What is the greatest TV Movie? It’s become a difficult question since the dawn of HBO, the era of Netflix and the number of films made originally for hopeful theatrical release that end up being purchased by a network for broadcast, but as far as I’ve known the most popular answer has always been Duel, and it’s easy to see why. (That said, I watched the 90-minute theatrical cut on Blu-Ray for the first time ever.) With minimal cast and sets, director Steven Spielberg is able to focus his limited time and resources on suspenseful driving sequences. It’s easy to see this being the filmmaker who went on to make Jaws. It’s also brimming with classic Hitchcockian suspense, if only The Master spent less time on stage and more on location.
The HD presentation has removed the 70s grit, which makes the film even more timeless. It also sounds as good as any of Spielberg’s blockbusters. There are some TV-ish moments, like a lengthy stop in a diner. I don’t think Spielberg is able to marry Dennis Weaver’s breakdown to the actions he takes with a fellow diner. This is a minor moment and there are a couple of more. They can’t all be Jaws. However, the bulk of the film is Hitchcock level, and this is from a director only in his mid 20s at the time. Credit also to Richard Matheson’s screenplay – a personal favorite writer of mine – who keeps it stripped down, allowing the focus to go to Spielberg’s wizardry.
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