The first few minutes of Gus Van Sant's new film, "Gerry," offers a good, long drink of what you're about to be drenched in for the next two hours. The scene opens, sans credits or dialogue, with a car winding through the desert for at least five minutes.

Finally, the camera flashes inside the car, where Casey Affleck and Matt Damon sit together in silence. More quiet driving, more scenery, and finally, they arrive at a trail and start hiking. Eventually they reveal they are looking for "the thing," and decide to wander off the path to find it.

After even more walking in silence, they decide to "f--- the thing" and turn around and go back to the car. However, they can't remember how to get there, and neither genius thought to bring a compass, GPS or water.

Through snippets of dialogue, we learn that both of the characters call each other "Gerry," but also use the word as a verb meaning to screw-up. "You gerried the rendezvous," Gerry 1 says to Gerry 2 after they split up to find the highway and Gerry 2 doesn't return to the agreed-upon meeting spot.

Although never told, it seems that the Gerrys have been friends for a long time -- they have their own secret language and inside jokes. However, nothing else is gleaned from their banter and we never learn their real names, occupations or any other details of their lives other than they both smoke. (They didn't think to bring a canteen, but have plenty of Camels.)

At times, this film is really funny. In one scene, Affleck's Gerry is stuck atop a 20-foot rock. Damon's Gerry tries to solve the problem by using his shirt as a "dirt basket" and creating a "dirt mattress" to break Gerry's fall. The scene is ten minutes long and only once does the camera angle change, yet it's absolutely captivating.

The movie, shot in Argentina, Utah and Death Valley, is filled with wide-angled shots of the treacherous, beautiful desert. Because there is little else to occupy our thoughts other than the ominous dangers of the desert and the two men without the proper tools to survive, we have plenty of room in our minds to imagine what it would be like to be in their dusty shoes. And it's horrifying.

And even though we know almost nothing about the characters, we truly start to care about the fact that they could die.

Most of the scenes involve the Gerrys walking in silence. Sometimes almost marching in sync, other times at completely different paces. As the film uncoils, they go from walking fast, to slow, to almost crawling, and their conversations shift from occasional funny talk to non-existent. The macabre, minimalist music of Arvo Part contributes to the eerieness of the film as does the endless sound of their shoes crunching against the rocks and sand.

Director Van Sant is best known for "Good Will Hunting" and "My Own Private Idaho." He also co-wrote the film with Damon and Affleck.

Many people won't care for this film because it's slow and silent and the only eye candy is endless shots of the desert, but those who endure the agony will be rewarded with more than a film: an emotional experience.

Just be sure to buy the bucket-sized soda at the concessions stand or your sympathetic thirst will kill ya.

"Gerry" is now playing at the Downer Theatre.