Customer Reviews
"SEMI-Tough" 
2008-09-11
To my mind the best thing Spielberg has ever done. This movie strikes a cord in the heart of everyman. Have we all not had a semi breathing down our necks on a freeway, interstate or elsewhere? They could not stop if they had to and we would be a greasespot on the road. Dennis Weaver is great as the unsophisticated salesman that is terrorized by this demon. You feel the truck is driving itself, pre-programmed as you never see a driver at all, just feel the evil bearing down. Spielberg works hard to build the tension perfectly in this movie. We witness the roller-coaster emotions of Weaver as he has gotten rid of him, then realizes he is still there, gets rid of him again, and he is back. The noise of the 450 Cummings (?) and the irritation of the horn, the air brakes, the rear-view mirror images of the monster. A thrilling movie.
Most under rated movie of all time 2008-09-06
I watched this movie for the first time about a year ago and was astounded at how well written and acted it is.
It kept me on the edge on my seat !!
What a great movie for the mid 1970s and made for TV !
It is in my top 10 favorites
Duel 2008-08-30
This movie is a great old movie. It is very difficult to find where I live. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes suspense movies.
"Best TV Movie Ever!" 2008-08-09
Steven Speilberg made his mark on Hollywood with "Duel", which was his first ever full length movie. Originally airing on ABC as a Movie of the Week, "Duel" deals with a man, played by Dennis Weaver, who is driving on the highway and is terrorized by a madman driving a full-ton truck. A very suspenceful film, the direction is the best of any film made for television. This was the film that made producers realize how talented Speilberg was, and he was ultimately offered big screen films like "Jaws". The DVD is exceptional with a wonderful interview with Steven and the making of this classic. The film is fully restored and comes in full screen, as was the standard for movies made for television back in the early '70's. The running time is 90 minutes.
Road rage at its most terrifying! Spielberg's first movie! 2008-07-22
I first saw this made-for-TV movie when I was nine years old, in 1971. The movie terrified me! I have never forgotten it, and still get a chill down my spine whenever I see a tanker truck on the road. Duel is a great psychological thriller, made in the best Hitchcock style. Dennis Weaver is perfectly cast as the nervous, twitchy salesman in a Plymouth Valiant who tries to initially challenge a tanker truck on the desert road, not realizing that the driver is looking for someone to pick on. And pick he does. Just when you think Weaver has escaped the terror of the tanker, he's baaaaack! Taking place in the days before cell phones, the viewer really feels Weaver's isolation. No matter how many times I've seen this movie, it never fails to make me jump!
What Tha?; No Truck Roar????? 
2008-07-06
This is the TV movie that put Steven Spielberg on the map, shortly before he made
The Sugarland Express. Working from a script by Richard Matheson, the film stars Dennis Weaver as a mild-mannered traveling salesman who unintentionally angers the driver of a semi truck. Suddenly, the truck is not only riding his tail but trying to run him off the road. No matter what he does (pulling over, stopping at a diner, calling the cops), he can't get rid of it. Spielberg makes the wise decision of never showing the driver, even as he cranks the voltage on the film's suspense elements. As a result, the truck itself takes on an air of satanic menace--even a personality of sorts--as it seems to hunt its human prey. Spielberg made a lot out of a little, suggesting just how skilled a storyteller he would become.
--Marshall Fine
Highway Horror! 2008-06-30
Dennis Weaver (McCloud - Seasons 1 and 2 stars as a henpecked husband suddenly thrust into a game of cat & mouse with a road-rage trucker in Steven Spielberg's directorial debut.
Set in the California desert highways, Weaver's character goes from the mousy husband into the mouse that roared and turns on his attacker (in a red Plymouth Valiant, no less). Spielberg's way of introducing our character with the car radio show chatting about a mousy guy who didn't feel he was head of household was masterful.
The music, especially the excited violins, made by skin crawl. A must-see! And it's also fun seeing the 1970s hairstyles, cars and big eyeglasses, pre-Disco.
Classic Spielberg 2008-06-22
Steven Speilberg's first movie as director is a classic tale of cross-country terror between a car and trucker. Dennis Weaver stars as David Mann traveling across country who encounters road-rage, 70's style. No blood or language here. Through-out the movie you find yourself rooting for Weaver to somehow conquer this over-sized mechanical monster. People over 40 years of age will relate more to this movie due to the age of the film. Enjoyed as much now as when the film aired on tv.
Duel 2008-05-25
Steven's first full length television show. Shows his creativity and why he's still on top.
Not as suspenseful as in the past 
2008-04-29
This is a good movie, and would be good to add to a collection for the price. Unfortionately, road rage happens too often now in real life and has taken some of the bite out of this movie.
