Duel (1971) – Film Review

Louis Belden

Figure 1. Duel Poster

This review will be analysing Steven Spielberg’s 1971, directorial debut, Duel, specifically
focusing on the symbolism of the truck. Key sources include, ‘Steven Spielberg’ a book about
the director by Joseph McBride and Steven Spielberg and Duel: The Making of a Film Career
by Rodger Ebert talking about the influence of the film on Spielberg’s career. Duel was
Steven Spielberg’s directorial debut and the film that put him on the map and got him the
directorial role on Jaws. The film focuses on David Mann, an everyman motorist who is
stalked and attacked by a monstrous truck in the desolate California desert.

The Truck itself in the film has no meaning, which makes its presence more intimidating and
scarier, creating tension as the reasoning for its violence is unknown. Its portrayed as being
mysterious and the driver’s identity is never revealed throughout the course of the film, this
has led many to naturally speculate and theories the deeper meaning and symbolism for the
killer truck. One such theory believes the truck is not actually real but is in fact David’s inner
thoughts and fears about his dying marriage. It could be said that the thought on his mind is
slowly killing him as he drives home. It is believed that in the finally of the film, in which
Mann defeats the truck, his sudden burst into laughter is said to be representative of David
coming to terms with his dying marriage, relieved and confused by the outcome. A theory
by Josper sums this up perfectly “Maybe the truck didn't really exist but was just a
metaphor for the thoughts of a depressed man driving down a quiet lonely highway with his
dying marriage on his mind.” (Josper, 2017) This demonstrates further the theory that the
truck in Duel isn’t just a monstrous supernatural truck but a non-physical emotional weight
that is affecting David.

Figure 2. David Mann’s hysteric end

Another more likely theory is that the truck is representative of a bully. In Spielberg’s youth
he was in fact bullied and he was aware of how it felt and was familiar with it, Spielberg
said, " I tried really hard to anthropomorphize the truck, as an extension of a kind of evil,
bullying force, without too much regard for who was driving the truck, it did represent
something that made me feel that I knew the material.” (Ebert, 2014) This demonstrates
how Spielberg’s past experiences influenced the films he made as a director. The actions of
the truck relate to that of a bully too, the childish need to one up David and blocking his
path. These childish and progressively escalating violent acts are also representative of
something a bully would do. The truck continues to taunt David for no apparent reason
other than to bully and antagonise, to prove his masculinity. The truck physically resembles
a bully its size and shape in comparison to David’s car looks tougher and scarier.

It is also theorized that the truck is a symbol of the masculinity that Mann lacks, he is bested
in every way by the truck and shown up. His car is superior and manages catch up with him,
outsmart him and beat him in every way. This is demonstrated when Baruth says, ‘Mann is
powerless. Stuck in 1970s America, he has no horsepower, no muscle power, no respect
from others, and no respect for himself. It’s easy to see that Mann represents the
stereotypical American man of the era: beset on all sides by high fuel prices, an invasive,
untrustworthy government, increasingly empowered and shrill women, and a war that
defies all reasonable expectation. (Baruth, J.2011) This demonstrates how David is a
cowardly man of the time and the truck demonstrates the I masculinity he misses out on
and wishes for
 Figure 3. Truck

In conclusion although the Truck in Duel in descript of its meaning and symbolism is a
perfect device that theories and meanings can be placed on allowing whatever meaning the
viewer depicts to be transferred onto the motivation of the van allowing the audience to
relate more to Mann as the problem isn’t exclusive to him.
Illustration List

Spielberg, (2019), Duel poster [ONLINE]. Available

at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duel_(1971_film)#/media/File:Duel_(1971_film)_poster.jp
g [Accessed 11 February 2019].

Speilberg, (2019), Duel Truck [ONLINE]. Available

at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/14024074@N05/6609089335/in/photostream/ [Accesse
d 11 February 2019].

Speilberg, (2019), Duel David [ONLINE]. Available

at: https://twitter.com/tatjanasl/status/875680342769901568 [Accessed 11 February
2019].

Bibliography

• McBridge, J. 1997. Steven Spielberg. USA. Faber and Faber

• The Editors, 2014. [Online] At: https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/book-

excerpt-steven-spielberg-and-duel-the-making-of-a-film-career Accessed on:
07/02/19

• Mo Josper, 2017.
[Online]https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/4hzbo6/duel_1971_spoil
ers/

• Baruth, J. 2011 [Online] At: https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/09/ttac-at-

the-movies-duel/Accessed on: 07/02/19