I Saw the TV Glow

No judgment. Definitely not a traditional "horror" film, but scary none the less. I was a freshman girl in 1996. This is what it felt like.... Fighting to get to the next season of our lives. Fighting to be understood and to understand ourselves. We were in such a hurry to grow up we didn't fully appreciate our youth. Some of us didn't make it. I did and I wonder which outcome is better. We die quickly or we die slowly. This film made me feel very seen and also scared for the next generations. Some things are better and some are way worse. If we do it or not our teenage selves die... it's all about if we become something better. The question is "What is better?"

It features many dynamite indie rockers (both in cameos and musically), it started off great with interesting characters and EXCELLENT aesthetics - as a millennial, I felt a lot of nostalgia for similar shows I used to watch growing up. Ultimately though, the story fell apart and offered little substance.

The film has an interesting and societally relevant theme, but I think that's where this falls flat - a great film may elicit the response:

"That was a great story - what were its most prominent themes?"

But instead I found myself asking:

"That was an interesting theme - what were its most prominent plot lines?"

I was thoroughly looking forward to this film but alas. The style, the cinematography and the subject matter are all well-executed and important. However, there is little to no nuisance. Any subtlety is not subtle and any message is overpowered by sub-par acting and loud, screeching, pretension.

Mysterious Skin (2006) is a film that's similar but done exceptionally better. While the subject matter is far from metaphoric, it's execution is brilliant. I Saw The TV Glow seems like a proof of concept with a powerful core message that had the glaring plot gaps filled with flashing visuals and nostalgia-bait.

This should've been a Tisch short.

'I Saw the TV Glow' is about a pair of middle school kids in the '90s who get a little too involved in their favorite cable TV show.

Justice Smith and Bridgette Lundy-Paine play two loners who have nothing in common except an obsession with the show "The Pink Opaque". We see vignettes from the show which is about two young girls using their super powers and telepathic connection to fight an evil villain who looks like the Man in the Moon. Apparently, this TV show has generated near 300 episodes.

The two main characters of 'Glow' don't seem to have any kind of life outside of watching 'The Pink Opaque'. Transfixed in the 'TV Glow', these two exude low energy and that's the overriding vibe of the film. Not a good thing.

The first half of 'Glow' is watchable as a vague sense of dread builds. I wondered where this was going, ready for the ride; but 'Glow' doesn't go anywhere interesting.

It's an odd little movie that approximates that moment when you're about to fall asleep with the television on.

I found the most interesting scenes to be the faux episodes of 'The Pink Opaque' with its intentionally cheesy era aesthetics.

Writer/director Jane Schoenbrun made a highly atmospheric little film a couple of years ago called ' We're All Going To The Worlds Fair' on a shoestring budget but the film left an inedible impression on me that I included it on my ten best of the year.

The follow up continues the same microscopic view of adolescence, loneliness and social exclusion that still retains the same wonderful wintry neon feel as the previous film. See also the classic 'It Follows' and ' Rivers Edge'-these all perfectly capture the inner feelings of the characters; bored teenagers in middle small town America caught in a mystery.

It is talky and slow and I get if some will be put off. I didn't take to the characters breaking the 'fourth wall' and start speaking directly to the camera; it felt like the audience had to be spoon fed exactly what the character is feeling.

The acting is excellent from Justice Smith and Brigette Lunday-Paine and young Ian Foreman as the young Owen. Bringing a vulnerable, isolated look on the faces. Is there a hint of abuse here?

I felt like I did in the 90s with 'Twin Peaks' where I wanted to dive straight into the TV set and be in the dark and magical small US town (there are lots of 'Lynchian' references here, not just the photography and sound but the musical interlude in the small bar) Like the similar 'Beau is Afraid' (ageing) this is a smart, extremely well done expressionist horror that I may not want to see again in a hurry but will stay in my mind for a long time.