Review of THX 1138 (1971) by David G — 19 Sep 2014

In "THX 1138", George Lucas creates a nightmarish dystopia where sexual intercourse is outlawed and the use of mind-controlling drugs is mandatory. The story focuses on the titular THX (pronounced "thex", like "sex") and his roommate, a woman called LUH who decides to stop taking the mind altering drugs and to replace THX's drugs with inactive pills.

The two begin to experience authentic emotions for the first time and soon begin an illegal romantic relationship. The premise of THX 1138 is compelling and interesting. The society constructed by Lucas, whereby the state controls all aspects of its' citizens lives through the use of drugs, android police and even a state-sanctioned deity called OMM 0910, is perhaps one of the most comprehensive dystopias I've seen on film before.

Unfortunately, the characters present and story that unfolds within this society are much less interesting. Characterization is exceptionally sparse, which perhaps makes sense given the fact that the residents of the society depicted in the film are supposed to be personality-less, but that doesn't make for compelling watching.

The pacing is almost excruciatingly slow, making for an ultimately tedious viewing experience. This all means that Lucas' attempts at experimental scenes fall flat. I didn't care about the characters, nor about the simple storyline, all of which when combined with the snail-pace of the film made me lose much patience with Lucas' experiments.

The idea of one man rebelling against a giant dystopia is an interesting concept but THX 1138 simply does not deliver on its promise. It's worth watching for the visuals, the premise and the society that Lucas creates, but other than that, it's a disappointment.