The Dry (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Robert Connolly (director), Jane Harper (original novel author) |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Film |
The Dry is a 2020 Australian film blending mystery, drama, and thriller elements, directed by Robert Connolly. The screenplay, crafted by Connolly alongside Harry Cripps, adapts the 2016 novel authored by Jane Harper. The cast includes Eric Bana, Genevieve O'Reilly, Keir O'Donnell, and John Polson.
The movie debuted in Melbourne on 11 December 2020 and later premiered across Australia on 1 January 2021 through Roadshow Films, garnering favorable reviews from critics. In the United States, distribution was handled by IFC Films, with a release date of 21 May 2021.
A follow-up film titled Force of Nature: The Dry 2, inspired by Harper's 2017 sequel novel Force of Nature, began production in 2022 and was released on 8 February 2024.
Plot
Aaron Falk, a federal investigator, returns to his hometown Kiewarra in Victoria to attend the funeral of Luke Hadler, his childhood friend. Luke is suspected of having murdered his wife Karen and their son Billy before taking his own life. Their infant daughter Charlotte survives the tragedy. At the request of Luke’s parents, Falk agrees to stay and look into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Falk left Kiewarra two decades earlier amid suspicions linked to the death of his girlfriend Ellie. Upon his return, he encounters hostility from locals, notably from Ellie’s father Mal and cousin Grant, both accusing him of deceit and involvement in murder.
Falk teams up with local sergeant Greg Raco to investigate Luke’s death. They discover that the shotgun shells used were Remington brand, while Luke owned Winchesters. Falk interviews Scott Whitlam, the school principal and Karen’s employer, who acknowledges that Karen and Luke faced financial difficulties but denies any serious conflicts.
Falk finds a library receipt with the handwritten word "GRANT?" and suspects Grant might be interested in purchasing the Hadler family farm, which Luke’s parents are struggling to maintain.
Visiting Gretchen, Karen’s coworker and another childhood acquaintance, Falk learns about school funding applications found in Karen’s desk. A photograph showing Luke holding Gretchen’s newborn son Lachlan leads Falk to question whether Luke could be the father. Gretchen denies this but hints at an affair. When questioned about involvement in the murders, she firmly tells Falk to leave.
The following day, Falk deduces that Karen wrote "GRANT?" concerning financial matters. He uncovers evidence that Whitlam embezzled funds from the school and murdered the Hadler family to conceal his crimes.
Falk and Raco confront Whitlam at the school but find he has escaped with petrol and a lighter. At Whitlam’s residence, they locate shotgun shells matching those used in the crime. Whitlam confesses to a gambling addiction, theft, and killing the Hadlers before attempting self-immolation. Falk and Raco manage to extinguish the fire; both sustain severe burns and are hospitalized, while Falk suffers minor injuries. Whitlam’s admission resolves the investigation, prompting Luke’s parents to express gratitude toward Falk for clearing their son’s name.
Before departing Kiewarra, Falk apologizes to Gretchen for wrongly accusing her; she forgives him and reveals her love for Luke despite his choice of Karen. Falk then discovers Ellie’s backpack containing a journal that exposes her plan to escape abuse inflicted by her father Mal, who had also abused her mother. A flashback reveals Mal drowned Ellie upon discovering her intention to flee.
Falk takes possession of the backpack as evidence to restore his reputation and walks back into town along a riverbed now devoid of water.
Cast
The author of the original novel, Jane Harper, makes a brief cameo appearance.
Production
In 2015, producers Bruna Papandrea and Reese Witherspoon acquired the film rights, with Papandrea's company Made Up Stories overseeing production. Eric Bana took on the lead role as Aaron Falk, supported by Genevieve O'Reilly and Keir O'Donnell. Filming commenced in March 2019, primarily in Victoria’s Wimmera Mallee area.
Release
Originally scheduled for release on 27 August 2020, the film's debut was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had its premiere in Melbourne on 11 December 2020, followed by a wide release across Australia and New Zealand through Roadshow Films on 1 January 2021.
On 9 February 2021, Cornerstone Films finalized distribution agreements for multiple regions: Leonine handled German-speaking Europe; Swift covered France; Notorious took Italy and Spain; Selmer Media managed Scandinavia; Three Lines oversaw Benelux; M2 Films distributed in Eastern Europe; and Terry Steiner International secured rights for airlines and maritime venues. Discussions for UK distribution were still underway.
IFC Films acquired North American distribution rights on 18 February 2021, releasing the film both in theaters and on-demand starting 21 May 2021. The North American premiere occurred at the SFFILM Festival on 10 April 2021, where it was highlighted as a featured selection.
Critical response
According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film received positive feedback from of critics, achieving an average score of . The consensus describes it as "a slow-burning crime drama anchored by a solid central performance from Eric Bana, The Dry delivers compelling suspense for fans of the genre." On Metacritic, it holds a weighted average of 69 out of 100 based on 23 reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews."
The Guardian lauded the film as "consistently strong: taut, gritty, and intense, pairing expansive landscapes with intimate drama."
Box office
The Dry ranked within Australia's top ten highest-grossing films of 2020, accumulating A$20.1 million. Its opening weekend brought in AU$3.5 million, marking one of the most successful Australian film debuts ever and the strongest launch for an independently produced Australian feature. After five weeks in cinemas, it exceeded A$19 million (US$14.6 million), surpassing Muriel's Wedding and The Water Diviner to become the 17th highest-grossing Australian film historically, just behind The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. By 23 March, The Dry had surpassed A$20 million, securing its position as the 14th highest-grossing Australian production ever and overtaking The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony date |
Category | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards | 8 December 2021 | Best Film | Eric Bana | Template:Nom |
| Steve Hutensky | Template:Nom | |||
| Jodi Matterson | Template:Nom | |||
| Bruna Papandrea | Template:Nom | |||
| Robert Connolly | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Direction | Robert Connolly | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Robert Connolly | Template:Won | ||
| Harry Cripps | Template:Won | |||
| Best Actor | Eric Bana | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Actress | Genevieve O'Reilly | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Miranda Tapsell | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Cinematography | Stefan Duscio | Template:Won | ||
| Best Editing | Alexandre de Franceschi | Template:Nom | ||
| Nick Meyers | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Original Music Score | Peter Raeburn | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Sound | Chris Goodes | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Costume Design | Cappi Ireland | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Casting | Jane Norris | Template:Nom |