The plot crackles along nicely with Aaron asking questions and uncovering dark secrets that suggest several townsfolk had the motive and means to commit murder.

Another reason to stay is re-connecting with Gretchen (Genevieve O’Reilly, excellent), the fourth member of Aaron’s tight-knit teenage friendship group and now a single mother with a checkered past. After looking at Luke’s financial records and talking to honest but inexperienced local cop Greg Raco (Keir O’Donnell), Aaron gets the feeling that things may not be as clear-cut as they appear. The scenario is accepted by almost everyone in town and will strike a somber chord with local audiences in light of similar real-life tragedies in drought-devastated parts of Australia in recent times.ĭetermined to leave immediately following the funeral, Aaron’s convinced to stay when Luke’s distraught parents, Barb and Gerry (Julia Blake, Bruce Spence), implore him to examine aspects of the case that may clear their son’s name. It seems that Luke Hadler killed his wife and child before turning the gun on himself. The once-thriving rural town is now an economically distressed and socially damaged dustbowl that’s been in drought for a decade and hasn’t seen a drop of rain in 324 days.Īaron’s drawn back to Kiewarra by the death of another childhood friend. A dedicated detective based in Melbourne, Aaron hasn’t set foot in hometown Kiewarra since departing abruptly following the still-unsolved death of high school friend Ellie Deacon (BeBe Bettencourt) some 20 years ago. Headlining his first Aussie feature since 2007’s “Romulus, My Father,” Bana is perfectly cast as Federal Agent Aaron Falk.

The dry by jane harper reviews