I Saw the TV Glow

I Saw the TV Glow

Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 100 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Horror
  • Stars: Emma Portner, Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, Fred Durst, Conner O'Malley, Amber Benson, Albert Birney, Michael C. Maronna, Danny Tamberelli, Tyler Dean Flores, Elizabeth Scopel, Marlyn Bandiero, Haley Dahl, Phoebe Bridgers, Kris Esfandiari, Lily Rothman
  • Director: Jane Schoenbrun
 Comments
  • mickeyvandrehle - 2 July 2024
    Not For Me
    I kept waiting for something to happen in this film. I get what the team was trying to go for in their artistic direction about identity for trans people and the struggle, but I felt very little from the direction it took. It felt choppy and random, with mediocre performances.

    I couldn't feel much for the characters because I didn't get the emotional connection. I thought their development was lacking. Why should I invest my time in characters that really feel one-dimensional and boring.

    I was also disappointed by the ending. I felt like this film could have done so much more to get its point across.
  • PrinceCharmingHere - 26 June 2024
    Shame on A24
    A24 is starting to throw darts around, hoping to see what sticks... or go viral. In the case of this movie, they're banking on intrigue, and once you have paid to see it, they present you with cinema vomit. I'm generally a big fan of theirs, but this movie actually made me lose a little respect for A24.

    These characters are incredibly boring and lifeless: the way they talk, move, engage. They always have a dumb, glazed over look on their face like they're on shrooms or are about to kill someone. They're also very creepy, and I'm sure they went on to become serial killers. The male lead is whiny and his voice always sounds like he's about to cry. Half the time I just wanted him to shut the **** up. I laughed at several scenes that weren't meant to be funny, like the birthday party at the end.

    There is literally no story. It's like a group of slouchy, sad teens from Tumblr came together and decided to make a movie that even their parents would cringe at then admit them into therapy.

    What's this Pink Opaque show? Some fictional show from the 90's that, based on the clips of said show, no one would watch.

    There is no horror in this movie as stated in the genre listing. The only real horror is the script.

    From what I've read, this movie touches on trans identity in a metaphorical way. This is to be applauded, but honestly, it was completely lost on me and it didn't make me feel anything. It was too abstract, and too much like a college drama class project in how it was executed.

    If this is where A24 is headed, count me out.
  • Snootz - 24 June 2024
    Very unusual, difficult to decipher
    First I wish to say that I'm a big fan of one of the strangest movies of all time, the Russian film "Stalker". So I am no stranger to very slow-burning art films. But this one is a little... different.

    This is one of the most unusual films I've seen. The characters are interesting. The actors are quite good in their severely understated parts. The directing is excellent-- within its allowed spectrum (which is very narrow).

    The story is either lousy, mediocre, or brilliant, depending on the individual watching it and the mood you're in. Seriously, it's just that kind of film. On another day I may have hated this. Guess I watched it on the right day and in the right mood.

    Don't expect an adrenaline rush or even sensibility from this film. Even after watching it to the end I'm not sure what point the writer/director was trying to make. All I can say is that overall it was satisfying and left me thinking about what they might have been trying to possibly convey.

    Some with say it has a terrible ending... and they're right. Or wrong. I can't discuss it without spoiling it so I'll just say that in my opinion the ending was exactly what the director wanted it to be, and made exactly the point he wanted to make. For me, I hated the ending at first, the more I think about it the more it sticks with me and I start to almost understand it. Kinda. Maybe.

    The most gripping point of the whole movie is summed up easily: Have we ever felt like our life wasn't quite real, like we are living some kind of fantasy and will one day wake up and believe it's all a dream? (That's not what happens in this film. It's just a question.) I'm sure many viewers have felt that way, and we've wondered whether at some time we chose to take the blue pill instead of the red pill-- and just continued on with our lives, never knowing the actual truth.

    I do know that ordinarily I would say this is one of the most stupid, slow-moving, vapid, amateurish, dull, boring, senseless films I've ever seen. Except... it isn't. And while that makes this seem like a very odd review, that's exactly the feeling I was left with after watching this movie. I have no doubt it will leave people with a wide variety of viewpoints, as can be seen in the reviews here.

    So I'm giving this 5 stars, not because it's mediocre... but because it is either ridiculous or exceptional... and I'm not really sure which.
  • deloudelouvain - 19 June 2024
    Boring is an understatement.
    I asked my wife to read some reviews before watching this movie, just to try to find out if we would like it as often we enjoy more lower rated horror movies. Mixed reviews she told me, from people hating it to people that seemed to have discovered a gem. So gave it a shot and absolutely hated it. The experience I had was like watching a boring movie about boring people watching a boring show. Did I mention it was boring? Well it's an understatement. I have no clue what writer director Jane Schoenbrun wanted to tell us. What is for sure is that I will never watch a movie from her again. Who gets it in his right mind to give Brigette Lundy-Paine a role as a fourteen year old puber? Come on, the woman is thirty, has the voice of a fifty year old, and has in my opinion overacted all the time, didn't seem believable to me. At least they used two different actors to play the young and older Owen. Not very enjoyable either to be fair. And if you're looking for a horror movie I suggest you skip this one because it isn't one.
  • nERDbOX_Dave - 18 June 2024
    A Haunting Search for Selfhood, But Can You Stay Tuned In?
    Jane Schoenbrun's "I Saw the TV Glow" isn't your typical horror flick. It's a slow burn, a dreamlike exploration of identity wrapped in the flickering static of a forgotten late-night show. The film follows Owen, a young man haunted by memories of a bizarre TV program called "The Pink Opaque." As reality and fantasy begin to blur, Owen grapples with questions of belonging, sexuality, and the ever-present yearning to escape the confines of his small town life.

    Schoenbrun crafts a visually stunning world. The neon glow of the television screen bleeds into Owen's waking hours, creating a sense of unease and blurring the lines between reality and memory. The film's soundtrack is equally mesmerizing, a haunting mix of nostalgia-tinged melodies and unsettling soundscapes that perfectly capture Owen's internal struggle.

    But "I Saw the TV Glow" is a film that demands patience. The narrative unfolds at a deliberate pace, leaving viewers to piece together the fragments of Owen's past and the deeper meaning behind the bizarre imagery. This cryptic approach can be both rewarding and frustrating. For those willing to delve deeper, the film offers a powerful and moving exploration of self-discovery, particularly for those who have ever felt like outsiders. The themes of alienation and the search for connection resonate deeply, and the film's ambiguous ending leaves plenty of room for interpretation and discussion.

    However, the slow pacing and lack of traditional horror elements might test some viewers' patience. Those seeking a straightforward scare fest will be disappointed.