Matheson adapted the screenplay from his short story of the same name. Duel was released in 1971 on ABC and later was released as a theatrical film. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and was only his second directorial feature. The story is based on a similar experience that Matheson went through while driving with a friend in 1963. David Mann (played by Dennis Weaver) is driving along an empty highway in the California desert en route to a business meeting when he is suddenly chased by a maniacal truck driver who follows and harasses him for many miles. Soon he realizes that this sadistic driver is trying to kill him and he must find a way to escape. The simplicity of the story adds to the tension that is constantly building as we watch the helpless motorist try to survive on the barren and lonely highway. The film was shot on a very low budget in just 13 days and went on to receive high critical praise. It had won an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing and is considered to be an essential film to see if your are a fan of Spielberg or Matheson. You can watch the full movie below... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgZz9HwDhms
Aspiring filmmaker with an endless mental library of film history and theory. Alfred is currently studying Motion Picture and Television Production at the Academy of Art University while working on several independent productions. "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." -Kevin Spacey as Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects.