MOVIE REVIEW: The Dry

As a big fan of Jane Harper’s books, I was very much looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation of her hugely successful debut novel, The Dry. It’s always a little strange to see characters you have come to know through a book portrayed on screen – casting choices can seem off base and things are never quite as you envisioned them.

And yet, though some of the characters looked a little different to how I imagined them, I can honestly say the town of Kiewerra was brought vividly to life in the movie – almost exactly as I had pictured it in my mind!

At a glance, Eric Bana is not at all close to the version of Aaron Falk in my mind’s eye, however within seconds of his appearance on screen I could tell that he was absolutely the right person for the role. He is Aaron Falk! A more ruggedly handsome Aaron Falk than I expected, admittedly, but the spirit of the character is conveyed so well I’m pretty sure when I inevitably reread The Dry I’m going to be picturing Eric Bana as the protagonist.

The film boasts a sterling supporting cast that includes Miranda Tapsell, Genevieve O’Reilly, Keir O’Donnell, John Polson, James Frecheville, Eddie Baroo and Bruce Spence.There is even a small cameo from Jane Harper herself! Everyone’s performance is pitch perfect – but Eric Bana is downright electric in every scene.

The Dry is a novel fraught with tightly wound tension and gripping drama – the movie is no different in this respect. It’s impossible to look away from the screen as the story unfolds, complete with gorgeous cinematography and a haunting soundtrack. The flashbacks to the past are particularly poignant when you see them played out on screen.

Fans of the book will be thoroughly pleased with this stunning adaptation, while those who haven’t had the pleasure of reading Jane Harper will, I suspect, be heading straight to the nearest bookstore once they have seen this film!

–The Dry, directed by Robert Connolly, is in theatres across Australia from the 1st of January, 2021.

The Dry

by Jane Harper

Who really killed the Hadler family?

It hasn't rained in Kiewarra for two years. Tensions in the farming community become unbearable when three members of the Hadler family are discovered shot to death on their property. Everyone assumes Luke Hadler committed suicide after slaughtering his wife and six-year-old son. Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk returns to his hometown for the funerals and is unwillingly drawn into the investigation...

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About the Contributor

Sarah McDuling

Sarah McDuling is Booktopia's Category Manager for Children's and Young Adult Books. She has been in the bookselling game for almost a decade and a dedicated booklover since birth (potentially longer). At her happiest when reading a book, Sarah also enjoys talking/writing/tweeting about books. In her spare time, she often likes to buy a lot of books and take photographs of books. You can follow her on Twitter and Instragram @sarahmcduling

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