Duel (1971)
Everyone knows that there is a certain skill to be able to communicate non-verbally with other people in traffic. How do we read and signal our intent on the road with the movements of our vehicle. Miscommunication with a truck on the highway can be a scary thing, but usually situations are resolved quickly. This movie takes that unsettling feeling and expands it to 90 minutes of anxiety.
Spielberg shows his craft for entertainment with simple but effective storytelling techniques. Still has a few problems. Hearing a voiceover for Mann’s thoughts was unnecessary, and the film was strongest in the first part. The second gets drawn out too long and becomes repetitive towards the end. But overall very solid high octane thriller.
Rating: 4