It felt like a standalone movie when I first saw the original film a couple of years back, and I didn’t expect they would make a sequel. Still, I am glad that they did, and I suspect there will be another one eventually. The title doesn't mention 'part 2', so some viewers might watch this without realizing it’s a continuation. It would have been better to name the film in relation to the plot. Those who are familiar with the first installment will know what to expect from these characters and the storytelling style. This was my initial movie of 2017, and while I don't usually feel this way, I think it’s a promising start to the year and I hope to see many more good films. The plot picks up where the previous one left off; after his success as a detective, Jay Swan is sent to another small mining town to investigate a missing person case. It seems that nobody welcomes him, including the local police officer. However, when he suspects powerful people are abusing their authority, a cop named Josh takes immediate action. The film runs for nearly two hours and unfolds at a deliberate pace. The story develops gradually as Josh begins his investigation, causing those involved in illegal activities to feel pressure. Meanwhile, Jay learns about his own background from an elderly indigenous man living locally. Both Josh and Jay make progress that moves them closer to resolving the multiple cases they face. The final section shifts into action sequences and leaves a significant opening for the story to continue. > "And they follow the same god. Money god." That’s what I found disappointing. Considering its length, it doesn't quite wrap things up properly, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to the first film. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed it; the locations were effectively used to tell the story. In fact, it reminded me of another detective movie, 'Jesse Stone'. The opening scene is also reminiscent of that film—a character arriving in a new town while intoxicated. Unlike that one, this isn't a television movie and demonstrates high quality across all aspects. It’s also considered among the best Australian films of the year, so if you are a serious movie fan, it’s worth checking out. The director returned to handle multiple responsibilities once again, including camera work, editing, music, and scriptwriting. The story is somewhat predictable, but what matters isn't the plot itself, but how it was presented. The actors contributed significantly to achieving the filmmaker’s vision; Aaron Pederson was excellent, and he has now become one of my favorite Australian performers. I hope that like many other Aussie actors, he will also get opportunities to work in Hollywood projects. The case isn't explored in detail; we learn Jay is searching for a missing girl, but there are no flashbacks or any revealing information. The outcome is revealed simply and emotionally. It’s more of a realistic approach than providing clues for the audience to guess at. As I mentioned, it’s not as good as the first film, only because of the ending. I'm also unsure if the same storyline will continue in the next installment. The conclusion may feel incomplete, but it offers something different from the typical resolution found in a police procedural. You have to accept that rather than complain about it. Aside from that, I’m confident it is one of the best detective films out there. The movies haven't received widespread international recognition yet, but they certainly deserve it. It may take years for people to discover them, though I hope you will check it out after reading this review, if you haven’t already. Recommended! _7/10_

Source on TMDB