I Saw the TV Glow Reviews (original) (raw)

I Saw the TV Glow speaks so powerfully to the curse of denial that the words “there is still time”, scrubbed in chalk on a suburban street, can have an almost magical effect on the viewer.

What’s most effective, and staggering, is Schoenbrun’s storytelling, which weaves together half-remembered childhood elements in the way they might turn up in a nightmare, weaving in sounds and lights and colors and the gloriously inexplicable.

I completely loved everything this film managed to do. To be so unrelentingly bleak and brutal, and still endlessly hopeful, to have all these layers and interconnected pieces of the human experience resonate in exactly the perfect frequencies with each other, is a massive accomplishment. Probably my favourite film that I've seen all year.

I should start by stating that the director's first film "We're all going to the world's fair" was an absolute killer of a debut and it's actually in my top 10 favorite films of all time. So, needless to say, I was really looking forward to this follow-up. I will agree with some critics that the main character doesn't quite have the acting chops to pull off being in 3 different eras of life, but there's just so much style and substance here that I gave that one critique a pass. I also believe that both leads are supposed to have autism, which could influence your perception of the third chapter and ending. I really loved the vibe of this movie. The buzz around the tv show (within the film) The Pink Opaque reminded me a lot of the fan buzz around Buffy The Vampire Slayer and how it became a landmark of pop culture for that early 90's era. I also really liked the underlying horror that existed just below the colorful and vibrant surface. I personally think the plot was genius and while I knew watching it, that some would not be happy with the ending (that was also a common complaint with "Late Night With The Devil" which is a masterpiece), I believe that many are missing the context of what was happening. I'm not going to give away any spoilers, but the ending is very similar to the conclusion of We're All Going To The World's Fair in that what you're seeing may not actually be what's happening. In any case, uber stylish arthouse horror films like this are so few and far between that I will give this film all the praise it deserves and more! And that soundtrack! There's several scenes that place special attention on the musical performances and because they're given time to play out, they are so powerful and leave a lasting imprint. My only personal gripe was that the fathers in both children's lives were a-holes. Believe me, there's plenty of horrible, crappy mothers out there too. I should know, as my own mom was one of them,

Entertaining yet depressing, surreal yet too real, frustrating yet somehow cathartic, "I Saw the TV Glow" leaves such a strong impression that it's hard to stop thinking about it days after seeing it.

Such an original and disturbing and haunting and creatively outrageous piece of work that it refuses to drift from your conscience.

Congratulations, Gen-Z, you’ve just been handed your new midnight-movie obsession.

Something about the detail and clarity with which Jane Schoenbrun evokes ’90s suburbia in “I Saw the TV Glow” makes you remember growing up there — even if you didn’t.

The film is a mesmeric but frequently muddled exploration of transgender self-actualization.

Incredible, moving and heartfelt movie about forming your identity and the pitfalls of rejecting this. One of the best films of the year

I Saw the TV Glow is a film that left me teetering on the edge of indecision. As the credits rolled, I grappled with a simple yet profound question: Was this the best or worst film of the year? Ultimately, I realised that the film’s impact was more complex than a binary judgment could capture. Some films aren’t universally accessible—not due to their themes, but because of the unique methods they use to explore those themes. This film, with its unique methods, is a prime example. I watched I Saw the TV Glow as the London Trans Pride March passed by the cinema. The energy and sense of community from the march stood in stark contrast to the isolated, introspective experience of the film. This juxtaposition heightened my appreciation for the film’s profound exploration of identity and perception, engaging me even more in the film’s unconventional narrative device. The concept of a programme within the film was a bold narrative choice. While I enjoyed this exploration, I needed help to stay engaged. The layers of storytelling, while intellectually stimulating, often felt like a barrier rather than a bridge to understanding the characters and their journeys. Despite this, there’s a particular brilliance in the film’s willingness to challenge its audience. I Saw the TV Glow dares to push boundaries and provoke thought, even if it alienates some viewers. Its daring narrative choices and thought-provoking themes make it a cinematic revelation for those who can embrace its idiosyncrasies. For others, like myself, it’s easier to admire from a distance than to fully embrace. I Saw the TV Glow may not be a film for everyone, and that’s precisely its strength and weakness. It defies easy categorisation, demanding both attention and patience. Whether it’s the best or worst film of the year is a question I’m still pondering, but perhaps that’s the point. It’s a film meant to linger in the mind and be debated and dissected long after the screen darkens.

