Review of George Lucas's THX 1138

In this short review I will discuss George Lucas’s production THX 1138. This film was made in 1971. The idea for the film grew out of a student film of Lucas’s when he was a graduate student in film. THX is a science fiction movie about a negative utopia sometime in the distant future. I will first review the film in terms of plot, characters, and other content. Then, I will talk about the formalistic, stylistic qualities of the film.

            The story is simple and has been told by other authors before. Robert Duvall plays an engineer of some kind. His wife changes his medication which causes him to feel emotions. In this futuristic society emotions are banned and sex is outlawed. It’s citizens take medications to keep themselves contented. Without sedation DuVall and his roommate fall in love with each other. In a memorable scene DuVall and his wife lie naked together. She whispers to him that “they” can see us. He tries to reassure her that no one can see us. Yet, the two are as doomed as Romeo and Juliet. Soon DuVall’s wife is taken into custody for medication violations and DuVall is arrested and put on trial.

            At his trial, which I think presents the most exposition to explain the government’s rational for medication and outlawing sex, the prosecutor shouts that “we must exterminate these erotics.” There are several references to religion throughout the movie. I think Lucas presents a society that is, perhaps, an ultra- religious society comparable to the Puritans. I also think THX 1138 is comparable to George Orwell’s 1984. In both stories there are lovers who get together despite the outlawing of intercourse. Sex is a crime.  In this negative utopia, perhaps a modified version of American society, everything is surveilled and emotions will get you into trouble.

            The narrative is nothing spectacular. The will of one person against an omni-potent state to find freedom leads to the questions about the power of the state to determine what is legal and illegal, ethical and unethical. These conflicts are clearly portrayed.

            If the story is one that has been told before, it has never been told with such great visual and audio language. The scenes of the future are incredible, almost hallucinogenic, like a vast agglomeration of futuristic paintings. The white clothes against an all white background create a stunning visual setting. I thought the prison scene was mesmerizing. The audio is commendable too. It constantly creates a premonition of action.

            I think this film is a foreshadowing of what Lucas would do with the much more commercially successful Star Wars. I think it takes the Science Fiction genre in new stylistic and technical directions. Even today the scenes are futuristic. From his beginnings we can see Lucas’s creative genius at work in the visual language of film.