Force of Nature: The Dry 2

Force of Nature: The Dry 2

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2024
Founder	Robert Connolly
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Mystery thriller film

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 (titled on-screen as Force of Nature) is a 2024 Australian mystery thriller both written and directed by Robert Connolly. Serving as a follow-up to the 2020 movie The Dry, it is an adaptation of Jane Harper's 2017 novel Force of Nature. The cast features Eric Bana reprising his role as Aaron Falk, alongside Anna Torv, Deborra-Lee Furness, Robin McLeavy, Sisi Stringer, Lucy Ansell, Jacqueline McKenzie, Tony Briggs, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, and Richard Roxburgh.

The film had its premiere in Melbourne on 21 January 2024, followed by its Australian release through Roadshow Films on 8 February 2024. It has accumulated a box office total of $5.8 million.

Plot

Federal investigators Aaron Falk and Carmen Cooper delve into allegations of money laundering linked to Daniel Bailey’s company, Bailey Tennants Finances. They persuade employee Alice Russell to collect incriminating evidence in return for immunity from previous embezzlement accusations.

Alice participates in a corporate hiking retreat held in Victoria’s fictional Giralang Ranges with four coworkers: her superior Jill (Daniel’s spouse), childhood companion Lauren, and sisters Brianna "Bree" and Bethany "Beth". After three days, only Jill, Lauren, Beth, and Bree—who has been bitten by a spider—return; Alice is nowhere to be found.

Flashbacks disclose that Falk’s mother vanished in the same region years before. Upon questioning the group, Falk learns they became disoriented after losing their map. Alice misled the group, which caused friction among them. They discovered an abandoned cabin previously connected to a serial killer but ignored Alice’s warnings and stayed overnight. The following morning, Bree suffered a spider bite; Alice was missing.

Falk locates Alice’s body near the cabin along with a damaged spider web, suggesting Bree had been there. Bree admits to concealing the body to shield Beth, who is currently on probation. Lauren later reveals she fatally confronted Alice during an argument about parenting and bullying, then left the body undiscovered.

As Bree and Lauren are taken into custody, Beth discloses that Alice had uploaded crucial evidence against Daniel onto a USB drive during the retreat. Beth retrieves this drive and hands it over to Falk for further investigation.

Cast

• Eric Bana as Aaron Falk
  • Archie Thomson as young Aaron Falk
• Anna Torv as Alice Russell
• Deborra-Lee Furness as Jill Bailey
• Robin McLeavy as Lauren
• Sisi Stringer as Bethany "Beth"
• Lucy Ansell as Brianna "Bree"
• Jacqueline McKenzie as Carmen Cooper
• Tony Briggs as Ian Chase
• Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Erik Falk
• Richard Roxburgh as Daniel Bailey
• Kenneth Radley as Sergeant Vince King
• Ash Ricardo as Jennifer "Jenny" Falk
• Ingrid Torelli as Margot Russell
• Matilda May Pawsey as Rebecca

Production

Following the success of The Dry, production began in 2022 on this sequel based on Jane Harper's 2017 novel Force of Nature, with principal photography commencing in Victoria in May. Director Robert Connolly returned alongside lead actor Eric Bana.

Although set within the fictional Giralang Ranges, filming locations included Victoria’s Otway Ranges, Dandenongs, and Yarra Valley.

In September 2022, distribution rights for North America were acquired by IFC Films, maintaining their collaboration from the original film.

Release

Force of Nature had its debut in Melbourne on 21 January 2024.

Originally planned for an Australian premiere on 24 August 2023, the release was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which disrupted promotional efforts. The film eventually became available in Australia on 8 February 2024.

Reception

With a 65% approval rating based on 46 reviews, the movie holds an average rating of 6.1/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus notes, "Despite some uneven pacing and a complex mystery, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 remains engaging and delivers satisfaction to fans of its predecessor while laying groundwork for the third installment." On Metacritic, it has earned a weighted average score of 58 out of 100 from seven critics, reflecting "mixed or average reviews."