'I Saw the TV Glow': a hypnotic meditation on queerness and lost youth
film review of Jane Schoenbrun's 'I Saw the TV Glow'
The most compelling horror films don’t rely on a barrage of jump scares, they unsettle you by burrowing into your psyche, planting seeds of fear that grow long after the credits roll. Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow—one of A24’s most divisive films—does exactly that, and it’s been fascinating trying to process the clashing reactions people have for the film.
From the beginning, we meet young Owen, alone and apprehensive, and his shifty eyes darting around the room. He chances upon Maddy, two years his senior, and the two form an unlikely bond over their interest in The Pink Opaque, a ‘90s young adult TV show.
The film then immerses us in the fantasy realm of The Pink Opaque, where teenagers wield psychic powers to fight the big bad, Mr. Melancholy. For Owen and Maddy, the series becomes an obsession that grips them with an almost suffocating intensity. As their fascination deepens, they imagine themselves living within the show’s fictional universe.
Much like how The Pink Opaque seizes our protagonists, the film envelops us in a disorienting atmosphere. Schoenbrun’s mastery of mood-setting is undeniable—the neon hues and shadowy visuals create an otherworldly vibe. This aesthetic, complemented with dreamy needle drops from artists like Caroline Polachek and yeule, makes the film feel like a drifting memory—still vivid, yet just out of reach.
The performances by Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine are commendable, anchoring the abstract narrative with emotional weight. Their portrayals of Owen and Maddy, two alienated teens who find solace in the escapist world of television, strike a delicate balance between vulnerability and fearlessness.
It’s hard to dive deeper without touching on spoilers, but suffice to say, the story takes a dramatic turn. Owen and Maddy grow up and grow apart, as their shared fixation with The Pink Opaque spirals into something far more sinister.
In many ways, the film is a reflection of the trans and queer experience. Schoenbrun, who is trans and non-binary, threads themes of identity and self-discovery throughout the film, with the trans flag colors serving as an obvious visual marker. In one scene, Owen’s father dismisses the TV show as something meant for girls only, prompting Owen to confront his complex relationship with the show, and by extension, his identity too.
Yet, the film carries a universal relatability as well. Owen and Maddy’s obsession underscores how the media profoundly shapes our identities during our formative years. The film may be read as a haunting tale of melancholy, with our childhood relics symbolizing the fragility of lost innocence and the inevitability of leaving our past behind.
Of course, my relationship with the film is twofold. On the one hand, I empathize with Owen’s struggle to reconcile his gender and sexual identity. I reckon there’s that same resonance for many queer individuals too, as we search for a safe space where we feel seen and accepted for who we are.
On the other hand, the film also speaks to my longing for the past, capturing the fading glow of something once all-consuming that has since slipped through our fingers. As I grow older, I find that nostalgia becomes more dangerous to indulge in, and the media that shaped my childhood feels more bittersweet each time I revisit it.
Despite its strengths, the film sometimes struggles under the weight of its ambition. It often reiterates its themes to the point of being didactic, and the expositions by Maddy can feel overwrought at times. What the film does achieve, however, is an affecting depiction of isolation. The film’s third act may be polarizing, but for me, it demonstrates the existential horror that life brings to queer individuals.
Though it gets lost in its own symbolism occasionally, I Saw the TV Glow is a testament to Schoenbrun’s creative vision and ability to craft an evocative cinematic experience. Regardless of whether you liked it or not, the film will linger, like the afterglow of a memory long past, yet still fondly remembered.
Watch the trailer of I Saw the TV Glow below: