Duel

A business man is driving alone along a lonely, slim, backroads desert highway. Just him for miles and miles. Well, him and a large, slow big rig. When he decides to pass the rig, it passes him back and slows down. He passes it again, it lets out a long honk, and then things are on. The truck begins to hunt him down the road, deadset on sending him to a fiery grave, and it'll take all the wits he has to escape his hunter.

One of Stephen Spielberg's earliest movies (back when he was directing TV things), it shows that even back in the day, the man had talent (this was the movie that convinced movie studios to give him a shot). This is a tight, occasionally intense thrill-ride never gets dull and features a pretty imposing (and inanimate) villain.

As a movie that's little more than a big truck chasing a car through the desert for an hour (with some minor roadstops along the way, including a slight breakdown at a cafe), it can be tough to keep things from getting repetitive. But like I said, Spielberg keeps things moving smoothly. The various interactions between the truck and car are switched up nicely, starting as a straight chase then baiting and playing to a 'final showdown' sort of thing.

And he really nailed it with the truck. We never see much of the driver past his arm and boots, and it doesn't matter. The truck itself, with it's imposing cab, huge engine, and bumper covered in license plates (wonder where it got those...), it's a real monster all itself. Something that would be pretty scary to see just driving along the road normally. When it starts to gear up and head your way... watch out.

Overall it's a slick little movie, a classic car film that's easily one of the best ever made (up there with Vanishing Point, that's for sure). Certainly worth a look for car fans, and for those who want to take a loot as to how The Big S got started.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtAMc4i8OA