B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow into the ol’ VCR.

I really, really liked this movie. Let me make that clear. 

However, before we dive into what I Saw the TV Glow is, I want to say what it is NOT. 

It’s not: 

• A traditional horror movie 
• A movie with a straightforward plot 
• A way to relax your brain for 100 or so minutes 
• A movie for everyone (not in a pretentious way) 

I Saw the TV Glow IS: 

• At times, IMO, performance art (in a good way) 
• One of the most unique movies I’ve seen in a long time 
• Full of metaphors and symbolism for being queer and trans
• A movie that you’ll be analyzing long after the credits roll 

I think it’s important to have these callouts up top because, based on some conversations I overheard when leaving the theater, I’m worried this movie is going to get a bad rep. 

In A24’s defense, this is a hard movie to package into a trailer. 

You need a lot of context, but you also don’t want to spoil any of the major details. I get it. 

But, to talk about this movie, I am gonna have to spoil some things. As always, I’ll try to keep things as spoiler free as possible, but I can’t give my full thoughts on this one without revealing a bit of the plot. 

If you aren’t familiar with this one, I Saw the TV Glow tells the story of Maddy (Brigette Lundy-Paine), Owen (Justice Smith), and their favorite TV show, The Pink Opaque. However, it’s so much more than that. 

It’s a love letter to closeted, queer kids like me who religiously watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer every single week and spent their weekends watching bargain bin horror movies with all of their friends and/or moms. 

It’s an ode to the misfits and the outcasts who are doing the best they can with what they have. 

This is where the spoilers come in. 

If you don’t want to know more about the plot, jump down to the paragraph that starts with “On the more literal side of things…” 

It’s also all a metaphor for the trans experience. 

Now, I’m not trans, so I’m not here to comment on the validity or accuracy of anyone’s experience. I would never want to assume or make generalizations because everyone’s journey is different. I’m only going to comment on the symbolism as it pertains to the film. 

I digress. 

The Pink Opaque isn’t just a show for Owen; it’s his shared experiences with Maddy. Throughout the film, we uncover that Owen is trans, and The Pink Opaque isn’t just a show; it’s his and Maddy’s lived experiences. 

They both wanted to be Tara and Isabel, the title characters. Isabel represents who Owen wishes he could be but is too afraid to become. Additionally, Owen’s father is portrayed as unaccepting and borderline, if not fully, abusive. 

In Maddy’s basement, for a few hours a week, Owen gets to be who he truly is. 

The colors of the trans and genderfluid pride flags are also prominent throughout the film, from the very beginning. 

The real horror in I Saw the TV Glow is Owen’s internal (and sometimes, external) battles. 

On the more literal side of things, I want to give the biggest kudos to all of The Pink Opaque sequences. My GOD, did they nail that specific era of supernatural/paranormal/sexy shows. Also, they even perfectly capture the band performances we saw at P3 in Charmed, lest we forget. 

I don’t really have any movies to compare I Saw the TV Glow to. Really. I think it finds a kindred spirit in The People’s Joker because they both share a vulnerability, but they’re still two completely different films. 

There’s also a bit of a VHYes feel at times, but, again, these two movies still stand alone. 

I do recommend seeing this one in the theater, if you’re able, because I think it elevated the viewing experience even more. 

And I’m not just saying that because a cute server complimented the outfit I wasn’t 100% sold on. 

My only criticism would be that a couple of the monologues drag, ever so slightly. But, that didn’t ruin the movie for me in the least. 

I’m also just a silly goose who writes about pop culture on the internet, so what do I know?