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Duel (1972)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

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80

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 32,686

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Movie Info

A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by a malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Television

Richard Matheson

Aug 17, 2004

All Critics (37) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (5) | DVD (25)

This 1971 made-for-TV movie was one of Steven Spielberg's auditions for Jaws, and the same slickly impersonal shock effects prevail.

December 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (4)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Even without benefit of hindsight, Duel looks like the work of an unusually talented young director.

January 15, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film's rusted, growling tanker truck is an obvious predecessor to the man-eating Great White of Jaws. And it's every bit as terrifying.

July 20, 2011 Full Review Source: Projection Booth | Comment
Projection Booth

... 'road rage' taken to new heights of exploitation by the boy wonder.

August 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

At 24, Spielberg demonsrated his technical virtuosity with his first made for TV feature, a nail-biting suspenser of a salesman pursued on the roadby a mad trucker.

July 12, 2009 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Steven Spielberg's debut feature is a ripper

April 24, 2009 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

The film pits the awesome talents of Richard Matheson ... with Spielberg, delivering one of the best genre films of the past 50 years.

July 4, 2008 Full Review Source: ESplatter | Comment
ESplatter

An exquisite piece of streamlined suspense and action that clearly demonstrates that [Spielberg] was already in full control of his vision.

December 10, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Superior made-for-TV thriller directed by Spielberg.

May 11, 2006 Comment
Video-Reviewmaster.com

Duel demeure donc encore aujourd'hui l'un des meilleurs exemples de l'agilité de Spielberg à si bien combler un manque de substance par ses grands talents de raconteur.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Panorama | Comment

Simply a rivetingly murderous game of cat and mouse that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

pretty boring for Spielberg

August 29, 2005 Comments (5)
7M Pictures

A lean, efficient thrill ride that taps into "road rage" long before the term existed.

November 11, 2004 Comment
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

[A] masterpiece of visual suspense that's hardly dated at all, more than 30 years later.

October 29, 2004 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | Comment
Flick Filosopher

Not even Hitchcock could have shot or paced Duel any better. Spielberg understands precisely where to insert his silences and pauses, and when to make them restful or tense. He knows how to pour it on for the exciting chase scenes.

September 13, 2004 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

Apparently there was a time when movies of the week didn't have to concern the latest spouse killer or trysts that end up with people getting their faces shot off.

September 12, 2004 Full Review Source: Needcoffee.com | Comment
Needcoffee.com

A thrillingly paranoid tale of a businessman (Dennis Weaver) and his apocalyptic duel with the driver of a monster truck.

September 3, 2004 Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Duel

Duel is great, the tension and cinematography was incredible and I loved it.

September 11, 2011
DreamExtractor
Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

Meh.

June 14, 2011
spielberg00
Alexander Diminiano

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Duell (DE)
  • Duel (1971) (CA)
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