Before Steven Spielberg was a household name, back when he'd directed a handful of shorts and just over half a dozen television episodes, his first feature-length project came in the form of a TV movie on ABC. Richard Matheson, the prolific speculative fiction author, wrote the screenplay for Duel, adapting it from his own short story. It's now considered one of the very best TV movies ever made, although audiences in 1971 couldn't possibly have predicted what greater things the young director would get up to in the years ahead.

The cast is fairly small, but made up of interesting character actors. Dennis Weaver excels at portraying an average middle-aged salesman, just driving his red Plymouth Valiant along California roads on his way to a business meeting. His day begins to go downhill as he slowly realizes he's being followed and menaced by a huge and filthy semi-truck. A simple premise. A bit like if Jaws were on the highway instead of in the ocean. He encounters other characters along his journey, but never stays in one place too long, and his desire to get to his destination eventually changes into a desire just to stay alive.

The film frequently exercises a slow-burn level of thrills, but Spielberg's eye for compelling visuals and his control of the narrative allow for some very exciting sequences, and yield a highly enjoyable mix of suspense and sudden action. Much of Richard Matheson's work has been adapted, and you've probably seen at least one of his very famous Twlight Zone episodes. While other adaptations are certainly worth watching, this fleet screenplay turned into one of the best visual interpretations of his skills as a writer. By combining efficient storytelling, some great automotive stunts, and a willingness to refrain from showing too much, Spielberg emphatically left his mark and gave audiences a taste of his significant talents.