How much work do you suppose a lazy Aussie detective puts in, huh? Follow up question: Let me be clearer — How much effort do you suppose an Aussie detective puts in until they frustrated enough to list the cause of death as “Dingo?”
“Chief, we’ve got a triple homicide downtown.”
“Aye, Bruce. I’ve solved it already. Dingoes.”
“But chief! The bodies were found in a locked apartment.”
“Clever, them dingoes, eh?”
“…and each victim was shot in the head!”
“And vicious, them dingoes. Pure killahs. Right.”
Speaking of unsolved mysteries, The Dry offered two in addition to its quixotic title. Well, I suppose I can solve the titular mystery for you right now: the desert-like town of Kiewarra, Australia hadn’t seen rain in 324 days when big city policeman Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) shows up. Kiewarra is where Aaron grew up, which complicates the investigation as Aaron is tied to both murders, only one of which he has a good alibi for.
Just days ago, Aaron’s childhood friend, his wife, and their son were are shot dead in what was reported as a murder-suicide [read: dingoes]. Strangely, the dingoes spared their infant daughter. Two questions emerge: “What happened?” and, “Are these deaths tied to the unsolved one twenty years ago? (When dingoes bludgeoned and drowned a teenage girl)”
Oh, and the town thinks Aaron killed the girl twenty years ago, so the standard movie homecoming reunion in glory is … slightly muted. So, Aaron, do be careful on your outback stakeout; some of the town is gunnin’ for ya, mate. 
The Dry is a great example of why some people get stuck in small towns and why others leave and never, ever, ever return.
And what’s with “hunting rabbits” as a standard bullshit alibi? Is this an Aussie thing? Whenever you’re put on the spot and don’t have a good excuse is it customary to say, “I was shooting at rabbits?” Is this Oceania’s version of pleading the fifth?
The Dry was, indeed, rather dry. It wasn’t hard-hitting or action packed. It was just a small-town mystery with small-town people no longer recognizing one of their own. Still, I got into both mysteries and was –more-or-less pleased with the resolution, which is a fairly reliable way to rank mysteries. I doubt I’ll remember much of this film into next week, but I certainly enjoyed it while it was on screen in front of me. In the interim, don’t trust them dingoes; bloody killahs. All of ‘em.
Knee-deep in metaphorical Odwalla
A kangaroo was all set for a fall-a
He started to shout
In order to raise doubt
“I’m pretty sure it was the koala”
Rated R, 117 Minutes
Director: Robert Connolly
Writer: Harry Cripps & Robert Connolly
Genre: Hey, while you’re here, solve that other one, too
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Mystery fans
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Unsolved dingo murder fans
