Terror in your rear view mirror.


The Duel
1971 | Color | 1 Hr 30 Min | Action | PG | Universal


Director: Steven Spielberg

Writer: Richard Matheson

Stars:
Dennis Weaver
Jacqueline Scott
Eddie Firestone

Mr. Typical Everyday Salesman, David Mann, while on his way to a Business appointment, driving through secluded California Desert Highways, passes a Rusty ramshackle 18 wheeler gasoline transport truck. The driver of the truck obviously is seen as someone with low self-esteem judging by the condition of his truck. When the truck driver sees David's automobile, he recognizes the make and model are the same as a vehicle from his past, in which some terrible atrocity was perpetrated on him. This is not a case of road rage, but, rather a psychotic break, upon seeing the vehicle. In order to "settle the score", the truck driver decides to kill the car. Mr. Mann is just a hapless innocent victim.



Spielberg has always done a great job of scaring the crap out of us! I mean come on Jaws, Poltergeist, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind are all scary! It is no surprise that one of his first movies was a big budget thriller for the small screen. Originally airing in November of 1971 this movie has just recently found its way into the hearts of Spielberg fans. If you have not seen The Duel it is well worth watching. The intensity still holds up all these years later. 


3 comments:

  1. Oh yeah, I remember seeing this on TV when I was a kid! It scared the absolute bejesus out of me! The three most terrifying movies I've ever seen are this one and Hitchcock's "The Birds", both of which I saw as a kid, and "Jurassic Park" which I saw as an adult.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember watching this on TV in the early 80's . I've recently re-watched it and it still holds up. Some of the footage was reused in The Incredible Hulk tv show episode "Never Give a Trucker an Even Break".

    ReplyDelete
  3. Watched now and then as a kid, on Saturday afternoons. Always good and tense. Love seeing in on Svengoolie!

    ReplyDelete