Movie Loner

When I was twelve years old I got lost in the woods. I had explored these woods hundreds of times before, but one day I decided to venture further. My bearings were askew and I couldn’t find my way. Panic set in. I started mumbling, naively trying to convince myself I knew where I was. After about thirty minutes I located a familiar tree. Not a crisis, but it freaked me out. I was reminded of that day while watching Gerry.

Two friends (Matt Damon and Casey Affleck) go for a hike in a desert park. Supplied with only a can of soda and a lighter they set off down the trail in search of some unnamed landmark. A turn here, a twist there, and the two men, who refer to themselves only as Gerry, are lost. Night falls, they build a fire, smoke cigarettes, and spin tales of video game dominance. The next morning they trek off again, fully confident they’ll discover their way back.

One day turns into two, then three. A hilly, brush strewn topography gradually transforms into sandy, barren desert. The two Gerries climb rocky cliffs and scout a sprawling nothingness before them. They say very little, electing to move forward rather than accept their terrifying fate. The pounding heat takes its toll; dehydration and exhaustion set in. Frustration turns to anger, anger turns to paralyzing fear. Will they escape their desolate prison? Will they survive?

Director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) paints a disturbing canvas with an experimental brush. Unusually long takes combined with sparse dialogue reinforce the characters’ isolation as well as ours. Endless shots of walking lead nowhere on purpose. Van Sant wants us to be lost along with the two Gerries. A compelling sense of dread hangs over this film. It’s not easy to watch, but it’s difficult to take your eyes away. Gerry is definitely an acquired taste but if you don’t mind different, give it a shot.