The Dry (2020)
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A federal agent returns to his hometown to investigate a tragic murder, only to be haunted by a dark secret from his own past.
The story
Federal agent Aaron Falk returns to his hometown of Kiewarra in Victoria to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke Hadler, who allegedly murdered his family before committing suicide. Luke's parents ask Falk to stay and investigate the crime, which he reluctantly accepts. However, Falk's return is met with hostility from townspeople who still harbor resentment over a past incident involving the death of Falk's girlfriend. As he begins his investigation with the help of a local sergeant, Falk must navigate the town's suspicions and his own history to uncover the truth behind the Hadler family's tragic end.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Federal agent Aaron Falk returns to Kiewarra to investigate the murder of Luke Hadler's family. While the town views Falk as a murderer due to the death of his girlfriend Ellie twenty years prior, he works with Sergeant Greg Raco to find clues. They discover discrepancies in the shotgun shells used and suspect a local named Grant. Falk also discovers that a school principal, Scott Whitlam, had been embezzling money. Falk eventually discovers that Whitlam murdered the Hadler family to cover up his fraud. During a confrontation, Whitlam attempts to commit suicide by setting himself on fire, but Falk and Raco manage to save him. The investigation closes with Whitlam's confession. Before leaving, Falk reconciles with a childhood friend, Gretchen, who admits to having an affair with Luke. Finally, Falk visits the site of Ellie's death and finds her hidden backpack. He discovers her journal, which reveals she was fleeing physical abuse from her father, Mal. He realizes that Mal was the one who actually killed her, clearing his own name of the crime.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- Australia
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Connolly
- Writers
- Harry Cripps · screenplay; Robert Connolly · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Eric Bana · Aaron Falk; Genevieve O'Reilly · Gretchen; Keir O'Donnell · Raco; John Polson
- Genres
- mystery; drama; thriller
- Themes
- guilt; secrets; small-town dynamics; justice
- Tone and mood
- tense; slow-burning; dark
- Setting
- Kiewarra, Victoria, Australia, during a period of drought
- Premise and plot tags
- mystery; crime; police procedural; based on a book
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Dry by Jane Harper (2016)
- Franchise connections
- The Dry
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, described as a slow-burning crime drama with gripping thrills and a taut, tough, and tense atmosphere.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 69 · scale: 100 · review count: 23
- Production trivia
- The film was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.; The film rights were optioned by producers Bruna Papandrea and Reese Witherspoon in 2015.; Jane Harper, the author of the novel, has a cameo as a funeral attendee.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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