In Steven Spielberg's "Duel," the rising action centers around the escalating tension between the protagonist, David Mann, and an unseen truck driver who begins to harass him on the road.
As David, a businessman on a trip, encounters the massive tanker truck, the initial conflict begins when the truck aggressively tailgates him. This moment ignites a series of dangerous encounters, with the truck driver engaging in increasingly hostile and reckless behavior. David attempts to escape and evade the truck, but the situation only intensifies, leading to a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase.
Throughout the rising action, David's sense of safety deteriorates as he realizes he is being targeted by the truck driver without any apparent motive. This escalating threat not only tests David’s physical endurance but also his mental state, leading to a sense of paranoia and urgency as he fights for survival against a relentless adversary. The tension builds as the encounters become more violent, culminating in the film's climax.