HIGHWAY TO HELL! REMEMBERING RICHARD MATHESON'S 'DUEL'

Man versus monster! DUEL remains one of US TV's greatest, suspenseful movies. Images: UNIVERSAL.

What should have been an ordinary day out on the road for salesman David Mann in his prideful, trusty red Valiant, soon turns into the ultimate nightmare, as he encounters the most sinister and horrific case of "road rage" a motorist could ever endure, his life turned upside down by the beastial, unrelenting pursuit of a malevolent truck, and its equally malevolent and sadistic "driver", determined to end his life in Steven Spielberg's often nail-biting, supremely directed 1971 US TV movie DUEL (so good, it was released theatrically overseas by UNIVERSAL), made a year or two before the rising star made his truly landmark and iconic name as a visualist with the terrifying and atmospheric horror/adventure, JAWS. DUEL has a notably terrific starring role for the singular figure of Dennis Weaver, in one of his best TV performances in the build-up to his becoming a household name as lawman Sheriff McCloud. His only other "co-star" in this twisted re-working of David and Goliath is the formidable, grim-looking diesel truck intent on bringing about his demise, with its front end looking almost like a demonic face- a downright terrifying presence chugging along with intense darkness, beyond belief speed, and sheer brutality with its sheer, bulky terror (its mysterious occupant never being fully, and leading some viewers to wonder if there ever really was anyone in there in the first place. Could the Devil himself have been at the wheel? And, bearing the battered remains of numerous out of state license plates, just how many other victims has he/it stalked over time before Mann?

Trailer: Duel (1971) Theatrical Trailer - YouTube

A fight for survival for David Mann (Dennis Weaver).

Filmed in an impressive yet tight 12-13 days, Spielberg is ensconced as the ultimate factor for the story's success, mining it for every drop of suspense that he can get, but the impressive script and original short story idea came from the inspired and brilliant imagination of the award-winning Richard Matheson (based on a real life, downright chilling incident that happened to him in November 1963) who sadly died earlier this week at the age of 87. Easily one of horror and science fiction's greatest talents, he would pen some of the most well-known and successful forays into these genres and inspire generations of fans. Atop his wealth of novels and short stories, surely one of Matheson's all-time great sci-fi masterworks has to be his end of the world/vampire novel I AM LEGEND (of which there have been, so far, three hit movie adaptations- though an ultimate version of it has yet to be made), alongside the enduring popularity of the time travel/love story SOMEWHERE IN TIME (made into a charming film with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, along with a haunting score from music legend John Barry). Then there were his clever and unique forays into television, penning an original classic STAR TREK episode of the mid-sixties, The Enemy Within (where a transporter accident splits heroic Captain Kirk into two people-on good, one bad, in the ultimate variation on DR. JEKYLL AND MISTER HYDE), then providing us with sixteen spine-tinglers going into THE TWILIGHT ZONE- his best remembered and beloved generating terror for William Shatner, who witnesses a Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. And let's not forget the brilliant job he did adapting the witty comedy/modern-day horror adventures of sleazy but lovable reporter Carl Kolchak, as iconically played by Darren McGavin, into two ratings-busting TV movies launching a fondly appreciated one-off series into the early, seventies, plus his later popular adaptation of friend Ray Bradbury's cautionary sci-fi anthology, THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES.

The late Richard Matheson. Image: ULIKE.

Great works of literature never die, and Richard Matheson's talent and humanity, plus his ability to thrill and terrify in equal measure, will live forever through them.

KOOL TV FACEBOOK page gallery: THE FILM AND TV WORK OF RICHARD MATHESON

Remember Richard Matheson by watching 16 classic Twilight Zone eps FREE | Blastr

FIGHTING THE BEATEN PATH - 'FALLING SKIES' SEASON THREE...

Humanity gains an alien ally in the fight against the evil Skitters. Invasion drama FALLING SKIES returns to UK TV. Images: FOX/TNT.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend - an old saying which the remaining battle scared human heroes of the Second Massachusetts group hope to discover with the arrival of a new group of aliens to their sacred Earth, supposedly a powerful and knowledgeable ally wanting to help them win back their planet once and for all from its original extra-terrestrial enslavers, the “Skitters”, as the new bigger action, bigger stakes third season of FALLING SKIES, once again staring Noah Wyle as the brave historian tuned soldier Tom Mason, with the help of his equally determined young family (including alien-altered youngster Ben (Connor Jessup)), returns to the UK’s FOX channel from 16^th July.

 

Abraham Lincoln with a machine-gun? Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) makes an impact in his new leadership role.

