Review of Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB

"THX 1138" is still George Lucas' best feature-length film (and honestly, I don't see that position changing, like, ever). This earlier short film, his student work, is equally as interesting and a lot more so for fans of experimental cinema. The title is apt: Lucas crafts a labyrinth out of electronic imagery and sound effects (sound effects that are previews of the type of stuff he'd develop later for Star Wars), while a man runs through it, trying to escape. The camera itself is a part of the labyrinth, and the viewer is watching just as closely as the various people tracking his progress, trying to stop him. At times when it seems the man is more likely to fail, everything gets more static and distorted, but at times when he manages to pull through, the electronic fogginess clears and one has a better look at his face, features, and surroundings.

For once it's nice to see an experimental feature that actually lead to a more commercially successful reworking and lent experience towards development of effects that eventually changed the nature of movies. In this way, Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB is a very important document in the history of film.

--PolarisDiB