“I Saw the TV Glow” - Film Review
I Saw the TV Glow defies categorization. At some times, it’s a horror film. At others, it’s a deeply vulnerable piece about discovering personal identity. Much like writer/director Jane Schoenbrun’s first feature, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, I Saw the TV Glow is comforting in its odd nature. Hidden in the discomfort of the film’s premise is, ultimately, comfort. A feeling of no longer being alone in the world and of the magic that can come from bonding over the same tv show.
courtesy of a24
Owen (Justice Smith, young Owen played by Ian Foreman) is an awkward teenager who loves television. His favorite show is one he’s never seen before called The Pink Opaque. Owen isn’t allowed to watch The Pink Opaque because it comes on past his bedtime, even though he would argue he’s too old to have a bedtime in the first place. Owen finds a lifeline (and a friend) in the form of Maddie (Brigette Lundy-Paine), whose parents aren’t as concerned with strict bedtimes. Maddie tapes episodes of The Pink Opaque and delivers them to Owen. They bond over a shared connection to the show, but when it’s canceled, Owen and Maddie’s perceptions of reality begin to spiral out of control.
The Pink Opaque will make fellow ’90s kids nostalgic for the era of supernatural teen shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Goosebumps, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the less-popular Strange Days at Blake Holsey High. The Pink Opaque centers on Tara (Lindsey Jordan) and Isabel (Helena Howard), who have a psychic connection and fight monsters-of-the-week who are sent by Mr. Melancholy (Emma Portner) to take over the world. The atmosphere of the show feels so much like a product of that time that it’s a little shocking it isn’t real. It’s goofy, kinda scary, and deeply serious in the way that era of teen television was. I Saw the TV Glow also pays homage to that time by having Danny Tamberelli and Michael C. Maronna (of The Adventures of Pete & Pete) and Amber Benson (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) play small roles.
courtesy of a24
Media is very important to many teens who feel ostracized by their classmates and peers. It’s an identity, a source of community, and an escape all rolled into one. In tv shows and movies, there’s a general feeling of safety because the screen acts as a protective barrier of sorts. The monsters of The Pink Opaque are contained within a television until they aren’t. For Maddie and Owen, the threat of Mr. Melancholy becomes far too real, and they’re forced to fight for their lives in a way they could never have imagined. I Saw the TV Glow celebrates the found family that exists in loving a piece of pop culture so dearly.
There’s a surrealist aspect to I Saw the TV Glow that is reminiscent of the works of David Lynch, but with more structure. Schoenbrun’s work is more accessible than that of Lynch, but for those who aren’t partial to the genre, the ending of I Saw the TV Glow’s may still feel lacking. There are scenes in the movie that aren’t fully connected to the larger story, and the movie grows a little repetitive as it proceeds toward the final act. The entire film is an allegory of a person working to understand their transgender identity. Even though it might not fully come together for all, it’s undeniable that it’s thrilling to see a trans-centric storyline on movie theater screens across the country.
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