Spoilers · the ending
Duel: the ending, explained
Steven Spielberg · 1971
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
Loading…
Spoilers · the ending
Steven Spielberg · 1971
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
What happens
Mann finally stops running. He lures the truck to a cliff edge and sends his car at it, and the truck plunges over, destroying its driver. The unseen menace is beaten only when Mann turns as ruthless as it was.
The last image
Mann sits at the cliff edge, shaken and spent, and throws stones into the void.
What it says
The ending completes the film's fable: politeness and reason never worked, so Mann has to fight on the truck's terms. His victory feels hollow because it leaves him drained, not proud, which is the cost of discovering how primal he can be.