Duel

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Tyler G This is better than any staright-to-TV movie has any right to be. It is so smart to never show the truck driver, turning the rusty, "flammable" truck into a horror movie monster. The scene in the bar where he is trying to figure out who the driver is is great. The makers of Jeepers Creepers clearly saw this movie. There is a lot of gender, class and rural/urban analysis that could be done. Some nitpicks- tthe movie qwould be better with no internal monologue. Everything he thinks to himself is clearly conveyed by the images. There was a little too much shaking camera for my liking. I get the idea of a slow death of the monster, but the truck not exploding after seeing "flammable" all movie seems off. "Swiss on rye. R. Y. E." Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/30/25 Full Review thiago s Filme legal, o roteiro é legalzinho, as cenas são legais, a história é bacana, o elenco é bacana, e só os dois ajudam ajuda a melhorar o filme, na verdade só tem o caminhoneiro e o cara do carro, os personagens são bacanas, e o filme teve um suspense muito bom e com cenas de perseguição boas, e um final bom, com tudo isso, eu recomendo esse filme vale a pena assistir. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review Richie T This is the movie to put on without knowing anything about it. Sure its old but its brilliantly made. I find it hard to believe that anyone who watches is disappointed. A classic. In my all time 100 greatest movies Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Garry A This thriller did an excellent job of creating palatable suspense. My stomach was in knots. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Trevor M I went into Duel (1973) knowing almost nothing about it—only that it was Spielberg’s first film. After watching it, I realized it’s the kind of movie that defies spoilers. Its strength lies in its simplicity, which is apparent from the very beginning (and even the poster, which arguably gives away a lot). At its core, Duel is a razor-sharp meditation on masculinity, and more specifically, emasculation. The film opens with a wry radio segment about a man struggling with not being the “head of the household” because his wife is the breadwinner. This sentiment is mirrored by the protagonist—literally named Mann—who confesses feeling the same emasculation. He later apologizes to his wife for failing to defend her during a disturbing incident at a party, highlighting his passive role in his own life. This sets the stage for a brutal and symbolic confrontation: man vs. truck, masculinity vs. emasculation. The film unfolds as an escalating series of encounters between Mann and a massive, anonymous truck. The truck, never fully revealing its driver, becomes a monstrous, almost supernatural presence. It stalks Mann with a growing hostility, reminiscent of the shark in Jaws—a clear precursor in Spielberg’s directing style. The way it's shot and the use of sound are masterful, giving the truck a terrifying personality of its own. What’s most impressive is how the film avoids the common pitfalls of the thriller genre. Rather than relying on contrived obstacles—like losing cell service or forgetting a phone—Duel organically removes Mann’s options through the truck’s aggressive, intelligent behavior. He can’t pass it, can’t follow it, and even when he gets ahead, the truck catches up. Attempts to call for help are crushed—literally—and pleas to bystanders are met with more danger. Every move the truck makes isolates Mann further, driving him toward psychological breakdown and a final confrontation. Where lesser films might falter under logistical questions (“How can a truck move that fast?” “Why is it always one step ahead?”), Duel smartly defuses them. Spielberg has Mann ask these very questions aloud, giving voice to the audience’s doubts without needing to answer them. This clever tactic grounds the movie’s surreal intensity in emotional realism. Mann isn’t a superhero or elite driver—he’s an ordinary businessman with average skills, which makes his struggle all the more relatable. The film emphasizes this through shaky, in-car camera work that amplifies the tension of every curve and near-collision. His desperation and fear feel authentic, thanks to strong acting and Spielberg’s visceral direction. The ending arrives abruptly—no epilogue, no resolutions to Mann’s personal life—but that’s the point. It doesn’t matter if he gets to his meeting or fixes his marriage. What matters is that he finally stood up for himself. As he sits on the cliff’s edge, bloodied and exhausted, staring into the sunset, we understand that he’s reclaimed something essential. Duel is brilliantly simple, from its sparse cast and minimal music to its single-thread plot. But that simplicity is precisely what makes it so effective. It’s proof that with talent, a clear vision, and a camera, you can create something unforgettable. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Audience Member This movie was so much better than I ever could have anticipated. I especially love the soundtrack. That crazy music that comes right out of a music hall fits David Mann’s character so well, and his descent into madness was depicted wonderfully. Wonderful Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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