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Duel

Duel

Action · Thriller · TV Movie · 1971

Traveling businessman David Mann angers the driver of a rusty tanker while crossing the California desert. A simple trip turns deadly, as Mann struggles to stay on the road while the tanker plays cat and mouse with his life.

Movie details

Duel

“The most bizarre murder weapon ever used!”

1971 Action · Thriller · TV Movie 1h 14m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

Traveling businessman David Mann angers the driver of a rusty tanker while crossing the California desert. A simple trip turns deadly, as Mann struggles to stay on the road while the tanker plays cat and mouse with his life.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Duel?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Nick of Time

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An ordinary man is suddenly forced into a plot to kill a politician in exchange for his kidnapped daughter's freedom.

The Cassandra Crossing

The Cassandra Crossing

Action · 1976

Passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease, and nobody will let them off the train.

In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea

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In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex is assaulted by something no one could believe—a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance.

Thunder Road

Thunder Road

Crime · 1958

Unrepentant Tennessee moonshine runner Luke Doolin makes dangerous high-speed deliveries for his liquor-producing father, Vernon, but won't let his younger brother Robin join the family business. Under pressure from both out-of-town gangster Kogan, who wants a piece of the local action, and Treasury agent Barrett, who wants to destroy the moonshine business, Luke fights for his fast-fading way of life.

Silver Streak

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Gleaming the Cube

Gleaming the Cube

Crime · 1989

An Orange County teenager's carefree life of ditching class and skateboarding abandoned pools comes to a screeching halt when someone close to him dies. The cops rule the death a suicide, but the bereaved skater believes he was murdered. It's up to him to solve the case, with a skateboard.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Steven Spielberg

Written by

Richard Matheson

Dennis Weaver

Dennis Weaver

David Mann

Jacqueline Scott

Jacqueline Scott

Mrs. Mann

Eddie Firestone

Eddie Firestone

Cafe Owner

Gene Dynarski

Gene Dynarski

Man in Cafe

Lucille Benson

Lucille Benson

Lady at Snakerama

Tim Herbert

Tim Herbert

Gas Station Attendant

Alexander Lockwood

Alexander Lockwood

Old Man in Car

Court is in session

Put Duel on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.