I Saw the TV Glow

I Saw the TV Glow

Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 100 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Horror
  • Stars: Emma Portner, Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, Fred Durst, Conner O'Malley, Amber Benson, Albert Birney, Michael C. Maronna, Danny Tamberelli, Tyler Dean Flores, Elizabeth Scopel, Marlyn Bandiero, Haley Dahl, Phoebe Bridgers, Kris Esfandiari, Lily Rothman
  • Director: Jane Schoenbrun
 Comments
  • puddingturtle - 2 July 2024
    Propaganda
    A film that tells you if you don't choose to dissociate with the fantasy that television makes you dream of then your dreams die. I HATED the message of this film. Human beings have to grow. It's a part of life and it is not the death of magic or transience. Those things are meant to transform into larger things. Lamenting in your own reverie of what could have been if the world were made of unicorns and fairy dust is the real issue, not anxiety and escapism. Not to mention, very bad acting, maybe due to a very bad script, but both seemed bad. There's plenty of potential for the director as a director, and I hope the actors progress and find better scripts to work with. Also, to all filmmakers. Please for the love of God stop trying to convince people that actors almost in their 30s are highschoolers. It's laughably bad every time and a sure fire way to ruin your film.
  • dimlucas-59100 - 27 June 2024
    Fascinating & weird
    Two weirdos come together because of their obsession over a YA show that one of them is not allowed to watch. Then things start getting weird.

    Cinematography is state of the art. Every single shot looks amazing and the movie really draws you in. Acting is solid and eerie, exactly what you would expect looking at the poster or watching the trailer.

    The movie starts off really slow with no notable events happening the first 30 minutes. I am not saying it should be shorter rather more important events should have been added in the first part.

    Only thing I did not like was how old the two protagonists are when they are supposed to be school students. I mean the first time I saw the guy I was like "oh that's the kid after 15 years" but turns out it had only been 2 years. Not enough to ruin a good movie though.
  • dapperdanman-86027 - 25 June 2024
    Not horror or even interesting otherwise
    This movie was so bad it actually got me to write my first review.

    It is incredibly boring and nothing happens. The metaphor is a stretch and I've yet to hear someone catching it without the director explicitly explaining it outside the movie. If you're going to focus your movie around a metaphor you still need to give it a decent plot that stands on its own.

    If there's anything good to say about this movie it's that it spurs some discussion on the symbolism and interpretation of the stranger parts of the plot. Unfortunately, this does not make it a good movie on its own. Labelling this as a horror is a travesty.
  • abdo_wf - 19 June 2024
    don't fall for the hype this movie try to be smart but fail misrablly
    This movie tries to be artistically smart where it is abstract to an idea that is not clear and want the watcher to relate to it but this from a person who loved Donnie darko and many movies with unclear abstract story this movie is so bad i just regret even wasting my time on it.

    I believe the critics like it because they think it is about the mentality of a trans and gay characters but even this not clear and the movie is not fun at all.

    The choice of the characters personality combines with the bad acting just add to the misery of tolerating finishing this movie.

    Just do yourself a favor and do not waste 100 min of your life watching this movie.
  • agentdlr - 18 June 2024
    The true "regret" is trying to like this movie.
    Sorry, but I guess I'm one of those who just didn't "get" this film.

    I don't know if this was a commentary on LGBTQ people trapped in the constraints of an unaccepting society who can't get "free" until they learn to leave the comfort of their suburban surroundings, or the "horror" of unrealized potential due to the fear of trying and accepting mediocrity.

    The touches of abusive upbringings also hints of people breaking "free" of their situations, but it really came off as the writer/director swinging too broadly to touch too many topics.

    There are other films that stay true to one trauma, and the symbolism fit, but this film felt aimless due to its lack of direction and commitment to specific reasoning.

    I watched this based on the imdb rating so much like a hazard on the road, I'm doing my part to ensure others don't waste their time.

    If this film is truly about regret, then the only time it really hammers it home is when you feel the genuine regret of wasting 2 hours of your life trying to enjoy this film.