I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw the TV Glow
Starring Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler
Directed by Jane Schoenbrun
Owen (Ian Foreman) is a loner seventh grader who doesn't have any friends and who's parents are incredibly strict, but one day he meets freshman Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine) who introduces him to her favorite television show, The Pink Opaque. Owen convinces his mother to let him spend the night at his friend's house, but instead he goes to Maddy's to watch the show and is instantly hooked. Two years later and Owen (Justice Smith) is still addicted to the show, but now his family life is falling apart - his mother (Danielle Deadwyler) is dying of cancer, and his father (Fred Durst) thinks The Pink Opaque is a show for girls and forbids him watching it. Maddy gives him recorded episodes so he can keep watching, and one night Maddy tells him she's running away because her father is abusive to her.
Soon Owen's mother dies, and when he goes to find Maddy he discovers she's disappeared, with just her television set burning in the backyard - and The Pink Opaque has been canceled. Years pass by and Owen works at the local movie theater when he runs into Maddy, who gives him a fantastical story of where she's been and gives Owen an option that could either set him free, or lead to his early demise.
"I Saw the TV Glow" is a fantastic film that is undersold by its trailer. It seems to be a purely horrific story with a mystery thrown in, but in reality it's a coming-of-age tale about self-acceptance and an understanding that one sometimes needs an escape from reality, but must also understand that this escape isn't permanent. It's a cautionary tale of the importance media has in our lives - both as a comfort and as a hindrance - and how to hopefully appreciate ourselves for who we truly are, or get smothered by the monotony of existence as a whole. It's deep, reflective, and filled with nuanced performances, unique visuals, and a top-notch soundtrack.
Justice Smith has made a name for himself in playing unique characters who often disappear into the background, or who has no sense of self-appreciation, as in films like "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," "Pokemon: Detective Pikachu," and "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." Here he goes full tilt into that role as Owen, a social outcast who doesn't seem to understand who he truly is, and it's this aloof nature that makes him all the more endearing and damaging at the same time. He doesn't fully comprehend who he is, as when Maddy tells him she likes girls, he can't say who he likes - men or women - but he likes TV shows. The film goes deeper into this narrative and director Jane Schoenbrun claims this is an allegory for being transgender, and without going into spoilers I can see where that comes into play. Moreso, it's a story of Owen's unwillingness to accept reality, getting emotionally trapped into a television show while allowing his own life to pass by at the blink of an eye.
In a way, Owen is the character for us to relate to, as we too sometimes fall prey to escapism and not facing reality before realizing we've wasted years of our lives in this mindset and not appreciating the world for all it has to offer - both good and bad. It's easier to see the world through the lens of supernatural action heroes saving the world instead of working at a dead-end job, living in a highly dysfunctional family environment, or facing the inevitability of death itself. Owen is stuck in his own prison, his own grave, and Justice Smith absolutely nails it (kudos for Schoenbrun for one pivotal small scene where Owen is wandering thorough the school hallway with slogans on each side with sayings like "To Thine Own Self Be True").
Brigette Lundy-Paine equally shines as Maddy, a young girl who's monotone exterior hides an inward battle that she faces everyday in her struggle with an abusive father and, like Owen, living a life she doesn't want to live. She's obsessed with The Pink Opaque so much so when she's watching it with Owen, she literally tears up. She disappears and returns years later with an outlandish story that, through her speaking, seems oddly plausible. Her demand of Owen is all the more strange, and sets up for a unique ending that's unparalleled in any other film I've seen in recent memory. She sells it extraordinarily.
The Pink Opaque itself is quite terrifying in its visuals, as the show follows two girls who are psychically linked and use their supernatural powers to fight off the villain of the week brought to them by the big bad known as Mr. Melancholy. The practical creature effects are top-notch, as the main villain is downright nightmare-inducing. It's no surprise that the main baddie is called Mr. Melancholy, as the term itself means a suggestive or expressive of sadness or depression of mind or spirit. Owen and Maddy are going through this big time, and it's no surprise they find solace in a film where this spirit is overcome week after week, even if their own battles are far from being won (also, as a note to how Schoenbrun loved "Buffy," The Pink Opaque's character text is the same font as "Buffy," and star Amber Benson plays a small role in the film).
The effects are amazing, the visuals are dazzling, and the soundtrack is mesmerizing. When Owen and Maddy go to the local bar, there's a couple bands playing their own unique songs made specifically for the film, and afterward I downloaded them on Spotify and have been listening to them since. They're a great blend of folk, pop, and screamo that perfectly encapsulates the drama being put on screen.
The Score: A+
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