140. Duel

This week on The Rotten Horror Picture Show Podcast, Clay and Amanda hit the gas with a discussion of Duel (1971), the lean, mean thriller that marked the feature debut of a young Steven Spielberg. Originally produced as a television movie, Duel was so effective, so tightly constructed, that it was later expanded and released theatrically—launching Spielberg’s career with a simple but terrifying premise: one man, one car, and one relentless, faceless truck driver who refuses to let him go. Clay and Amanda break down how Spielberg builds unbearable tension out of open highways, sparse dialogue, and pure cinematic momentum. It’s stripped-down suspense at its finest, proof that you don’t need aliens or sharks to make an audience squirm—just a road and something chasing you down it. Now, personally? I don’t care for driving. Not because of road rage. Not because of reckless truckers. No, my grievance is far more tragic. The windshield. That thick, cruel pane of betrayal stands between me and what could be a veritable buffet of airborne delights. Do you know how many juicy, protein-packed bugs are out there on the highway? Countless. And what happens? Splat. Wasted. Perfectly good snacks smeared uselessly against the glass instead of landing directly where nature intended—right in my open mouth. Watching Duel is especially frustrating for me. All that speeding down lonely desert roads, all that prime insect territory just zooming by untouched. Dennis Weaver’s character is busy worrying about a murderous truck, and I’m thinking, “Sir, do you realize the missed culinary opportunity here?” Still, Clay and Amanda make a strong case for the film’s brilliance. They explore its minimalism, its craftsmanship, and how Spielberg transforms the mundane act of driving into a primal survival story. Me? I’ll be listening carefully—preferably with the window down. You never know what might fly in. And don't forget to visit patreon.com/thepenskyfile to help support the show, and follow Clay and Amanda down the road of horror sequels this year!