I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

published 2026-10-30 | tags: #backlog #movies

I went into this movie pretty blind, not sure what to expect. What I got was a slow, methodical, light horror-ish film about a few things:

• Transitioning, the pain of not doing so, and why it can feel scary before jumping in.
• Who can you trust? Your memories? Your senses? Are you who you think you are? That sort of thing.

The story is basically this:

1. A kid is enamored with a show similar to but not exactly Buffy the Vampire Slayer for teens.
2. He finds a slightly older kid who is really into the show, they become friends.
3. Kid A basically watches the entire thing over the next few years.
4. Kid B eventually runs away.
5. A few years later A is living a dead-end life B turns up again.
6. B tries to persuade A that they ARE the main characters from the show they watched as kids.
7. B had to commit suicide to escape this prison and is trying to save A.
8. A cannot commit and chooses instead to live a life where they suffer as a basic of existence.

I appreciated the metaphor of the film. Obviously having never transitioned I understand in the abstract what goes into that decision, but I appreciate it making it feel so concrete both the fear of not being able to make the leap, but also the crushing weight of living a life trying to deny who you are.

I certainly wouldn't call it a scary movie, but it was suspenseful and had me engaged with the material the whole way through. If the rest of the movie seemed interesting but you "Don't watch horror" I think you should give it a try.

Before I wrap up, I wanted to say this movie reminded me of another vibe-heavy piece of media: Kentucky Route Zero. That might not be the two directly relating, but more just that they are both really vibe-ey. -- buut, there is a scene where two characters are talking and book-ending the conversation are basically music videos of a band playing a song and that felt very reminiscent of a scene in (I think?) chapter 4 of KRZ which I liked.

I am not a meaningful voice to contribute in any way to a conversation about this film -- surely none of this is New (TM). I enjoyed the vibes, I appreciated the metaphor, I'm excited to watch more films by Jane Schoenbrun.