- Date of Release: 03 May 2024
- Genre: Drama, Horror
- Language: English
I Saw The TV Glow
Introduction
The idea of life ticking by even as one is confined to his/her loneliness has got to be one of the most haunting feelings of staying alive. And this feeling did stick with me at the end of this incredible English film I Saw The TV Glow. What if we are a part of an alternate reality that unfolds like a TV show, with the actions of the characters on the show having direct repercussions on the health of us in reality. Seldom have I come across a horror drama which is psychological in so many ways while tackling with a plethora of themes which could so easily be equated with the concepts of growing up and discovering your identity. Yes, the focus of the film does remain on ‘coming out of your closet’ but the same concept extends beyond its boundaries, while focusing on isolation of beings that are often reclusive from the world and conscious of their surroundings. And while they are often ridiculed, they find solace in things with a sense of fantasy which acts as a medium of escapism for them. This is something that is handled in the film I Saw The TV Glow, does it manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Spanning over decades, I Saw The TV Glow follows the story Owen who is navigating through life until he comes in contact with his classmate who introduces him to a mysterious TV show that extends into his alternate reality with a vision of a supernatural world beneath them. The story here extends beyond the said mystery of the TV show while tackling several themes related to isolation amidst the ‘secret’ trans community who are afraid to reveal themselves to the world, or rather are still discovering their identity. Their vulnerabilities and insecurities are wonderfully woven through the concept of a TV show which is nothing more than a medium of escapism and acceptance. The screenplay standing at a 100 minutes is taut and water-tight while creating an aura of intrigue while also being a moving saga in many ways with the amount of emotions that it brings to the table. Yes, the horror elements are top notch and wonderfully woven in the screenplay, but to transcend this emotion in the psychological space was no mean feat, something that would continue to linger on, long after the film has ended. This section will contain spoilers.
One of the most interesting aspect of the drama has to be the characterization. You are introduced to Owen, a loner and a recluse teenager who is barely navigating through life. He isn’t quite aware yet of his orientation, although you do get a sense that this may well be the reason of him being isolated in the ‘dark room’. His parents may well have been ignorant of his fact, particularly his father who continues to remain distant while also telling him that the TV show ‘The Pink Opaque’ is a show for ‘girls only’, on being requested by Owen to watch it while being telecast post his bedtime. On the other hand, you have Maddy in her teens too but two years elder to Owen. She has formed her quota of escapism through a TV show ‘The Pink Opaque’ that she shares with Owen too. In a strange way, she is empowered by its characters who happen to kill the recurring monsters sent by a certain Mr Melancholy(notice the name), almost imagining her to be in the game. You soon get to know that she is a lesbian, falsely accused of an act that forced her into isolation. If you were to look objectively, Owen and Maddy were almost the same person at different stages of evolution.
The proceedings are engaging particularly with a twist in the tale that leaves Owen further isolated even as Maddy, his only form of solace, disappears from his life. The allegory of disappearance coupled with the eventual mystery of the show is the foundation of the multiple themes that the writers wish to explore with respect to the character of Owen. It is revealed that Owen plays one of the protagonists on the show who is buried alive while extracting his heart out. But when Maddy, returns while explaining to Owen about her whereabouts in that incredible monologue, and how she wishes for Owen to come with her and get himself buried to kickstart a new season of the show again, he definitely has cold feet. This could be equated to his orientation wherein he is scared to ‘come out of the closet’, something that would haunt him in times to come.
The third act of the film has got to be one of the most haunting and disturbing acts of recent times with the element of horror kicking in, in the psychological space. You notice the health of the protagonist deteriorating over the years, almost like his big secret is weighing him down to a point of suffocation wherein he doesn’t relate to even reruns of his favourite show terming it as ‘cheesy and childish’. He has clearly outgrown it but more importantly also lost his sense of identity that results in a hesrtbreaking outburst. The haunting finale is an extension of the society comprising of people that don’t care about a person suffering, even as you find a disturbed protagonist walking through a crowded corner telling everyone ‘that he is fine’, but on deaf ears. The screenplay has a lingering quality to it wherein it had me thinking long after the film has ended.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but extremely well thought out including a phenomenal psychedelic monologue that is haunting in many ways. The music is phenomenal and used effectively to communicate the tremors of a psychological drama with the right amount of ‘gothika’. The BGM perfectly compliments the screenplay as well, elevating the drama at frequent junctures. The cinematography coupled with the lighting features frames with pink hues that almost make for a neo-noir setup. The framing of the horror elements with a close setup was wonderful to witness, something that was innovative and moving in many ways. The editing is crisp and sharp while never offering a single moment of respite in the narrative. Director Jane Schoenbrun does a wonderful job in firstly understanding the core of the drama, and effectively portraying it in an innovative manner. The characterization was the key and she does a tremendous job in that regard while intricately constructung a drama with elements of psychological horror with respect to identity. The direction was excellent here through and through.
Performances
The performances are pretty solid in what is essentially a two character drama. Brigette Lundy-Paine as Maddy is a mysterious character to begin with even though you begin to empathize with her as the drama progresses. And Brigette does a brilliant job in conveying the core emotions of her character, particularly in that tremendous monologue that has got to be the highlight of the film in many ways. There were so many different shades to her character including having to convey shades of horror, and she performed like a dream. Justice Smith as Owen is brilliant to the core in showcasing the haunting vulnerabilities and insecurities of his character that was in complete isolation. The levels of denial had to be conveyed precisely to evoke a sense of empathy for the character, and I think he was spot on with his performances. All other actors manage to shine too.
Conclusion
I Saw The TV Glow is a haunting psychological horror of intellectual proportions tracing its roots to identity and an alternate reality that makes for a brilliant watch. Highly Recommended!
