Intense and fast-paced TV movie and it is impressive how the movie manage to find inventive camera angles (even if there are some repetitive cuts of the driver turning around to watch the truck) to push the movie forward. It may be a few minutes too long in it's cinematic version but in it's original TV movie form it was close to perfect in the 1970s.
Plenty of nifty directorial flourishes from Steven, but the performances are stilted and the script is stillborn, padded with invasive, unnecessary narration, dated attitudes, and contrivances.
Un film coup de poing, à l'origine tourné pour la télévision, qui prouve encore une fois, qu'avec très peu de moyens techniques ou financiers, il est possible de faire une oeuvre haletante, incontournable et dans le genre, jamais égalée. Depuis, le "petit" Spielberg a fait son chemin et bien que son cinéma soit devenu plus commercial, il reste un remarquable spécialiste du cinéma fantastique... www.cinefiches.com
In this one of Steven Spielberg's first films he spirits an ordinary fellow into an ordinary car and follows him driving across the Californian desert and mountains. From the low key start the driver cruises into a strange and frightening loop fighting for road space with a trucker whose face you never see. The film is relentless in its ramping up of the fear and anxiety.
Could be five stars - the rating is meaningless. A clever exercise expertly filmed. Cool Norman Rockwell influence.
Road movie. Thriller. Great scenery. Ticks the boxes for me. Wonderful movie directorial debut from Spielberg.
Perfect, cheap, simple B-movie. Possibly even Spielberg's best film? https://trappedinthecinemablog.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/duel-1971/
This is not the satan's lord truck, this truck represents the main character's anxiety and fear that he manages to overcome in the very end. In my opinion it's a psychological road rage duel.
a sloppy hitchcock impression in australia's outback. mostly i spent the whole time imagining how you start with this and get A.I.
Love the beginning and the cinematography. The plot is weak.
C'est un peu chiant duel, on va pas mentir... Mais le suspens fonctionne et on tient bon !
8.5/10 - Although not his best film, this atmospheric low-budget thriller is probably Spielbergs best showcase of talent. How he is able to accomplish so much with so little, is a sign of true greatness. Unfortunately going boldly after your visions doesnt always pay, and Steven likes keep gettin them checks.
male anxiety in 1971 ends in pulling out but nobody wins
A gigantic "working class" type of vehicle vs. a deluxe middle-class car. A class conflict alongside a road across the United States? perhaps! the Dennis Weaver character reaches a certain level of conscience, thanks to the grace of this unplanned threat. He learns that there's "a spectre haunting" the road; so here's the way out... get rid of your shiny car, save yourself and "Walk" the road as a free man.
An impressive and exciting technical exercise, but I usually prefer those to be in the form of short films. I also bristle at the film's take on masculinity. Still, Spielberg brings some crafty and thoughtful touches to this (such as the personification of the evil truck) that become recognizable in his later films.