Bibliographic Details:

• Title: Total Recall
• Director: Paul Verhoeven
• Producers: Buzz Feitshans, Ronald Shusett
• Screenplay: Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Gary Goldman
• Story: Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill
• Based on: We Can Remember It for You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick
• Music: Jerry Goldsmith
• Cinematography: Jost Vacano
• Editing: Frank J. Urioste
• Production Companies: Carolco Pictures, TriStar Pictures
• Distributor: TriStar Pictures (United States)
• Release Date: June 1, 1990 (USA)
• Running Time: 113 minutes
• Language: English
• Budget: Approximately $50–60 million
• Box Office Gross: $261.3 million worldwide
• Main Cast:
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid/Hauser
  • Sharon Stone as Lori
  • Ronny Cox as Vilos Cohaagen
  • Michael Ironside as Richter
  • Rachel Ticotin as Melina
  • Marshall Bell as George/Kuato

I was recently given the chance to watch Total Recall (1990) on Prime Video. My parents pay for the subscription, and though I usually stick to newer films, I decided to explore what this sci-fi classic had to offer. I wasn’t expecting much beyond action and special effects, but the film left me not only entertained but also questioning the nature of reality and freedom. As someone who takes a libertarian view of economics and politics, and who is deeply influenced by the British school of philosophy – particularly Berkeley and Hume – I found Total Recall to be an unexpectedly rich source of thought-provoking material.

Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film tells the story of Douglas Quaid, a seemingly ordinary construction worker living on Earth in a high-tech future. Quaid, played with surprising nuance by Schwarzenegger, is haunted by dreams of Mars, a planet colonised but harshly governed by a corporation led by the ruthless Vilos Cohaagen (Ronny Cox). Mars is not just a setting but a symbol: it represents both human ambition and the dangers of unchecked power.

A World of Corporate Tyranny

At its core, Total Recall is a scathing critique of corporate overreach. Cohaagen controls Mars’ oxygen supply, using it as leverage to subjugate the population. This monopoly is a stark reminder of how vital resources can become tools of oppression when left in the hands of unaccountable entities. As Quaid uncovers his own entanglement with Cohaagen’s regime, the film presents a battle not just against an individual but against a system designed to strip people of both freedom and identity. For a libertarian, it’s impossible to watch Cohaagen’s manipulations without reflecting on the dangers of corporatism—when businesses collude with governments to suppress competition and exploit the powerless.

One particularly striking scene comes late in the film when Cohaagen refuses to activate ancient alien machinery that could provide free air to Mars. This refusal feels uncomfortably relevant in a world where essential resources like water, energy, and even in America – healthcare are corporatised for profit. The line, “If there’s no air to sell, what’s the point of us being in business?”, resonates as a stark commentary on how monopolistic systems prioritise corporate interests over human survival. Historical parallels can be drawn to situations such as Nestlé’s controversial water privatisation efforts or pharmaceutical companies using a corrupted patent system to drive up the price of medications, reinforcing the film’s warning about the dangers of placing vital resources under corporate control. While a truly free market wouldn’t tolerate such monopolistic behaviour (competition would undermine Cohaagen’s position), the film’s dystopia imagines what happens when corporations merge with authoritarian power.

Quaid’s Journey: A Libertarian Hero?

Quaid is the perfect protagonist for this story. Initially, he appears to be an average man looking for escape—not through rebellion but through an artificial holiday. His decision to visit Rekall, a company offering memory implants, feels almost naive. Quaid doesn’t seek actual adventure; he’s content with the illusion of it. This is a powerful commentary on modern consumerism. How often do we choose easy substitutes for real achievement or experience, trusting corporations to fulfil our desires in exchange for money?

However, Quaid’s journey takes an unexpected turn. During the implantation process, something goes wrong, and Rekall’s employees discover suppressed memories suggesting Quaid isn’t who he thinks he is. The idea that Quaid may be living a lie—that his entire identity could be fabricated—strikes at the heart of what philosophers like Berkeley and Hume questioned. What, after all, do we know for certain about the external world or ourselves? Berkeley argued that everything we perceive exists only as ideas in the mind. Hume doubted even the self, proposing that we are nothing more than bundles of perceptions. Quaid’s unravelling serves as a dramatic exploration of these concepts.

Reality or Illusion?

The film’s brilliance lies in its refusal to resolve the central question: Is Quaid truly a secret agent who has recovered his real identity, or is he still in Rekall’s chair, living out a fantasy implanted into his brain? There are clues to support both interpretations. For instance, the Rekall salesman promises Quaid an adventure that includes “blue skies on Mars”—a detail that later becomes reality. Yet, the perfect alignment of events with Rekall’s script suggests that everything might be a pre-programmed illusion.

