Movie Review: Force of Nature - The Dry 2 (2024) *No Spoilers*

Eric Bana returns as Detective Aaron Falk in Force of Nature - The Dry 2, and that's the only real connection between this and 2020's The Dry. This is an all new mystery set in a new location.

I will say, given that it's either wet or rainy, with the incoming threat of a major storm for most of the movie, the filmmakers really missed a trick in not renaming the film, The Wet.

Back when I reviewed the first film I noted that I would love to see the second book made into a movie too, and here it is. This time Aaron and his detective partner, Carmen (Jacqueline Mackenzie), head into the mountains to investigate the whereabouts of a missing informant, who disappears on a workplace, team bonding retreat.

All the performances in this film are easily on par with the first, though I do think some pretty outstanding actors really didn't have a lot to do here.

In terms of mystery the first movie was better constructed as a who dunnit film you could play along with. Here you more or less watch the events unfold. You don't really get much of a trail of clues to keep you guessing.

It's still an intriguing watch, there's just not as wide a field of suspects who could actually be involved. The mystery tends to be all about motive, with one or two wildcards thrown in to at least put a bit of doubt in your mind.

There's not too much I can say without potential spoilers. Overall it's a solid mystery. It just doesn't go far enough weaving its threads together as much as the first film. It never really brings the audience into the investigation.

Still a good entry to the series and I'd definitely be in the audience for a third outing.