The Duel

The Duel

So Many Blades, So Much Blood!

Directed by Chang Cheh

Produced by Shaw Brothers

1971110 min6.9 / 10

A dark martial arts revenge thriller built on betrayal, exile, and the slow unraveling of a protagonist hunted by his own gang.

After a gang massacre that resulted in the killing of his adopted father and gang leader, a martial artist goes into exile to take the blame. A year later, his gang is mysteriously trying to kill him, and he slowly discovers why.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Duel violent? Yes, very. More violent than 97% of films.

  • Is The Duel scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 94% of films.

  • Is The Duel sad? Yes. More sad than 82% of films.

  • Is The Duel easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.

  • Does The Duel end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

45/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity9

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise82

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love65

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Duel

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Duel

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Duel, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Duel, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Duel, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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