I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
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Two troubled high school students find their reality and identities challenged by their connection to a mysterious television show.
The story
In 1996, isolated teenagers Owen and Maddy bond over a young adult television show called The Pink Opaque. The show features characters who use a psychic connection to fight a villain who can warp time and reality. Because of his father's disapproval, Owen often sneaks out to Maddy's house to watch it. Maddy feels a deep, almost physical connection to the show, claiming it feels more real than her actual life. Two years later, Maddy decides to run away, and while Owen stays behind, she eventually goes missing. The show is canceled after five seasons, leaving Owen haunted by their shared experience and the blurring lines between the broadcast and his reality.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1996, Owen and Maddy bond over the show 'The Pink Opaque.' After Maddy goes missing and the show is canceled, Owen's life continues until 2006, when Maddy reappears. She claims she spent the last two years inside the show and that they are actually characters in a 'Midnight Realm' whose memories of real life are just episodes of a TV show. She tries to convince Owen to be buried alive so they can return to their 'reality,' but he refuses. Years later, in 2010, Owen lives alone and finds the show's content has become juvenile. By the time he is middle-aged, his health declines. During a party, he suffers a breakdown, claiming he is 'dying.' He eventually cuts his chest open and finds a TV screen inside himself, finally confronting the reality of his existence.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jane Schoenbrun
- Writers
- Jane Schoenbrun · writer
- Cast and characters
- Justice Smith · Owen; Jack Haven · Maddy; Helena Howard; Lindsey Jordan; Conner O'Malley; Emma Portner; Ian Foreman; Fred Durst; Danielle Deadwyler
- Genres
- psychological horror; drama
- Themes
- transgender identity; identity; loneliness
- Tone and mood
- Lynchian; haunting
- Premise and plot tags
- allegory; multiverse; fandom
- Source material / true-story basis
- novel Public Access Afterworld
- Franchise connections
- Screen Trilogy
- Content notes
- self-harm
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was praised for its visual aesthetic and its authentic portrayal of transgender themes.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage · review count: 236; Metacritic · score: 86 · scale: 100 · review count: 48
- Awards and nominations
- Independent Spirit Awards · Best Feature · nomination
- Production trivia
- The Pink Opaque segments were shot on 35mm film and later transferred to VHS and Betamax.; The film's visual aesthetics were inspired by films like Artificial Intelligence and Blade Runner.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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