FRIGHT FEST: I SAW THE TV GLOW

 “This isn’t the midnight realm, Maddie. It’s just the suburbs.”

A24 continues to have an eye for unique talents with unique visions and voices. This is without a doubt the best, most realistic, and most true film about escapism and filmic obsession I’ve ever seen. It’s got its own hypnotic, unique visual language and color palette that lulls you into a trance. It’s ultimately about how we turn to films/tv to get away from our daily lives, how those films and tv shows then shape our view and expectations about our lives and the world, and how when reality fails to live up to those expectations we escape back into film and tv. It honestly hits a little too close to home and is fairly depressing, but it speaks truth.

Both Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine put on strong, affecting performances as Owen and Maddie, best friends who are slowly dying from their unfulfilling and disappointing lives in the suburbs. Justice Smith in particular really wows with a flat, robotic affect. He continuously breaks the 4th wall to narrate the events of the film directly to the audience (almost like he is entering into a relationship with the audience the same way we form relationships with characters in films and tv). Owen seems to lack emotion, but this is false as it’s all concealed or hidden by him (for whatever reason). You could say he suffers from Dysphoria: a profound state of unease or dissatisfaction. This is easily Smith’s best performance yet. 

Brigette Lundy-Paine shines as well. Maddie is an angsty lesbian who has no friends and a terrible home life. Because of this, she chooses to escape into her favorite show, ‘The Pink Opaque’. When Owen approaches her, she effortlessly gets him addicted to the show as well. It’s an addiction that will stick with them for the rest of their lives, and it might prove to be toxic. Paine is asked to become concerningly unhinged later on, and they sell this turn incredibly well.

I Saw the TV Glow is directed and written by Jane Schoenbrun (who previously directed and wrote ‘We’re All Going To the World’s Fair’). They do an excellent job at each, managing to capture the isolation and disappointment of living in the suburbs. The cinematography by Eric Yue is transcendent. In his hands, the suburbs has a consistent etherealness and other-worldly look to it (it almost feels Carpenter-esque). The little we see of ‘The Pink Opaque’ completely nails the 90s aesthetics of freaky/scary kids shows from that era as well (think ‘Goosebumps’ or ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’). 

The multiple songs featured throughout are simply superb (highlights include but aren’t limited to ‘Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl’ by Yeule, ‘Another Season’ by Frances Quinlan, ‘Starburned and Unkissed’ by Caroline Polachek, and ‘Claw Machine’ by Sloppy Jane and Phoebe Bridgers). Needless to say, the album for the film is worth a purchase.

I Saw the TV Glow is a powerful, hard-hitting, surreal film that has a lot to say about film/tv, obsession, escapism, identity, and even nostalgia. It’s guaranteed to speak to any one who has fallen under the hypnotic glow of the television/silver screen, or anyone who has made film/tv their life.

5 STARS