‘Force of Nature’ Sees Bad Weather and Worse Intentions Lead to Mystery

One of the numerous points with Hollywood in the present day is the desire by studios to focus the majority of their efforts on hopeful blockbusters with bloated budgets. The huge motion pictures aren’t themselves the issue, however as a substitute it’s the dearth of assets leftover to go in the direction of low to mid-range movies. There’s rather a lot to be stated on the topic, however we’ll save that for one more time and as a substitute get to the purpose — in the present day’s low/mid-budget thrillers come virtually solely from outdoors of Hollywood. And typically, if not sometimes, they’re from outdoors the U.S. all collectively. 2021’s The Dry match the invoice precisely as a sensible, atmospheric slice of Australian noir delivering a compelling and affecting thriller, and the movie discovered a deserved success with each audiences and critics. Happily for these of us who love this type of factor, Force of Nature (unofficially subtitled The Dry 2) as soon as once more brings some intelligently thrilling items from down underneath.

Five ladies, all coworkers, head out on a rural hike as a part of a company retreat, however solely 4 of them return. Alice (Anna Torv) has gone lacking, and the opposite ladies are lower than forthcoming in the case of the times and hours main as much as Alice’s disappearance. Each has her personal secrets and techniques and her personal lies, and with the clock ticking and tough climate heading their means, the probabilities of discovering the lacking girl rapidly plummet. Local police and search events are on the hunt, however solely Federal police officer Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) has another excuse for locating her alive — she’s his informant, he was urgent her laborious for proof in opposition to her bosses, and he’s nonetheless haunted by his personal mom’s disappearance in these woods when he was only a baby. Oh, and there’s additionally a serial killer’s cabin close by?

Force of Nature, as soon as once more based mostly on a novel by Jane Harper, is a follow-up to The Dry, however you’d be hard-pressed to name it a direct sequel. It’s as a substitute extra according to different thriller franchises like Rian Johnson’s Knives Out movies or Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie options. Falk is the one returning character, and there are not any connections to the previous story, however we do get thematic throughlines with a lead protagonist whose current day conflicts appear to at all times dovetail with tragedies and traumas from his previous. The conceit works fantastically in The Dry, additionally directed by Robert Connelly, and whereas it doesn’t come collectively almost as nicely right here, there’s nonetheless a lot to take pleasure in because the thriller unfolds with Bana’s haunted investigator peeling again the layers.

As with these aforementioned mysteries, Falk is the centerpiece of an ensemble, and whereas all the forged does good work right here, it’s Bana who holds our consideration and curiosity the strongest. The actor might be finest recognized for enjoying powerful guys (Chopper, 2000; Black Hawk Down, 2001; Troy, 2004), however he’s fairly good at taking part in extra soulful, emotionally fraught characters too. Like The Dry, this movie cuts away from the current to supply glimpses into Falk’s previous as a means of explaining the compassionate and troubled man he’s in the present day. Past pains change into seen on Bana’s face whereas loss, guilt, and grief puddle in his eyes. His feelings change into are personal, and that goes a good distance in the direction of our personal want for a contented decision to the case at hand.

The script, written by Connelly, weaves Falk’s story into the nesting doll thriller earlier than him, and every new reveal solutions a query whereas leaving Falk and viewers with nonetheless extra. Force of Nature does a very good job with its 4 characters who exit the woods as every provides differing particulars, and when pressed or challenged, every reveals new truths. They breath lies like oxygen, lies to one another and infrequently themselves, lies that stem from private wants and grievances, lies that will or is probably not linked to Alice’s disappearance. It’s constructed nicely, and all 5 ladies (together with Deborra-Lee Furness, Robin McLeavy, Sisi Stringer, and Lucy Ansell) give sturdy performances, however neither of the intertwined threads manages to be extra than simply compelling sufficient.

Of the 2, it’s the flashbacks that land the weakest as Falk’s childhood brush with disappearance and loss of life lacks an emotional grip. The drama of the state of affairs is obvious — his mom goes lacking whereas out mountaineering with younger Aaron and his father — however it simply can’t discover a actually dramatic or suspenseful footing right through to its underwhelming decision. The current day thriller fares higher, to the purpose that you simply want the movie had centered on it solely, as the person deceptions discover intrigue and drama. Falk’s guilt over probably having pushed Alice too far and too near hazard turns into the beating coronary heart right here, and it affords the movie its solely actual emotional weight.

Where The Dry drops viewers right into a shiny and dusty outback, Force of Nature finds its story inside the lush greens of a dense forest, and it’s a panorama continuously drenched in rain. It’s a one-eighty on the environmental entrance, however cinematographer Andrew Commis (who additionally shot Connelly’s 2022 drama, Blueback, which additionally stars Bana) ensures that we really feel the treacherous dampness throughout. The environment look as attractive as they do threatening, and that’s no small feat. Here’s hoping Connelly and Bana reunite as soon as extra to adapt Harper’s third and reportedly closing Aaron Falk novel, Exiles, as it is going to be a pleasant change of tempo to see Falk fixing a thriller within the pleasantly fragrant environment of Australia’s wine nation.

Fans of The Dry ought to undoubtedly give Force of Nature a watch. The narratives might not land as powerfully this time round, however Bana’s sturdy however damaged investigator stays a compelling ethical compass in a world fueled by deceit and deception.

Related Topics: Eric Bana, The Dry

Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since earlier than you have been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He’s our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast News’ as his favourite movie of all time. Feel free to say hello for those who see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.