Duel
Dennis Weaver; Directed by Steven Spielberg
When Mr. Mann leaves his comfortable suburban home one morning, he has no idea that his quick trip across a vast and empty stretch of highway will turn into a deadly game of chase with a 400 ton truck. When he tries to tell the residents of a small roadside cafe about the attempts on his life, they laugh him off. The phone booth he uses to try to reach the police is decimated to rubble before he can explain the terrifying situation he has found himself in. Things only get worse from there. Mann tries to work out the reason for this unprovoked attack while trying to keep his mind and body together throughout the almost non-stop high-speed chase, and because there is no one to help him, he cannot afford to make even one mistake.
If only he weren’t running low on fuel...
Duel was Steven Spielberg’s first full-length feature film, originally produced for television and later expanded for theatrical release. It is fascinating to see his talent and passion for filmmaking already so prominent in one of his earliest works. He understands what is going to keep the attention of the audience. He understands what makes suspense work, and what would make it fall flat on its face. He is also a master of manipulating emotions. Though the premise of the story is very basic and simple, it manages to remain engaging. We hear Mann’s thoughts as he deftly moves from angry, to confused, then to petrified. One of the most effective (and often most overlooked) elements of filmmaking is sound. Mr. Spielberg fully realizes and appreciates what great effect sound can have on a film - how it can change a mood, scale back, or speed up pacing. Music and sound design move in on a psychological level. The roar of the truck’s engine morphs into a monstrous soul-shaking shriek at times. Bows screech across violin strings Psycho-style as Mann’s car swerves wildly out of control near a cliff edge, grating on the viewers’ anxiety.
This is not a deep movie with hidden messages. It’s an exhilarating 90-minute ride, at times a little predictable, but never dumb or cheesy. It is able to achieve a certain level of class even though such fare today would be written off as a "summer/popcorn flick for the masses".
This is Mr. Spielberg’s area of expertise - stories full of action and heart that appeal to different generations of people. This was the film that launched his career, the film that would eventually lead to the creation of beloved classics like Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Any fan of thrillers or suspense films would do well to add Duel to their ‘must see’ lists.
Story = B
Originality = A
DVD Features = N/A
Acting = B
Enjoyability = A
Visuals = A-
Overall = B+
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