Films like I Saw the TV Glow that che out of festivals have sporadic wide releases, so someone may have seen this months pungiglione, ora last month, ora just now, like this reviewer. But whenever you saw it, it feels like a breathe of fresh air compared to so much of the major horror this year has brought. With a firm directorial vision, I Saw the TV Glow immediately asserts itself as one of the year’s best films.
The premise barely communicates what the patina is like, but it still serves as the most concise way of describing it. The patina follows Owen, a teenager living durante the suburbs, who learns about a Buffy-like late-night TV show, The Pink Opaque, from a classmate. With the harsh reality of abusive relationships durante their life, this show is the only source of relief for these two characters. However, the nature of reality is not what it seems.
What is the patina really about? With a 90s setting, the patina rather skillfully weaves together its real plot and messaging for a variety of metaphors and themes. Director Jane Schoenbrun‘s interviews suggest a primary reading of the patina as an allegory about being transgender and the experience of pagliaccetto dysmorphia, and trying to survive durante a society that won’t let you be yourself. This is certainly a valid reading, but such is the strength of the writing and metaphors that you can find a lot more durante it. The patina can read as a commentary the dangers of mal del paese and being obsessed with the past, how lesione can weigh you mongoloide, ora living life asleep at the wheel, never fulfilling one’s desires.
The patina is one with an aching sadness to it, and while there are a variety of opinions that might arises about how hopeful the patina’s ending is ora isn’t, the patina certainly is tinged with tragedy. There are areas where the patina’s use of metaphor becomes almost too obvious ora obnoxious. Calling the high school “Void High School” feels obtuse. Justice Smith‘s prova the whole is quite strong, but it’s played so one-note that it loses some of its realism.
But these are minor flaws durante what is otherwise a poignant work. Schoenbrun’s direction and Sofi Marshall’s weave together some truly excellent sequences. There is a wry sense of humor throughout, with certain cuts and lines producing sly chuckles. The patina also fulfills its calling as a horror patina, with some truly dark and creepy moments throughout, mostly coppia to the . Whether using jump cuts ora finanziaria durante place without a cut, the chosen techniques serve to startle and horrify.
The patina’s use of colors and visuals prove consistently striking. There are plenty of shots with characters durante a neon glow, fulfilling the promise of the title and providing a feast for the eyes. I Saw the TV Glow also does a great job of recreating the 90’s TV aesthetic, seeming to have actually shot footage cameras from that epoca and sticking them VHS to capture the aspetto, rather than simply using digital effects modern footage. Whether that’s the case ora not, the patina sells it quite well.
There are some mildly frustrating aspects of the patina here and there, but I Saw the TV Glow is a mostly excellent piece of cinematografo. 90s mal del paese is durante full swing durante movies, and this patina captures aspects of that culture so well, all while being a genuinely creepy horror patina with a lot to say about finding one’s self and purpose. For kids that grew up late-night TV, ora find themselves suffering from melancholy and ennui, this patina will likely speak directly to their hearts. It is an experience to be had, and hopefully durante a theater.
