the ending was perfect. It didn't try to make you leave just satisfied, it made you feel the feelings of the character and I respect them for that cause usually sad or other-than-happy endings are hard to leave with.
i feel like the monotone way that both maddie and owen spoke was intentional. it was to portray even deeper than the visuals, how miserable and out of place they both feel in the midnight realm. and also, as a trans and autistic person, it didn’t feel weird or annoying to me at all. it actually felt quite spot on to how a lot of people i know talk. i think you must spend all your time with allistic (neurotypical) people, because people do indeed talk like that, even if you haven’t experienced it personally.
My wife connected with this movie a LOT. I didn't connect with it as much, but I thoroughly enjoyed the surreal experience it provided, and the discussion she and I had about the movie afterwards just cemented it as one of my favorites of the year.
5:47 People do talk like that at their age! At least everyone in my school did, it took me way back and made me cringe a bit to remember, which is one of the themes of the movie (embarrassing/odd nostalgia), that's for the poetic/fake deep part, and the monotone part just adds to the neurodivergent undertones
As an asexual guy on the autusm spectrum, a lot of this spoke to me HEAVILY, as did the obsession with weird 90s basic cable horror shows (the Pete and Pete of it all was excellent, as were all the Buffy nods).
There have been movies about transness and trans people before, but there's never been one that's been able to so thoroughly convey the *experience* of being trans the way this movie has. That feeling of being lost and empty, of knowing something is wrong, something about you is different, but that you can't put your finger on it. The way you look for connection to something that speaks to you in that way, and how that often ends up being various bits of media. And you don't know *why* those things speak to you, just that they do. You hold on to them, even after they've lost some of the magic, because what else is there? Until finally everything you've used to try and help you cope isn't enough anymore. That's the reading I have of the ending. Owen/Isabel attempt to just be who they were convinced to be just isn't working anymore, and they have to know. This is the "egg cracking" moment often talked about, that they understand who they are inside. It's why I see the movie's ending as optimistic and hopeful. Sure, there's no instant embracing of their true identity, because it's still not easy to move forward. But they know what's ahead now, and there is still time.
Seeing how this movie had major narrative about a TV show I almost expected the credits to stop and more movie to happen. The ending was definitely abrupt.
The ending of “Pink Opaque” was also abrupt. The show was cancelled without giving a satisfactory conclusion, just like how life can also be ended abruptly before you’ve lived it to the fullest.
Looks and sounds intriguing. One of my favorite lines from Pedro Almodóvar’s ‘All About My Mother’ comes from the great Agrado, who says (I hope I’m getting it word perfect), “You’re most authentic the most you resemble what you’ve dreamed of being.” Your insights and discussion of the film’s themes remind me of this
I have to say that I loved the way this movie made me feel, even when I had no idea where the plot was trying to go. I recommend it to anyone who ever felt the joy of escaping reality through any form of media, whether it's TV, books, D&D, video games, etc, especially if you shared that experience with a friend. I graduated High School in 1997, so this was huge nostalgia for me and I often miss the tube TV sets and older programming. I do love how this movie can be viewed many different ways in terms of what is real and what is not. One thing I found interesting was how the two main characters would physically approach one another, like they were using an extra level of caution as to not startle one another's sensitivities. Maddy in particular would move closer to Owen in stages and I think this represented their increasing comfort levels with each other while they were generally not comfortable being near other people.
When I saw the trailer, I thought it was going to be more like a movie version of the creepypasta “Candle Cove” than the official adaptation _Channel Zero_ was. But thank you for explaining how it is more than that. 😊
I thought the message of the movie at first was to not watch scary things before going to sleep especially at later hours of the night. I was confused throughout the movie and I so happened to stumble on this video for clarity. Thanks for the explanation!
I see what you're saying about the way they talked BUT you definitely didn't know any 'weird kids' because there were definitely a few kids who spoke like that at my high school when I was growing up
I've definitely met and hung out with some "weird kids" back in my school days, pretty sure I was a "weird kid" for a time (for different reasons), but this monotone conversation filled with long pauses just wasn't my experience. Then again, I went to high school in Ukraine, so perhaps there is a language element to this as well.
@@ImpressionBlend Mariana, I’m just curious - at the time you were growing up, did the schools teach in Ukrainian or Russian? When I was there during the 80s it seems like Russian language was forced on everyone. But my friends (and gf) spoke Ukrainian at home and to each other. Just wondering about your experience.
I really loved it ! It was really beautiful, yes weird, but the concept didn’t read as pretentious to me. Much more of a coherent story than the director’s first film and the acting was great. I think the plot leaves some room for interpretation, which is a cool creative choice in my opinion.
Nah, I don't think it's pretentious at all, even though I don't think it's mainstream audience friendly. More than anything, it's just pretty niché because of the style and storytelling - you have to be patient with it and read between the lines.
