After witnessing the death of his father in a gruesome knife duel twenty years previous, David Kingston (Liam Hemsworth), who is now a Texas Ranger, is tasked by his commandant to investigate a series of unexplained murders in a small town on the American and Mexican border. The man responsible is thought to be Abraham (Woody Harrelson), the leader of the town. An interesting western that supplied more than enough intrigue and suspense throughout. The Duel is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith
Writers: Matt Cook
Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Emory Cohen, Alice Braga

Winner of both Golden Reel and NSW & ACT Bronze Award, The Duel, directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith, takes place in 1888 and stars a surprisingly strong cast, alongside an engaging story to boot. One thing worth noting would have to be the lack of action, especially in the opening half of the flick, something some viewers may find surprising considering that this belongs in the western genre. With that being said, when the action does kick into effect, the filmmakers deliver it in an extremely meaningful manner on more than one occasion.

Having been filmed in Greenwood, Mississippi, United States, a large portion of the cinematography was nicely done, showcasing the landscapes and small-town environment really well. Not only was the cinematography noteworthy, but the set design and costume design were both equally as convincing, making The Duel seem like an authentic film of its time.

A minor criticism would come in the form of little-to-no backstory of the main characters on display, however. More emphasis on their past would have been beneficial, especially considering the uniqueness of certain ones. With that being said, the dialogue the characters had to work with seemed acceptable and delivered well – something important considering the lack of action in many of the scenes.  

In terms of the cast, Liam Hemsworth adopted the role of David Kingston, adopting the majority of on-screen presence in doing so, while Woody Harrelson was also prominent, featuring as Abraham, the town’s cult-like leader that put in a great villainess performance. Support reigned in from various angles, predominantly, from Emory Cohen and Alice Braga, who portrayed Isaac and Marisol, respectively.

All in all, the western genre is somewhat of an afterthought in modern movie making, with low budgets and typically cliché stories attached to them, but The Duel has more than enough qualities to take the viewer on an interesting journey throughout the one-hundred and ten-minute runtime. It’s also worth noting that The Duel is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

“I’ll embrace your company while I have it.“

Abraham – The Duel