10 Horror Films Where Only One Person Dies
1. Duel (1971)
This masterclass in tension also happens to be the directorial debut of one Steven Spielberg.
Dennis Weaver stars as a businessman driving across country. Things take a sinister turn when he overtakes a rusted tanker truck and inadvertently becomes the homicidal driver's target for his rage.
On paper Duel doesn't sound strong and perhaps in other hands the film wouldn't have worked so well. Making a vehicle frightening is no easy task, just ask Stephen King. But with this beautifully crafted thriller, Spielberg established himself as a film making powerhouse. Wonderful low angles, tight close-ups and zooming POV shots sell the rust bucket of a truck as a sinister force.
By the same token, Weaver's fear and paranoia are sold by a seamless performance and flawless direction. The diner scene in particular is truly tense as Weaver desperately tries to spot his attacker.
Duel was an ABC Movie Of The Week, so one can't expect much violence, but the endlessly tense chase scenes suffice in keeping the audience right on edge. When victory finally comes and the ominous truck careens over a cliff killing the still unseen driver, we feel like cheering.
The film was so popular in the ratings that it eventually received a theatrical release. Today it has inspired many other "road horror movies," but none have been quite so effective.