‘Force Of Nature: The Dry 2’ Review – A Spine-tingling, Thoughtful Slow-Burn

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 opens this week as a sequel to The Dry, which came out of nowhere in 2021 to become a breakout hit (on alternative platforms) in North America after emerging as one of the highest-grossing and most acclaimed thrillers in the history of Australian cinema. The film garnered 12 nominations for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA), including Best Picture and Best Actor for Eric Bana, and won Best Adapted Screenplay.

So, when I heard a sequel was being developed, buzz began to build, and boy, did the follow-up deliver. A slow burn continues with a spine-tingling, thoughtful, and ultimately haunting second chapter that solidifies Aaron Falk’s character as the best film detective since Alex Cross. An adaptation from Jane Harper’s novel of the same name, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is a smart, taut, and atmospheric mystery thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat with armrest-grabbing results.

The first film took place in the dry bush of the southern Mallee region, where a single spark could set the community ablaze. However, the sequel takes place in the thick, lush forest mountains of Northeast Melbourne. There, Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) is investigating the disappearance of Alice Russell (Fringe’s Anna Torv). The single mother has gone missing on a corporate tech retreat. Alice works for a Melbourne-based IT company that has some intriguing financial irregularities.

Alice was navigating the retreat for the group, which included the owner’s wife, Jill (Deborra-Lee Furness), and other company employees. That would be Alice’s best friend, Lauren (Hell on Wheels’s Robin McLeavy), a coworker with a past, Beth (Mortal Kombat’s Sisi Stringer), and her sister Bree (Strife’s Lucy Ansell). However, what the group needs to know is that Alice is a mole, turning over evidence on Jill’s husband, Daniel (Elvis’s Richard Roxburgh). That’s where Falk comes in because Alice is his confidential informant.

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is directed by the Australian film auteur Robert Connolly, who directed the first installment. Connolly also wrote the second adaptation. He does a beautiful job juggling three narratives that give the main character an incredible backstory to flesh out Bana’s character. One shows the guilt he feels by applying pressure to his suspects. The other adds a haunting quality, depicting a childhood tragedy. Finally, adding to the enthralling mystery of what happened in those lush, ominous woods.

We don’t want to reveal too much because of spoilers. Still, Connelly skillfully distracts the viewer from where the story is headed. There are numerous twists, turns, and suspects, including a visceral setting where you are afraid of anything that goes “boo” in the night. The story keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats. I will say that this outing is not nearly as resonant as the original go around. (Bana’s childhood flashbacks undercut the reveal’s power.) Yet, the actor gives one of his best performances.

And that’s the main reason to watch Force of Nature: The Dry 2. Bana never allows the story to drift too far from the sequel’s human element. When you combine that with a location that gives you the Picnic and Hanging Rock vibes, seamless tone, and pacing, the film is still satisfying, even though it feels totally independent from the original. Yes, an Aaron Falk franchise has been born.

Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is currently playing in theaters and is available on digital platforms courtesy of IFC Films.