Wilmington filmmaker's "Dual" is Fun Spielberg Homage

"Dual," made by Wilmington filmmakers, really shows what you can do with not only film but the Internet if you want to make a showpiece. This short film, like the film that inspired it -- Stephen Spielberg's "Duel", is one long chase scene. Also like Spielberg's, this "Dual" manages to keep the tension high, aided by Philip Glass-like minimalist thriller music, a wicked pace, and a situation easy to imagine oneself experiencing in today's weird world.

This is sophisticated short filmmaking. Reading reviews from others, I'm continuously amused by the way reaction to films is most certainly in the eye of the beholder. Some found it pointless or boring, while others found it as stimulating and interesting a piece of short film making as I do. I still don't hesitate to recommend it, but obviously, it's not for everyone. Personally, I'd be proud of this one. Buckley Hubbard gets writing/directing credits. Is that a pen name?

If you've got the bandwidth to handle the full download with alternate versions and assorted left turns during the chase, by all means give it a try. It's interactive city as you make decisions for the runner. You be the director.

Here it is, at one of our favorite film sites online, Atom Films:

DUAL

While you're at it, visit Atom Films at home to experience a wide range of short films. They're showing several we first caught at NC film festivals, such as "Perils of Nude Modeling," which we saw at the RiverRun film festival in Winston-Salem. A charming little fable, it's told visually from start to finish with a minimum of dialog, rapid cutting, and remarkable pace for a film that takes place in an art class. The model is luscious, too:

ATOM FILMS