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The recent surge of “elevated” horror movies following the success of Get Out has been a detriment to the genre. Instead of maintaining a cohesive narrative, these films prioritize creating clever metaphors, resulting in a convoluted mess. Even Jordan Peele, who revolutionized the genre with his debut film, has faced challenges in his subsequent projects. Despite this, many continue to attempt to turn their dissertations into poorly disguised films.
However, in “I Saw the TV Glow,” a captivating and ingenious new movie debuting at the Sundance film festival, writer and director Jane Schoenbrun effortlessly presents a thought-provoking and engaging piece that avoids being overly intellectual. This film sparks conversation and contemplation while still maintaining its cinematic quality.
What sets their film apart is its exploration of nostalgia, a common pitfall in media that often relies on shallow pop culture references for cheap recognition. However, I Saw the TV Glow, which takes place primarily in the 90s and early 00s, avoids these cliches by creating a unique and believable media landscape (complete with original songs by Phoebe Bridgers and Caroline Polachek) while also acknowledging the potentially harmful effects of nostalgia. While not condemning fandom, the filmmaker, Schoenbrun, recognizes the dangers of becoming overly obsessed with a particular piece of culture and allowing it to consume one’s entire identity.
At first, we catch a glimpse of something on the TV screen while 12-year-old Owen (portrayed excellently by Ian Foreman from Let the Right One In) is watching. It’s a commercial for a teen fantasy show called The Pink Opaque, and Owen is captivated by the Buffy-esque monster-of-the-week horror, but he can’t watch it because it airs past his bedtime on Saturdays. When he meets Maddy, a ninth-grader (played by Brigette Lundy-Paine from Atypical) who is reading an episode guide for the show, they form a hesitant and awkward friendship. To watch the show together, Owen lies about having sleepovers with another friend. As the years go by, an older Owen (played by Justice Smith from 14 years old and up, which is a challenging role that pays off) and Maddy barely communicate, only leaving recorded episodes on videotapes. They both struggle with living outside of the small screen world that has consumed them. When the show gets cancelled, their relationship starts to fall apart. Years later, when they reunite as twentysomethings, they begin to question the reality of their lives.
Initially, I was not completely convinced by Schoenbrun’s highly praised first work, the lo-fi internet body horror “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.” While it was an intriguing piece that left me wanting more, it felt somewhat incomplete. However, I was impressed by their talent for creating a deeply unsettling atmosphere that lingers in the pit of your stomach long after viewing. With “I Saw the TV Glow,” Schoenbrun’s growth as both a writer and director is remarkable. They have crafted a more substantial, albeit challenging, narrative that is accompanied by an expanded ability to fully immerse the audience in their stunning visuals. The film is created with such precise transportive skill that even as I write this, I can still feel its intoxicating atmosphere. It goes beyond being just a movie and feels like an entire world, one that is both scary and melancholic, and may be more familiar to some than others.
As we get older, it becomes more difficult for us to immerse ourselves in fictional worlds. This is not only due to personal changes and closing off of our minds, but also because of changes in the way we consume entertainment. Schoenbrun recognizes the excitement and satisfaction of the journey we used to take with physical media, the challenges we had to overcome, and the level of investment we had in building our collection. There is a poignant moment when Owen, now an adult, discovers that his once prized show is readily available to stream with just a click, but it looks and feels different. He suddenly feels embarrassed, questioning if it was all just a dream and if any of it was real.
The movie’s core themes, its unsettling nature, will likely be analyzed with the same fervent fixation that the characters have for their favorite show. It explores themes of loneliness, fandom, and the challenges of dealing with mental illness or being close to someone struggling with it. Additionally, it delves into the experiences of being queer or trans, using both characters to depict the devastation of a life not fully lived. Schoenbrun, a nonbinary and transgender artist, skillfully involves us in an often romanticized or simplified experience. While the final act may have flaws and push us too far at times, it ultimately hits us with a powerful emotional punch and leaves a lasting impression. “I Saw the TV Glow” is a puzzle with missing pieces, and like many others, I will be haunted while trying to piece them together.
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The film “I Saw the TV Glow” will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival and is scheduled for release later this year.
Source: theguardian.com
