I Saw the TV Glow
Year: 2024, A24 Studios
Written by: Jane Schoenbrun
Directed by: Jane Schoenbrun
Cast : Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Danielle Deadwyler

So I just got back from watching A24s I Saw The TV Glow, a horror drama directed by Jane Schoenbrun (they/them). The film focuses on two teens, Owen and Maddie, who bond in the 90s over a show they both obsess over. When it’s mysteriously cancelled, their view of reality begins to crack and warp. The film was incredible. By the way, spoilers for I Saw The TV Glow. If you haven’t seen the movie but want to see it, please don’t read this until you watch it. This article WILL contain spoilers for the film.

Schoenbrun themself has confirmed that this film is actually a coming-of-age rather than a horror, and is about transitioning and feeling out of place. Throughout the film, Owen and Maddie are plagued with the feeling of being out of place. While sometimes not directlystated, their actions, thoughts, and more (like how Owen always sounds super out of itduring the whole movie) reinforce this idea. There are also multiple scenes that give reference to being trans. An example is Owen’s reaction when his father talks about the show he and Maddie obsess over: ‘The Pink Opaque’. He 
for girls?” Which causes extreme discomfort in Owen, evident in his shifting and expressions. Another example is when Owen shoves his head into the tv. If you aren’t focusing on how loud and chaotic this scene is, you can hear him screaming things like ‘this isn’t my home’.

The film also includes a few nods to The Matrix, a film confirmed to be a trans allegory. Throughout the film, Owen and Maddie are alone. Not, like, alone alone (but the few actors in scenes help with this theme), but alone in the way where they can only rely on each other.

‘In arguably the scariest part of the movie, Maddie’s monologue, she mentions that ‘this isn’t how real life is supposed to feel’ to Owen. This quote could possibly reinforce the idea or belief that the two aren’t in their own bodies, or at least don’t feel that way. This is also talked about when Maddie starts getting weird. She calls Owen ‘Isabel’ (one of the main characters of The Pink Opaque), saying that he has to bury himself with her (likely a metaphor) so they can return to the show and to their true bodies, or the identities they feel are truly them.

Owen doesn’t go through this, instead chickening out. A scene later heavily implies that Maddie buried herself anyway. Later, Owen says that he was waiting and hoping for Maddie to crawl out and force him to do it, but she doesn’t. I myself am not entirely sure what this quote symbolizes, but it sure is something.

This next part will be my personal review of the film. I loved this movie. The cinematography and colours are jaw droppingly amazing. The film itself is like a car crash, where it’s morbid but you can’t look away. The acting is great, and the show feels real to the point where I want to watch it. The pacing is wonderful, and the film overall taught me what it was like to be scared and yet have fun because you’re scared.

Unfortunately, the film isn’t perfect. The ending doesn’t really feel like an ending, just finishing with Owen apologizing to people after having a really weird hallucinatory breakdown. The movie also doesn’t answer a lot of questions, but in the way where it makes sense. The movie follows Owen. If there’s something he doesn’t understand or doesn’t see long enough to understand, we as the viewer won’t see it either. It does a great job ofmaking you feel like you’re perched on Owen’s shoulders throughout the film.

To summarise this film, I’d say it’s either Donnie Darko for they/thems, or The Matrix for people who really liked Buffy. Would I recommend this movie? Yes, if you like slow burns that switch back and forth between intensities at various points. Overall, it was a fun watch.