7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
While traveling through the California desert for a business appointment, David Mann passes a smoky tanker truck. A game of cat-and-mouse quickly escalates into a life-and-death battle between David and the unseen trucker, with their vehicles as weapons.
Starring: Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, Gene DynarskiThriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1, 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1, 1.85:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: Dolby Atmos
German: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Japanese: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Italian: DTS 5.1
Both Latin American and Castilian dubs
English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Steven Spieberg's 'Duel" makes its 4k debut courtesy of Universal. The presentation includes 2160p/UHD output and an English Dolby Atmos audio track. The UHD disc retains all of the legacy features from the original Blu-ray of Duel, and includes one new feature, the Original TV Movie Version of 'Duel' in 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio (HD). The 2015 Blu-ray disc is also included, as is a Digital Code. This release also comes with a slipcover that reproduces the case's front and rear art.
Please note, all screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.
The original 2015 Blu-ray release was quite strong, boasting good colors and a high level of detail. And while it does look quite pleasing, the 4K
presentation is clearly superior on every front. Colors are much more rich and vibrant - especially the red of Mann's car. It now distinctly pops out of the
desert landscape, drawing our eye, and helping to highlight just how out of place Mann is here. Likewise, later in the film, the school bus is a much
more convincing, saturated, and bright yellow. Even while much of what is on display is worn, old, and sun-faded, the colors appear to me to be much
more realistic to their environment. Detail also sees a significant increase as well, and this is evident almost immediately as we work our way through
the suburban and urban streets with incredible amounts of precise detail to be appreciated in houses, trees, storefronts, and even the asphalt and
concrete itself. Once we get to the inside of Mann's car, the texture of the dash and steering wheel is almost palpable. The menacing truck becomes
even more threatening thanks to the UHD upgrade. Every bit of grease, oil, and other vehicular fluids that have ever worked their way out of the truck's
engine are now clearly visible on all sides of the hood. Likewise, the dust, dents, and worn paint on the truck and its many license plates bear witness
to
its long and difficult existence in the desert. Once we get into Chucks Cafe, the camera zooms in on the well-worn boots of its patrons, turning what
should be a simple paranoia-inducing almost throwaway shot into veritable eye-candy as we are treated to rich leather colors and textures, with every
scuff and scratch being rendered with great precision. The desert landscape also bursts to life with amazing detail well beyond anything we've seen from
this film before. Even at highway speeds detail isn't sacrificed. Skin tones look very healthy on Mann and every single person he encounters on his ill-
fated journey. Detailed fine lines, wrinkles, and hair are evident. Some fine grain is present and it is resolved very well, never rising problematic levels.
The overall image is very clean and stable, with no dirt or damage detected, nor were there any video anomalies or encode issues that I noticed.
Duel looks amazing and I would rate the video presentation a 4.75 out of 5.00.
The English Dolby Atmos track is likewise impressive. Even during the film's more humble and mundane opening scenes, we are treated to some nice
surround involvement as the vehicle moves through city streets and tunnels. Once the villainous truck makes its appearance, things really kick into high
gear as we are fully enveloped by the throaty and aggressive rumble of its engine adding a level of sonic menace to its intimidating presence. Trains,
which appear a bit more often than you'd think they should also push the soundtrack into overdrive, burying the viewer in a realistic and rumbling
cacophony of sound. Horn blasts from the truck and the trains burst forth like jump scares heightening tension and fueling Mann's desperation. Quieter
moments are also very satisfying. The radio shows and commercials sparkle with clarity and are appropriately positioned front and center. Music
occasionally gets a chance to be in the spotlight, and while never overwhelming is delightfully crisp and precise. Dialogue, when we get it, is faithfully
rendered, with even hushed asides being easily distinguishable and intelligible. Overall, it is a surprisingly energetic, immersive, and dynamic audio
track that is sure to thrill viewers. Some fans may bristle at the fact that the original audio track is not included, and for the sake of completeness I
wish it were. However, when performing a side-by-side comparison with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 tracks on the Blu-ray I honestly cannot
see myself selecting them over the Dolby Atmos track present on the 4K disc.
English SDH subtitles are also available.
The 4k disc has one new extra:
Based on a short story by the legendary Richard Matheson, Steven Spielberg's Duel revs its way onto 4k with a very impressive audio and video presentation of its Theatrical release. Rich in color and detail and immersing viewers in textured, precise, and powerful sound, the film has absolutely never looked or sounded better, and fans of this version of the film will certainly be pleased. Unfortunately, the less-than-impressive Original TV Movie Version of 'Duel' in 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio is a major flat tire that may send some fans into a sort of couch-based road rage. However, even in spite of this issue, the strength of the film itself and the impressive quality of the Theatrical Cut is more than enough for this release to be recommended to those who are okay with what's under the hood.
1964
1942
1966
1971
1974
1962
1960
2014
2001
Collector's Edition
1976
Paramount Presents #47
1999
1979
2014
2004
Reissue
1983
The George Lucas Director's Cut
1971
1935
1976
2017
4K Restoration
1973