants. Wrought under abominable drought and the shocking incident, Kiewarra is far from the idyllic rural tranquility that one might imagine, teetering on the brink of social and atmospheric desolation. The rural setting seeps into the narrative like a character in its own right, shaping the atmosphere and directly influencing the behaviors and thought processes of the town's inhabitants.

As Falk inclines to reconcile with his past and the town's palpable resentment towards him, he partners with local law enforcement, embodied by Keir O'Donnell's character, Sgt. Greg Raco, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the gruesome incident. It does not take long for Falk and Raco to realize that there's more than meets the eye to the supposed murder-suicide.

Genevieve O'Reilly lends her talents to the character of Gretchen, a figure from Falk's past, adding complex layers to the narrative. She offers a glaring contrast against the mistrust and hostility pervading the town, rendering the narrative with necessary subtlety and softness amidst a storm of tensions. Simultaneously, the narrative unveils several subplots, including one from twenty years ago involving Falk, Luke, Gretchen, and a fourth friend, Ellie, who becomes central to Falk's story.

What sets The Dry apart is its masterful storytelling technique that juxtaposes narrative threads from present and past in an elegantly unsettling manner. Falk's past and his investigation of the Hadler family's massacre progressively unspool side by side, keeping the audience in perpetual suspense. This clever usage of flashbacks gradually reveals the depth of deceit, secrets, and hidden pains buried under the parched land of Kiewarra. The strength of the plot lies in these intricate puzzles, as each polished piece breeds its share of allure while building towards the climax.

The Dry is visually remarkable, with a cinematography that captures the vast and daunting drought-parched Australian landscapes. Every frame is a testament to the haunting beauty of the arid terrains that stretches as far as the eye can see. The recurring motif of dry weather and drought serves as a metaphor, intensifying the texture of the narrative and deepening the desperation of its characters.

In summary, The Dry is a compelling, emotionally-rich work that is riveting, heart-wrenching, and inescapable. A meticulously crafted mystery drama that transcends the restrictions of a convoluted plot to conjure a meditation on grief, remorse, and redemption, rendering matters of the human heart with striking clarity against a seemingly desolate backdrop. The brilliant performances, notably from Eric Bana, paired with a visually majestic setting and a masterfully orchestrated narrative, make The Dry an undeniable triumph.