As of this year, A24 has released a new psychological horror-drama known as I Saw the TV Glow. Marking the second directorial role of queer filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun, the film initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year before garnering its mainstream release last month in May. As of now, it has garnered a fairly strong critical and audience reception, and it has been viewed as an allegorical coming of age story from the transgender point of view. Seeing the film on its own, even if you don't identify as queer yourself, I consider it to be a fascinating cautionary tale on obsession consuming one's soul.
The film focuses on the life of two troubled young friends, Owen and Maddy, who both spiral in their own reality after their favorite TV show gets cancelled. As the film is detailed through different points in Owen's life, specifically from middle school to high school and even young adulthood, the story is woven carefully throughout each defining bond between the guy and the only person he feels genuine connection to, if only for a cheesy young adult show. Not only does this show hold special meaning to Owen and Maddy in lieu of their troubled upbringings and personal struggles, but it is perhaps the only thing keeping them both together as they both go on different paths of life, neither of which turn out to be particularly pleasant or fulfilling. In many ways, the show known as The Pink Opaque serves as a form of unhealthy nostalgia consumption and identity crisis for Owen as he ends up coasting through life without much attachment to anything beyond the girl characters in it. No piece of media should ever take over your life, but it can sometimes act as a coping mechanism.
As for the overall experience itself, the film is largely carried through actors Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine and they sell the shattered personalities of Owen and Maddy so smoothly that you forget they're just acting. Although there are a few characters who make or break the two's differing lives, like Owen's emotionally unaware parents, they're mainly backdrops in what is mainly a two player focused tale of identity struggle. The actual televisions shown in the film are also somewhat of a character amalgamation in itself, mainly by hypnotically representing an almost euphoric transcendence as the one type of place that Owen finds comfort in, even if said comfort corrupts his mind. The necessary static effects in both visuals and sounds recreate somewhat of a claustrophobic surreality laced with Owen and Maddy's worst fears brought to life from their real lives and their personal conflicts with their favorite show. The cinematography and music also play an important role in this factor in reminding us as the viewers that we're witnessing personal complications unfold in surreal ways.
With all of this said, I cannot begin to recommend I Saw the TV Glow enough for anyone curious to check it out. There's so much to take away from it as far as coming of age psychological dramas go, but it will especially play a big role in the lives of troubled queer people. Regardless if you've been down a similar rabbit hole as Owen and Maddy, this feature has an uncomfortably welcoming presence that will make you feel at home in addition to making your skin crawl. I cannot guarantee that this movie is for everybody, but I will admit that there's a chance you'll find some value in its underlying themes.
The film focuses on the life of two troubled young friends, Owen and Maddy, who both spiral in their own reality after their favorite TV show gets cancelled. As the film is detailed through different points in Owen's life, specifically from middle school to high school and even young adulthood, the story is woven carefully throughout each defining bond between the guy and the only person he feels genuine connection to, if only for a cheesy young adult show. Not only does this show hold special meaning to Owen and Maddy in lieu of their troubled upbringings and personal struggles, but it is perhaps the only thing keeping them both together as they both go on different paths of life, neither of which turn out to be particularly pleasant or fulfilling. In many ways, the show known as The Pink Opaque serves as a form of unhealthy nostalgia consumption and identity crisis for Owen as he ends up coasting through life without much attachment to anything beyond the girl characters in it. No piece of media should ever take over your life, but it can sometimes act as a coping mechanism.
As for the overall experience itself, the film is largely carried through actors Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine and they sell the shattered personalities of Owen and Maddy so smoothly that you forget they're just acting. Although there are a few characters who make or break the two's differing lives, like Owen's emotionally unaware parents, they're mainly backdrops in what is mainly a two player focused tale of identity struggle. The actual televisions shown in the film are also somewhat of a character amalgamation in itself, mainly by hypnotically representing an almost euphoric transcendence as the one type of place that Owen finds comfort in, even if said comfort corrupts his mind. The necessary static effects in both visuals and sounds recreate somewhat of a claustrophobic surreality laced with Owen and Maddy's worst fears brought to life from their real lives and their personal conflicts with their favorite show. The cinematography and music also play an important role in this factor in reminding us as the viewers that we're witnessing personal complications unfold in surreal ways.
With all of this said, I cannot begin to recommend I Saw the TV Glow enough for anyone curious to check it out. There's so much to take away from it as far as coming of age psychological dramas go, but it will especially play a big role in the lives of troubled queer people. Regardless if you've been down a similar rabbit hole as Owen and Maddy, this feature has an uncomfortably welcoming presence that will make you feel at home in addition to making your skin crawl. I cannot guarantee that this movie is for everybody, but I will admit that there's a chance you'll find some value in its underlying themes.
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