I absolutely loved this movie, so much so it’s going somewhere in my top 3 of all time. I love the “what if” aspect the film presents. What if Maddy was right? What if this world is all just a lie and you have to die here so you can be reborn as your true self? But what if it’s not? What if it’s not worth taking that step? At first I didn’t like the ending, but upon thinking about it more, Owen’s ending is a message to the viewer: don’t be like him. Don’t live your life wondering what would have happened if you’d have taken that risk. Don’t live your life wishing you could be something else. Do something to change yourself and become the best version of yourself you could be.
I was so perplexed about what I was watching upon initial viewing. I processed it afterwards, slept on it, and I recognize I Saw The TV Glow as my second favorite movie of the year right after Late Night With The Devil.
After hearing about it on a podcast I knew I had to see it and it became all I could think about all week. Movie did not disappoint and after seeing it I still have had it constantly on my mind all this week. Looking forward to seeing it again this Sunday. A movie I will definitely buy as soon as it becomes available and will watch a million times.
People do talk like that, I talk like that. Many of my friends talk like that. Not saying your experience is the same as mine, but just as a data point... a lot of us mask and pretend to be very talkative to mask and not be off-putting.
That's interesting, so you would say you and your friends sound more talkative and "upbeat" (I don't know what else to call it) in public vs more monotone and "slow-paced" in a more intimate setting?
@@ImpressionBlend I think what he's saying is that the reason you haven't seen people talk like this in real life is because they mask it, monotony in speech is a common presentation of autism, specially for children before they learn masking
A lot of people complain about the monotoned dialogue and pacing, but I honestly didn't notice anything out of the ordinary in either case. I thought the performances were compelling and the film's pacing was just right. I also don't think the film is quite as weird as people claim. It's not like it's Eraserhead with obscure and impenetrable symbolism and metaphor. It's actually straight forward and everything that happens in it is perfectly intelligible and justifiable in that it serves the story. Its premise is magical realist and I suspect a lot of people who think it's weird just didn't understand this about it.
Yes, I completely agree with you. It makes perfect sense if you take it literally. It's no weirder than rewriting the world to make Dawn be Buffy's sister, even though Dawn wasn't even a person to begin with. I also feel like it has a lot in common with The Matrix. (Which makes sense, since both are trans allegories.) Both are about whether you are brave enough to question your reality. I see this film as the answer to, "What if Neo took the blue pill?"
I knew nothing about this movie going into it except that it was based around a 90s TV Show and Fred Durst and Phoebe Bridgers were in it. It was definitely an experience to get through, and I left it feeling terrible for Owen. I think you're hoping that something good will happen for him before the film ends, but sadly that is not the case.
I have no idea when my local theater will be getting TV Glow, but honestly, the trailer didnt really pull me in. So, thanks to your review I'll give it a chance.
I generally really like movies that are this far out of the box. I’ll definitely give it a watch. When you were describing questioning one’s identity, the feeling of time speeding by - yeah. That is me. Really good non-spoiler review, btw. You painted a great picture of the film without actually giving much away, and you highlighted what its strengths and weaknesses are enough that I think most people will know whether it might be for them or definitely not. Dyakuyu 🙏🏼
I loved every part of this film and sobbed in the middle of it. To me everything was perfect. Even the monotone monologues nature for the disasociation and derealisation and depersonalisation of dysphoria. Like ugh i cant wait to rewatch it. Every choice the director and actors took felt hella intentional. I feel like i havnt witnessed clearer story telling while still being left to guess a few things. Even the ending mwah.
I just saw this, it was really interesting. I agree with your thoughts, it spoke to me emotionally to some degree. I know what you mean about the dialogue but I think it's supposed to feel very awkward. I loved the aesthetic and music and themes so it was great but not perfect.
As a fan of Gregg Araki, David Lynch, films like Donnie Darko, I'm Thinking of Ending Things and certain 90s TV... this was wonderful. And it was a surprise what way it appealed to me versus the trailer. I did think it was going to be more like Color Out of Space in part with the color scheme I admit. It's not viewer friendly for those eerie "out of place" feelings. And while I think the ending hurts in the way it's "unsatisfying", they set it up kind of making it the right ending.
It reminds me a lot of Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin in its mix of harsh reality and escapist weirdness. It's nostalgic and emotionally disturbing, although I wouldn't call it horror, it's more of a drama with horror elements. But I liked it.
Having seen t his film a few times now and having parsed the symbolism in it, I think it's easily the best film that has come out this year. It's actually not weird at all. Everything in the film is there for a specific dramatic purpose. If you get the idea behind the movie, you see that and what formerly seemed weird and stylized actually serves the story. It's not cool kid art film obscurantism and irony at all but really the opposite. It's totally sincere and heart on your sleeve storytelling.