This ambiguity resonates deeply with Berkeley’s idea that there is no “material reality” independent of perception. Quaid’s struggle becomes less about uncovering objective truth and more about asserting his autonomy within the subjective reality he experiences. This mirrors the libertarian ideal of individual sovereignty: even if the world is an illusion, the choices we make within it are still ours to own.

A Struggle Against Tyranny

As Quaid’s journey continues, he learns that he was once Hauser, an agent working for Cohaagen, who betrayed the rebels on Mars. The rebels, led by the mutant Kuato, fight for freedom from Cohaagen’s oppressive rule. Quaid’s transformation from Hauser to Quaid and his eventual rejection of Cohaagen’s power reflects the libertarian rejection of coercion. By the end, Quaid chooses to side with the rebels, embodying the idea that true freedom requires not only escaping tyranny but actively dismantling it.

One of the film’s most memorable moments is Quaid’s encounter with Kuato, a grotesque yet wise mutant who urges him to “open your mind.” This phrase operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it refers to accessing Quaid’s suppressed memories, but it also serves as an invitation to question the systems of power and perception that govern his world. For libertarians, this moment is symbolic of the importance of intellectual freedom: the ability to think critically and challenge the status quo.

A Philosophical and Visual Feast

Visually, Total Recall is a triumph. The practical effects stand out, especially the scene where Quaid is exposed to the Martian atmosphere, his face grotesquely swelling as he struggles for air. The attention to detail in the mutant designs, such as Kuato’s eerie and unsettling presence, adds depth to the film’s dystopian setting. The set designs, from the bustling domes of Mars to the grimy, industrial underbelly of Cohaagen’s operations, create a world that feels immersive and lived-in, perfectly mirroring the oppressive themes of the story. The practical effects and set designs create a future that feels both immersive and oppressive. Mars, with its domed cities and desolate landscapes, is a vivid representation of a world where corporate greed has triumphed over human dignity. The mutants, deformed by corporate negligence, are not just victims but a reminder of the physical and moral costs of putting profit above people.

The action scenes are equally impressive. From a brutal hand-to-hand fight with Quaid’s fake wife Lori (played with chilling duplicity by Sharon Stone) to a high-stakes chase through Mars’ subterranean tunnels, every sequence is thrilling. Yet, these moments are not just spectacle. They underscore Quaid’s personal journey from passive participant to active rebel. His final showdown with Cohaagen, culminating in the activation of the alien reactor, symbolises the ultimate triumph of freedom over control.

The Libertarian Message

At its heart, Total Recall is a libertarian film. It champions the individual’s right to self-determination and warns against the dangers of centralised power. Cohaagen’s Mars is a cautionary tale of what happens when monopolies replace markets and when governments abandon their duty to protect liberty. Quaid’s struggle is not just physical but ideological: it’s a fight for the freedom to define his own reality.

For me, the film also served as a reminder of why philosophical scepticism matters. Berkeley’s idealism, which holds that reality exists only as ideas in the mind, is reflected in Quaid’s uncertainty about whether his experiences are truly happening or just illusions. Similarly, Hume’s scepticism about causation and the self ties directly into Quaid’s journey. Hume’s assertion that our perceptions are merely impressions without a stable self mirrors Quaid’s discovery that his identity may have been fabricated. These philosophical perspectives enrich the film’s exploration of what it means to know, to be, and to act within an uncertain reality. Like Quaid, we must question not only the systems that govern us but also the assumptions underpinning our understanding of the world. Whether we agree with Berkeley that reality exists only in the mind or with Hume that causation is merely a habit of thought, the act of questioning is itself a form of freedom.

Conclusion

Total Recall is far more than just an action-packed sci-fi film. It’s a gripping exploration of identity, reality, and resistance against tyranny. By refusing to provide easy answers, it challenges viewers to think for themselves—about the nature of truth, the dangers of unchecked power, and the value of freedom. For a libertarian and a lover of philosophy, it’s a film that not only entertains but also inspires.

If you have a Prime subscription, I can’t recommend Total Recall highly enough. The film explores key themes such as the struggle for individual freedom, the dangers of corporate monopolisation, and the philosophical complexities of reality and identity. Its combination of thrilling action, rich storytelling, and thought-provoking ideas ensures there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re drawn to its thrilling action, its thought-provoking ideas, or its critique of corporate greed, there’s something here for everyone. And if you come away questioning what’s real and what’s illusion, then the film has done its job.