Wild – Heatwave 2 // By Robert Connolly. With Eric Bana, Anna Torv and Deborra-Lee Furness.
The release of Wild – Heatwave 2 (Force of Nature: The Dry 2 in original version) marks the return of detective Aaron Falk, played by Eric Bana, in an investigation combining personal drama and suspense. Direct sequel to the film Heat wave (The Dry), this second opus ventures into a more complex and ambitious story. Unfortunately, this ambition is not always well executed, which gives a mixed result. If certain aspects remain successful, others taint the overall experience. The story follows Falk, who joins a research mission after the disturbing disappearance of Anna Torv, his informant, during a wilderness business seminar. This forest setting, isolated and potentially dangerous, lends itself perfectly to an atmosphere of tension.
In Australia, investigator Aaron Falk and his teammate Carmen Cooper are on the verge of bringing down Bailey Tenants for money laundering. One of the employees, Alice Russell, is the informant who must provide them with the last decisive evidence. But she mysteriously disappears during a hike organized by her company. Aaron and Carmen join the investigators who try to find her.
As Falk sinks deeper into this quest, his past resurfaces, mixing painful memories and never-healed traumas. The film seemed to want to play on several tables: a gripping thriller, a psychological introspection and a criminal mystery. However, this multiplicity of narrative lines quickly becomes a trap. The major problem of Wild – Heatwave 2 lies in its storyline. Unlike its predecessor which shone for its simplicity and its mastery of atmosphere, this sequel suffers from a confusing structure. Three main story arcs intertwine without any real harmony. Starting with the group in seminar. The tensions between the colleagues and their struggle to survive in this hostile environment could have been enough to create an effective thriller.
Next, Falk’s childhood traumas. Although they bring a certain depth to the character, these recurring flashbacks slow down the pace of the story. And finally, the hunt for a serial killer. This narrative thread, although attractive on paper, seems underdeveloped and disappointing in its resolution. By trying to include everything, the film doesn’t really delve into any of these aspects. Result: a plot that lacks coherence and struggles to maintain attention. Eric Bana remains the major asset of this film. His interpretation of Aaron Falk is sober and nuanced, faithful to the spirit of the first opus. However, he seems held back by a scenario which does not give him enough material to fully shine. Among the secondary characters, Anna Torv does well, offering a credible and endearing performance. Deborra-Lee Furness, for her part, stands out with a charismatic and memorable presence.
On the other hand, many other characters appear bland or caricatured, making it difficult for the viewer to become emotionally invested in their plight. From a visual point of view, Wild – Heatwave 2 does not disappoint. The Australian landscapes, filmed with care, provide an undeniable immersive dimension. The dense forest, both majestic and threatening, almost becomes a character in its own right. The elegant cinematography and atmospheric soundtrack enhance this immersion. However, despite this aesthetic quality, the staging lacks audacity. Where the first film succeeded in establishing palpable tension, this sequel struggles to find the same intensity. The natural settings, although pleasing to the eye, are not enough to compensate for the lack of dynamism of the production.
One of the most questionable narrative choices is the heavy use of flashbacks. Although they aim to flesh out Falk’s character and explore his past wounds, their constant insertion ends up breaking the pace of the film. Rather than enriching the story, these flashbacks give an impression of heaviness, even clumsiness. Another weak point: the resolution of the plot. Some key discoveries seem too easy, as if they fell from the sky to advance the story. For example, Falk effortlessly finds a place that has remained undiscovered for decades, a shortcut that leaves an impression of artifice. These choices weaken the credibility of the story and risk frustrating fans of well-crafted thrillers.
The first Heat wave had managed to establish an oppressive and unique atmosphere, mixing crushing heat and heavy mystery. In this sequel, the atmosphere remains worked but never reaches the same level of intensity. The change of scenery, from arid lands to forests, is certainly refreshing, but it lacks the singularity that was the strength of the first film. At the end of the day, Wild – Heatwave 2 remains a decent thriller, but far from memorable. If we can praise certain aspects such as Eric Bana’s acting and the visual quality, the film suffers from a storyline that is too fragmented, uneven secondary characters and a direction that lacks personality. This is more of a passable piece of entertainment than a gripping thriller.
For fans of the first opus, this sequel will be able to offer some pleasant moments, in particular thanks to its protagonist and its mysterious atmosphere. However, it also risks disappointing with its lack of ambition and its inability to rediscover the magic of the first film. Jane Harper, the author of the Aaron Falk novels, has published a third book which could well conclude this cinematic trilogy. Let us hope that this hypothetical adaptation will learn lessons from Wild – Heatwave 2 and return to what was the strength of the first film: a solid plot, controlled tension and an Aaron Falk more human than ever. Waiting for, Wild – Heatwave 2 remains a mixed experience. For me, it is a dispensable work, which struggles to justify its place in a series that is nevertheless promising.
Note : 4.5/10. In short, a sequel that struggles to match the original.
Released on October 16, 2024 directly on Canal+ – Available on myCanal
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