One of the
most intense and
engaging thrillers of
all time.
This film is so much fun. If you simply want to see a fun and blood-pumping thriller one evening, then I cannot recommend this particular gem more. Although I have seen the majority of Spielberg's films, my memory of them has dimmed slightly over the years. This film however will be burned into my mind for a while, it is simply that memorable. A man being chased by a seemingly demonic truck seems almost too simple to work, and yet this film exists.
The biggest reasons for this are the editing and cinematography. There is a rhythm and a tempo to this film's editing that I cannot even describe, it truly feels like the viewer is travelling down that road with Dennis Weaver at breakneck speed. The film's action is never dull, a truly magical fact considering that the film is effectively a single feature length car chase. It is so invigorating, that the viewer feels compelled to yell and hoot at the screen whenever the hero outwits the pursuer, and squeal in terror whenever he is pushed towards death.
Beyond the film's remarkable achievement in editing, Speiberg offers some truly devilish
camerawork. He places his camera on parts of the truck's anatomy in such a way as to breath life into the creature. The camera hunts after Weaver's car in such a bloodthirsty fashion that I am sure this film went on to inspire some of the great slasher films of the next decade.
Duel is also significant in terms of it's pacing. Despite the film's short running time, it feels massive and epic. This is one instance wherein saying a film feels longer than it's running time is a positive, as this is a story that you do not want to stop watching. The film escalates it's tension in a way which Spielberg would surpass only in Jaws, a film which is seen by many as this film's evolved successor. Overall, I would recommend to anyone with the intention to write a thriller that they track down this film's screenplay and study it religiously, it is that strong in it's pacing.
Sadly however, the film does have some minor flaws which hold it back from perfection. For a start, there are occasional scenes which do not make too much logical sense. Particularly a scene involving a bus, which is both slightly overlong and (more importantly) a touch confused in it's storytelling. This scene seems a little needed in my eyes and is the only fly in the sweet ointment which is this film's narrative. Furthermore, although r=the film's climax is downright perfect, the final shot of the film is somewhat confusing and gets worse when thought about too deeply.
These nitpicks aside, this film is wonderful. I have not seen Jaws in a very long time, however I am dead-set to track it down as soon as possible. Duel is certainly one of the best thrillers I have seen in a long time, and it is possibly the most impressive TV movie I have ever heard of.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
Duel is also significant in terms of it's pacing. Despite the film's short running time, it feels massive and epic. This is one instance wherein saying a film feels longer than it's running time is a positive, as this is a story that you do not want to stop watching. The film escalates it's tension in a way which Spielberg would surpass only in Jaws, a film which is seen by many as this film's evolved successor. Overall, I would recommend to anyone with the intention to write a thriller that they track down this film's screenplay and study it religiously, it is that strong in it's pacing.
Sadly however, the film does have some minor flaws which hold it back from perfection. For a start, there are occasional scenes which do not make too much logical sense. Particularly a scene involving a bus, which is both slightly overlong and (more importantly) a touch confused in it's storytelling. This scene seems a little needed in my eyes and is the only fly in the sweet ointment which is this film's narrative. Furthermore, although r=the film's climax is downright perfect, the final shot of the film is somewhat confusing and gets worse when thought about too deeply.
These nitpicks aside, this film is wonderful. I have not seen Jaws in a very long time, however I am dead-set to track it down as soon as possible. Duel is certainly one of the best thrillers I have seen in a long time, and it is possibly the most impressive TV movie I have ever heard of.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
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