The marketing and ads for this picture are misleading – this is not a horror movie, nor a comedy, nor a drama. It's a creepy 90s tone piece about how nostalgia mixed with societal alienation can hijack one's connection to their true identity. If your mind went blank during that last sentence, you probably will hate this film. Everyone else will be **** into its claustrophobic world of half-remembered nightmares.

I appreciate the creativity and the performances are fine. The story just isn't interesting. The meaning is far too on the nose, to the point of feeling pretentious. And the movie runs a good 15 minutes too long.

i have never been more bewildered by a film - the opinion of a trans man. i don’t think this film really encompasses what it needs to. i didn’t understand this film at all until i read an article. and that made me dislike the film. not because it was bad, but because the delivery was so utterly bewildering - i didn’t get the message. the way things are shown, not one thing or the other, it makes you not understand what you are watching. the message of this movie as stated in the article is astounding, and there is no film like it, and i doubt there will be another for a very, very long time. but it didn’t work for me. things are not explained to you at all in any capacity in what the message is, making a very complicated plot line that you have trouble understanding that you can’t begin to realise there is something behind it. and i know that’s the point, for everything to be confusing as it is in real life. but honestly? to me, a trans man, this film did not show me or my transness in any sense. the message of this film is that being trans or **** in small towns will suffocate you, and only by getting to your lowest, doubting yourself, and ultimately killing your old self, will you ever seem to realise that old self was never you in the first place. this is powerful, meaningful, and makes you FEEL SOMETHING. this film only made me feel an emotion more than confused. i have seen all the hype from trans people all around tiktok, and i was so excited to find out what they were so moved by! i was thinking to myself “what a powerful film, i can’t wait to watch this!”. so i went in blind, with only the praise from trans tiktokers. to say i was disappointed doesn’t express it enough. this film will make you feel like you are not watching what was recommended to you. you feel you have put the entirely wrong movie on. the entire film i was waiting for the movie to start. i was waiting for the messaging, the ****, ANYTHING. and i was met with nothing, until a slither of **** that was then wrapped up in so many metaphors that it i couldn’t decipher, and until the very end - where things weren’t so confusing that you could think “hm, is this what they were talking about?” maybe when i rewatch this with the knowledge from the article, i will like it better! some great music, PHENOMENAL cinematography, and fantastic acting! some very well known musicians and actors were on this film and i think for some this may be the best film they have ever seen, and i could see why it may be that way for them. but, honestly? i would not watch this film without reading what it is supposed to symbolise. i am very confident that not many people would understand without this context. and in my opinion, the fact you have to know the message for the movie before you start it does not make me feel like i’ve watched a film. a film is supposed to show a story and walk you through it. ISTTG shows you A story, but not THE story. in my opinion, this makes this movie, a bad movie. but you may have different opinions, it is your choice to watch this with or without the context from said article. i don’t know how i would have received this film if i had instead known the message before watching it; i might’ve loved it! but if you struggle with understanding messages in messages in messages, and then all wrapped up in something the director stated they do not want you to understand; i would highly suggest reading the article and knowing what you are looking for. the article i am mentioning is by vanity fair, please read it if you are lost after the film or you would like to understand what ISTTG is about. thanks!

Production Company A24, Fruit Tree, Smudge Films, Hypnic Jerk Productions, Access Entertainment

Release Date May 3, 2024

Duration 1 h 40 m

Rating PG-13

Astra Midseason Movie Awards

International Online Cinema Awards (INOCA)