I Saw the TV Glow - New Release Review
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Starring: Brigette Lundy-Paine, Justice Smith, Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Connor O'Malley
Written by: Jane Schoenbrun
Produced by: Ali Herting, Sam Intili, Dave McCary, Emma Stone, Sarah Winshall
Cinematography by: Eric Yue
Original Score by: Alex G
Synopsis:
Two teenagers bond over their love of a supernatural TV show, but it is mysteriously cancelled.
Thoughts:
It’s very rare that you can feel a film seep into your brain as you’re watching it. Every small camera movement, lighting choice, acting performance all bonding with your DNA, making you see the world a little bit different. It’s the true magic of being a film lover, when you watch a piece of art that truly makes you feel something on every level and shows you a point of view you’d never experienced before. With 'I Saw The TV Glow', it feels like director, Jane Schoenbrun, is pouring their soul on to the screen for us all to experience their struggles with feeling trapped in your own body. The film also highlights the idea of obsession and idolization at a young age, through the medium of fandom for a Buffy-esque television show called “The Pink Opaque”.
The aspect of the in-universe TV show “The Pink Opaque” is incredibly done. Creating a pitch perfect parody of shows like 'Buffy' and 'Charmed', with monsters of the week and teen angst pulsating from every scene. It’s not uncommon to hear that shows like this “awoke” something in a certain section of its viewers; I’ve had multiple gay friends tell me that seeing Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy, completely changing their brain chemistry as kids. It’s smart of Schoenbrun to play on this, as I’m sure they also felt the same way growing up.
The two main characters of Owen and Maddy, played brilliantly by Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine respectfully, both become obsessed with the television show; bonding them on a deeper level than they even realise. I can completely understand the obsession aspect, very often I will become hyper focused on television shows/movies to the point that it’ll take over my life. So, it was interesting for me to watch characters both reflect how I feel watching something so all-encompassing and also discovering something about themselves on a deeper biological level. I’ve never had a similar sexual awakening to the characters in this movie (apart from seeing 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' when I was 8, but that’s a different story) but I have had cinematic awakenings watching certain films, films that have made me feel things I've never felt before, and I'm so happy that I can now add 'I Saw The TV Glow' to that list of films.
The performances by Smith and Lundy-Paine are both fantastic. Smith has scenes towards the end that are so heartbreaking and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before; a real raw nerve performance. Brigette Lundy-Paine is absolutely captivating on screen and delivers a monologue in the back half of the film that feels incredibly realistic, like it was ripped straight from the director's real life. Director Jane Schoenbrun really shows off their style with this film, compared to their previous feature 'We’re All Going To The World’s Fair'. Their use of neon colours throughout the film really gives it a certain look and feel, creating a world that feels both eerily distant and somewhat familiar.
I honestly can’t wait to see Jane’s next film; as a film maker myself, it’s nice to have directors that are around my age range creating phenomenal stuff. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the influences of the older generation of film makers, like your Scorsese’s and Spielberg’s but the new batch of film makers are beginning to break through to audiences that are sick of big blockbusters and want something more personal.
'I Saw The TV Glow' won’t be for everybody, but the people that watch it and love it, will love it forever. It’s a film that has been lingering with me for the past few days since I watched it and I can’t wait to watch it again and again for the rest of my life.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Adam Neeson
'I Saw the TV Glow' is available to Buy or Own on US Digital Platforms and will be released in the UK & Ireland on July 26th
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