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I Saw the TV Glow

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I Saw the TV Glow

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• Horror
• Drama

• 2024
• Jane Schoenbrun
• 100 mins
• 15

Summary

Psychological horror drama starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine. As a child, Owen is isolated and awkward, but he finds a friend in fellow outcast Maddy, who introduces him to her favourite TV show: The Pink Opaque. This dark and sometimes troubling fantasy series exerts a strange pull on the pair, and the boundary between reality and the world of the show soon appears to blur.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

James Mottram

Two teenagers bond over a late-night sci-fi show before it's mysteriously cancelled in this sophisticated supernatural drama about identity and otherness. Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) plays Owen, an awkward teen who finds solace in the company of fellow outsider Maddy (Jack Haven, credited here as Brigette Lundy-Paine). She introduces him to The Pink Opaque, a Saturday evening Buffy the Vampire Slayer-esque series about two girls who share a psychic bond as they fight nemesis Mr Melancholy. When Maddy disappears and the show goes off air, the film becomes increasingly surreal as reality and fantasy tantalisingly merge. Dealing with escapism and sexuality, writer/director Jane Schoenbrun (We're All Going to the World's Fair) has created a textured work that explores adolescent isolation and loneliness through the prism of horror-tinged sci-fi. Smith is splendid as the older Owen (as is Ian Foreman, who plays the younger version of the character), a performance of subtlety and bravery that rather characterises this unique, visually arresting film.

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5.8/10

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Streaming

• Netflix
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameOwenJustice SmithMaddyJack HavenYoung OwenIan ForemanIsabelHelena HowardTaraLindsey JordanBrendaDanielle DeadwylerFrankFred DurstDaveConner O'MalleyMr Melancholy / Marco / Amanda / Evil ClownEmma Portner

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJane Schoenbrun

Details

Theatrical distributor

Park Circus

Released on

2024-07-26

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, swearing, a sex scene

Formats

Colour

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