{"id":95877,"date":"2026-03-16T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=95877"},"modified":"2026-03-16T08:17:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:17:56","slug":"off-the-shelf-reviews-duel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=95877","title":{"rendered":"Off The Shelf Reviews: Duel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By CONNOR KEATING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring break is finally here, which gives many students a load of free time to watch movies, but what is there to watch? Aside from the occasional \u2018fine\u2019 movie that comes out these days, there isn\u2019t much. So here are a few recommendations for the break, starting off by reviewing Steven Spielberg\u2019s first film, \u201cDuel\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The film follows David Mann as he sets out on a long drive through the California desert. Along the way, he encounters a slow-moving old semi and decides to pass it, but the semi truck doesn\u2019t seem to like that and passes him, only to then slow right back down. Things gradually heat up as the truck becomes more and more aggressive, as it seems it wants Mann dead, and it\u2019ll follow him to the ends of the earth until he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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David Mann stares down the killer semi truck.
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The plot is very simple and there are only a few characters, but that\u2019s one of the film\u2019s greatest strengths. We spend the entire film from the main character’s perspective as he slowly descends into madness. Most of the time, it\u2019s him driving along with the truck ever present. However, he occasionally pulls over to interact with a couple of one-off characters as he tries his best to explain his crazy situation. Because of this, our main character will either make or break this entire film, but fortunately, he does a fantastic job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He starts off calm, cool, and normal, gradually getting more upset at this truck until eventually the realization sets in that this truck is out for blood, and from there it\u2019s a game of cat and mouse as he tries to evade the semi. Dennis Weaver\u2019s performance as Mann helps to really sell the desperation of the main character, and I believe that that\u2019s one of the things that makes the film so great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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David Mann tries to call the police, but the semi refuses to let that happen.
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Again, \u201cDuel\u201d has a very simple plot, but it has a \u201cThe Twilight Zone\u201d sort of feel. Probably because this movie\u2019s writer wrote a number of episodes for that show. The story takes an ordinary man and throws him into a crazy situation that doesn\u2019t seem all that crazy. The film also feels very much like a suspenseful Hitchcock film with its slow, gradual build-ups and moments of intense suspense. Despite this being Spielberg\u2019s first feature-length movie, he brings his A-game. I\u2019ve already gushed about the acting of the protagonist, but the cinematography is fantastic as well. Plenty of great-looking shots, taken while the two cars are driving bumper to bumper across the desert highway. The film also makes great use of the mirrors on a car to show the semi from within Mann\u2019s car, which really helps the suspense as Mann may not notice the truck, but we, the audience, do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this may be an \u201cOff The Shelf Review,\u201d it almost seems more like it should be in my \u201cMonster Movie Mayhem\u201d series. The semi truck is a real menace. The truck’s look is perfect. It\u2019s old and gross-looking, has a big trailer with the word \u201cFLAMMABLE\u201d written across it, the front almost looks like a face, and it\u2019s covered in license plates, presumably from previous victims. And one of the greatest things about the truck is that you never get a real good look at the driver. You might see his boots or the occasional arm, but never his face. This makes it seem almost as if the truck itself is the monster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The semi truck races down the highway to catch up to its target.
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The film has a nice progression with the action. At first, it\u2019s just the two driving aggressively as you might on the highway, but things gradually ramp up. The driver tells Mann to pass when a car is coming and kisses his bumper when he\u2019s behind him, but as the film goes along, the truck tries to push him into a moving train, waits to ambush him, toys with him, and of course, tries to run him over. The film is filled with action-packed chase scenes, but also slower, more suspenseful stare-downs, as the two wait for the other to make the first move. The action scenes are accompanied by an exciting and unique soundtrack that fits the film beautifully, which helps to amplify the intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After watching \u201cDuel,\u201d it\u2019s no wonder that Spielberg went on to become one of the most legendary directors of all time. The film has a simple but effective premise with a fantastic lead. The duels between the two vehicles are intense and watching Mann\u2019s descent into madness is engaging. If \u201cJaws\u201d made people afraid to go into the water, \u201cDuel\u201d made people afraid to pass semi trucks. I give this film 9 \u201crattlesnake farms\u201d out of 10!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connor Keating is a senior at Fort Hays State University, studying Natural Resources. Connor is an old-school movie fan, particularly Japanese monster movies, and is an avid DVD collector.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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