Propelled into far-reaching events in the opening two-hour season launcher, seven months on, the alliance between humanity and the alien Volm continues, but trust issues continue to be a thorny problem. Meanwhile, Tom and Anne’s (Moon Bloodgood) baby arrival, a ray of light within such tumultuous change, will surely prove to be something “special”, though the human death toll against the invaders gets ever more serious. Having caused havoc with her full reveal as an alien Overlord, the converted former rebel, Karen (Jessy Schram), is also likely to strike once more (using her puppet on a string Hal Mason (Drew Roy)), and at the worst possible time, as will the now fully converted human child soldiers alongside her, bringing creepy new meaning to the term “little monsters”!

 

Humanity's new saviours? The Volm have arrived.

Intriguing guest stars this time out include Gloria Reuben as Mason's aide Marina Perlata in a multi-episode arc, TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY’s Stephen Collins, and a memorable appearance from HOUSE’s Robert Sean Leonard, playing an obsessive but gifted scientist who runs the local power grid and lives underground with his pet rats.

Trailers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IA92HgsZ5A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFD9Nk6dMTg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk8ojY9F28&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEOF8lEIFyI&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ccjju0kocdM

Gaining better production values and strong visualists (including continuing HEROES veteran Greg Beeman and STAR TREK’s Jonathan Frakes), with the actors fully settled into their roles-Noah Wyle bringing humanity and heroism to his role of Tom Mason, now the elected President of the New United States- the series may have recently lost its main frontrunner in Remi Aubchon (turning his hand to writing a novel), but FALLING SKIES future, garnering respectable comments from the critics and strong opening ratings, looks hopefully set to continue for at least another year of sci-fi adventure (seen-in by seasoned dark heart producer, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA's David Eick).

Check out some more promotional material from the new series here: 

FALLING SKIES SEASON THREE CHARACTER POSTERS

BATTLEGROUND EARTH! 'FALLING SKIES' SEASON TWO ARRIVES IN THE UK...

Balance of power? A decisive meeting between Alien and Human in Season Two of sci-fi war drama FALLING SKIES. Images: TNT/FX.

Making a promising first season impression, enough to win over the ratings race against Steven Spielberg's other competitive show, the pretty much universally trashed Dino-epic TERRA NOVA, the alien invasion saga FALLING SKIES, created by Robert Rodat, returns exclusively to the UK's FX HD channel from tonight for a brand new set of ten exciting episodes, of which the survival stakes have never been higher for mankind and our main band of heroes- the grizzled and exhausted 2nd Mass- in their weapon atrophied war against the Skitters and their various incarnations of flesh and metal-all of them deadly and all yucky looking! Last seasons noteworthy finale saw our main hero, college teacher turned warrior Tom Mason (a noble and relatable performance from Noah Wyle) forced into a meeting with the alien race after their first major skirmish caught the enemies attention in a big way-no longer the inconsequential insects easily taken out in their first sneak attack. As the new series starts, three months have passed since that genuine Close Encounter, and Tom eventually returns. But is he the same man that he was before after the incredible, life altering experience? And can his family, friends and co-fighters rely on his judgements any more?

Second Time Around for our 2nd Mass heroes and heroines.

The alien firepower continues its assault on planet Earth.

One of the eerie teaser posters for the new season. 

Trailers: Falling Skies Season 2 - Official Trailer - YouTube
Falling Skies Season 2 Trailer - YouTube
Falling Skies Season 2 - YouTube

In a new season already acclaimed by US critics for its leaner, meaner, stronger storytelling (under the guidance of new producer Remi Aubuchon), look out for bigger, bolder action sequences, more character development for the main and supporting cast (including Tom's once abducted child, Ben, and his integration back into humanity as a fierce, revenge fuelled resistance fighter and series rogue anti-hero/trouble maker John Pope (Colin Cunningham, in a stand out role), who wants out from his capture by the 2nd Mass), more on the alien backstory and their motives/plans for Earth, and the welcome guest star inclusion of LOST/HAWAII FIVE-O's Terry O'Quinn, who brightens any series he's attached to, as Wyle's once mentor, Arthur Manchester. Oh, and another new face to watch out for is Brandon Jay McLaren, joining the series for at last seven episodes as mechanic Jamil Dexter.

More about the aliens and their unique abilities is promised this season.

Join the official FACEBOOK page: Falling Skies
About - Falling Skies - Shows - FXUK.com
Moon Bloodgood And Colin Cunningham Talk 'Falling Skies' Season 2
Exclusive: Connor Jessup of 'Falling Skies' talks Terry O'Quinn, season 2 - National Falling Skies | Examiner.com‘Falling Skies’ trailer for new comic | Shelf Life | EW.com

Season One of FALLING SKIES is out now on UK DVD (though a Blu-ray set is noticeable by it's absence!) 

Look out for FALLING SKIES continued presence on KOOL TV soon...