A love triangle with two guys and one girl is a story as old as time, which presents a challenge as the entire plot of a movie. However, The Duel uniquely approaches this familiar scenario. The story begins with Woody (Callan McAuliffe) discovering that his best friend Colin (Dylan Sprouse) slept with his girlfriend, prompting him to react as any normal person would and travel across the country to challenge him to a duel. On the surface, the plot appears simple and outlandish, but it works so well to fill a common fantasy about fighting for the girl you love. The directors approach this situation with a mix of satire and seriousness, giving light to the absurdity of the premise while also showing the dark consequences of that mindset. Throughout the film, characters pause to acknowledge their situation’s ridiculousness, but love always trumps all, forcing them to continue. With a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes, the film delivers a contained and enjoyable story, but it could have benefited from a tighter edit as it tends to drag in the middle. While it doesn’t leave the audience bored, some scenes overstayed their welcome. The ending elevates The Duel from a fun, forgettable story to a conversation starter. The conclusion is staring you in the face the whole time but still manages to be shocking.
While seeking financial support, directors Justin Matthews and Luke Spencer Roberts turned to their friend and CEO of Pigasus Pictures, Zach Spicer. A graduate of Indiana University, Spicer agreed to fund the production on one condition: the majority of the filming had to take place in Indiana. Though Indiana might not be the first state that comes to mind when searching for stunning locations in the United States, hiring cinematographer Jules O’Loughlin proved to be a brilliant decision. He cleverly used camera work and composition to take a state known for its cornfields and turn it into a lively world. Without recognizing some of the locations, I would never have guessed that the film was shot in Indiana. As a Hoosier, it was exciting to see my home state through the eyes of an artist. There were still some choices in dialogue or story that felt a little out of place, but overall this was impressive for young directors.
Cole Sprouse, best known by my generation for his role as Zack in the 2005 Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, is sure to get people to the theater, and they won’t be disappointed. While his role as Colin isn’t incredibly demanding, his experience shows when it matters most. On the other side of the story, Allan McAuliffe delivers a strong performance as Woody, creating a dynamic that makes the story work. When both actors share the screen, you can feel the awkwardness and tension that’s easy to relate to. The other two best friends, or “Seconds” as the movie calls them, are portrayed by Danny Love and Hart Denton. They bring both the voice of reason and comic relief, making it hard not to laugh during their scenes together. Surrounding them is star power like Patrick Warburton, who seems to be having a blast in his role. Last but certainly not least though her appearance as Abbie is brief, Rachel Matthews effectively brings the emotional depth needed at the film’s conclusion.
It’s refreshing to see young filmmakers fill the gap left by a small budget with a lot of passion. Matthews and Roberts had a great idea and brought it to life through sheer dedication. While The Duel may not bring in tens of millions of dollars, the entire team should be proud of the story they were able to tell. If they’re able to produce something this fun and compelling so early on in their career, we should all be excited for what their future holds.
