I Saw The TV Glow Movie Review
Nathan Swank
May 16th, 2024
Owen (played by Justice Smith as a teenager and Ian Foreman as a child) is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when a strange but independently cooler older girl (Bridgette Lundy-Paine) from school introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show called “The Pink Opaque” – a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.
I love the entire vibe of I SAW THE TV GLOW. Writer and director Jane Schoenbrum creates an oddly relatable movie for all kids who feel completely connected to stories developed in their television, books, comics, movies, or whatever format in which they indulge. But more importantly, I SAW THE TV GLOW conveys a sense of feeling disconnected to the world around us. As an outcast, not feeling accepted or simply feeling different is perhaps relatable to all teenagers to some degree for one reason or another.
Dressed as a horror movie from the beginning, the sense of tension is undeniable. I SAW THE TV GLOW is full of incredible imagery, using color and sound to convey a dread, longing, and emptiness. Trying to fill that void with a television show is simply the subject, but the film is so much more. It’s the parent’s not understanding. It’s the connection with another person through one single passion. It’s sneaking over to someone’s house just to satisfy a need to watch appointment TV. So much of I SAW THE TV GLOW screams 90’s childhood that I believe a specific generation will appreciate the film more than others.
With late night B-movie quality effects, the show within the film, “The Pink Opaque”, is equally important as a character in I SAW THE TV GLOW. In fact, it’s a big draw to the creepy and eerie atmosphere the film projects. However, it’s also important to understand this is not a full on horror film, but rather an unsettling story that deals with a lot of themes in identity and sense of belonging not only as a child but also as an adult.
The film spans in time and I fear that the payoff might be unsatisfying for many. I confess, my biggest hang up was the conclusion, contemplating the question of what the film is trying to say. With a little reflection, I appreciate Jane Schoenbrum creating a deliberate style and atmosphere that few filmmakers could so aptly convey. While it may not be for mainstream audiences, I definitely endorse I SAW THE TV GLOW for those who love unique independent filmmaking emphasizing unsettling emotional responses.
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