THX 1138

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What’s the Story?

THX 1138 is the name attached to a man (Robert Duvall) living in a future world where the government tightly controls all aspects of life including marriage and reproduction. Control is achieved through close video monitoring and enforced prescription of sedative drugs. THX's female roommate, LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie), secretly prevents him from taking the drugs that kill his libido. As a result, THX and LUH develop a physical attraction to each other and break the law by having sex. Very shortly after the act, THX and LUH are arrested and brought to a detention center. It is there that THX meets fellow prisoner, SEN (Donald Pleasance) with whom he attempts to escape.

Is It Any Good?

George Lucas produced this film as a short while attending USC film school. With the help of Francis Ford Coppola and the success of his previous work on more commercial films, Lucas was able to expand THX 1138 into a full-length feature film. Demonstrating his early interest in science fiction, the film is much slower and more thoughtful than Lucas's later Star Wars (1977), its sequels, and its prequels. His visionary depiction of a future world is striking, and contains some elements that definitely pop up in his later work.

While certainly an interesting allegory and interesting to look at, THX's lack of character development will leave viewers feeling cold and empty, kids will find it boring due to its slow pace, and it will most likely appeal to die-hard Lucas fans only.