Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.5 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 3.5 |
| Overall | | 4.5 |
Duel 4K Blu-ray Movie Review
Monster truck.
Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 29, 2023
Just a few short years after its 50th birthday (!), Steven Spielberg's groundbreaking made-for-TV movie Duel finally arrives on UHD.
Well-represented on home video on the last two formats, this gripping man-vs.-machine thriller looks and sounds better than ever on Universal's
wide-release 4K edition, which also ported over a
few legacy extras and added the original TV version just for good measure (more on that later). Also available is this Gruv.com-exclusive Steelbook
combo pack, which features nice packaging elements but the exact same on-disc content.
For a synopsis and appreciation of
Duel, please see Michael Reuben's review of the
2015 Blu-ray.
Duel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
For details about the film's new 2160p/HDR transfer, please see our review of the standard 4K edition. Please note that this review's screenshots are sourced from the included Blu-ray disc,
which is identical to the 2015 release.
Duel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
For details about the Dolby Atmos audio, please see our review of the standard 4K edition. I'm a bit less forgiving, however, as it takes its cues from the DVD-era surround mix
rather than the original mono audio track, which is only included on the TV cut as an extra. While the Atmos mix is indeed more active and full-bodied
than any one-channel track could hope to be, the original "animal essence" of the truck -- even mentioned specifically by Spielberg in one of the legacy
featurettes -- has been dialed back considerably. (I invite any newer fans to compare the final cliff plunge on both cuts to hear a pronounced
difference.) It's still a solid mix, but having both options would've been ideal.
Duel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
This two-disc set ships in Steelbook packaging with illustrative design elements, depicting the driver being chased at high speed and an even more
menacing image of the monstrous vehicle bearing down on him on the back cover. The interior is a somewhat bland monochromatic collage of stills
from the film, but it's mostly covered up by the Digital Copy and overlapping discs on the right-hand side. Appropriately enough, the Steelbook has a
basic matte finish with an overall rust-colored palette that mimics the truck's appearance and numerous desert landscapes. Perhaps not the most
ambitious design job, but striking enough to appeal to die-hard fans and first-timers alike.
All on-disc extras are identical to the standard 4K
edition, so please see that review for more details.
Duel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Steven Spielberg's Duel is a striking first-time effort for the director, who completed filming within two weeks and delivered what was, at the
time, one of the most memorable TV movies produced to date. It holds up surprisingly well some 50 years later, and Universal's new 4K edition boasts
strong A/V merits (no original mono mix, unfortunately) and a handful of decent extras. Don't get too excited about the TV cut, though. Gruv.com's
exclusive Steelbook features nice design elements and should appeal to die-hard fans and collectors alike. Recommended.