I loved this film, I'm not a trans or queer person but I really connected with Owen and how much he feels uncomfortable in his life. I have always been a very shy and insecure person but particularly the first quarter of my life I would say was the worst. So I definitely saw myself in him. The ending just broke me and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, particularly the last scene of him apologizing for inconveniencing others with his outburst in the party, who don't even acknowledge him or pay attention to him. It was too brutal in my opinion to end in such a sad note.
Saw it and didn't care for it. I appreciate the message of the film, but like you, I didn't like the character acting. It really got on my nerves. The film was visually appealing, and the music is nice, but the story and structure are lacking IMO. If I'm being honest, the film just felt very slow. It's weird in a bad way for me. And I enjoy when directors and writers are given the opportunity to get REALLY creative, but this just felt pretentious. I feel like people are giving the movie a pass because of the subject matter and the studio behind it. Which I agree needs to be talked about more, but in a better way. But the movie advertised itself as a supernatural creepypasta-inspired horror, and the movie does NOT deliver at all. If you enjoyed this movie more power to you, but I just wasn't feeling this one..
I think I considered these two characters Gen-Xers based on the timeline, and Gen X definitely feels like the kids that never had their own revolution, sexual or otherwise. Boomers before had free love , millennials have more freedom of fluidity and identity. Gen X were the ones who were scared into submission by the threat of nuclear war, the fear of AIDS, and gay panic. I think that’s represented by Owen still not being their fully formed self even as the film fades to black. Great movie. Need to go again.
I totally understand that, and that's why I said it was stylistic choice, but I personally am just not a fan of that style of line delivery when it's the entire movie.
I could have completely misunderstood the film, but it seemed like it was trying to say that things will never feel as real or important as they did when you were a child, that life is going to get worse and worse until you die so you may as well k!11 yourself and hope you get a better afterlife. It seemed to say that you will spend your life trying to relive that part of childhood where you genuinely believed that you would be as important or powerful as the people on TV, have never ending bonds with others, but the reality is that you will feel awful and unfulfilled until you reach the end of your uninteresting and meek life. Frankly, I came away from the movie finding it depressing, hopeless, and a waste of potential. It had great artistic direction and cool themes like replacing spirituality with media, or media worship in general. Alternate realities and determining whether to believe the metaphysical or not are also interesting concepts. I just wish it was not so depressing. It showed only two endings for humans to take: self delete, or have an awkward and uninteresting life filled with regret for the things you didn't decide to do while you had the chance. What BS.
I dont actually think you got the movie because theres an ambiguity in whether maddy actually dies or if she goes back to the pink opaque. The underlying theme of not truly living in your own body is one many people experience and is deeply queer. While you could have that takeaway i just viewed it as 2 sides of a flawed coin. We also dont know what he does with what he cuts out his stomach at the end. He mentiones it at the beggining. I believe it signifies hin truly recognizing his self worth. Aside from the movies literal canonical ending thats my takeway
@@JoeMama-vg7ef Thank you for taking the time to reply with this. It's true that we have no way to know if she returned to the Pink Opaque, which is the same for death for us in the real world. We don't know what happens; it could have been the Pink Opaque, it could have been a regular death in their version of the "real" world (the world created by Meloncholy). I do see how the story focuses on different ways to either accept or repress one's identity, and how both characters are shown as flawed perspectives that we can strive to become better than. Admittedly, even taking it as solely a euphemism for realizing and living with one's identity or changing it to fit in where you think you need to, it is still a bleak story in my opinion. I was mainly commenting on it from it's own universe, beyond the metaphor. Beyond the metaphor, two kids couldn't tell if reality was true or not, and they could either k1ll themselves to get a better life, or grow up living a meek, unfulfilled existence. That was my interpretation away from the metaphors. To me, neither the intended story of accepting your trans identity, nor the cut and dry story that plays out on paper are to my taste. Again, just because of the depressing themes.
@@earlysunzetz I'm aware of the director's intended message, but the plot as I understood it was still very depressing, whether or not she intended it to be so.
I'm not gonna watch the video yet, but I'm so upset that I can't see the film! I already have to cross to the US to go watch most movies (live in the frontera) and first they didn't show Problemista and now I Saw the TV Glow. What's worse, the Alamo mistakenly said they'd show it but sent an e-mail saying it was a mistake. Maybe the best way to fix that mistake is tell us WHEN you'll show it (and I think they won't. Had to wait for Problemista to hit VOD after all). Anyways, sorry for complaining, Marianna. I hope you enjoyed this film and I'm happy to have read on Goodreads you enjoing Veronica Roth's newest novella. She's my favorite author ♥
Aww that's a bummer! It sucks with these limited releases, you just never know if they're going to be playing anywhere near you, even when it says they're expanding nationwide. I still haven't seen "Problemista", I completely missed when and where it was even released.
I enjoyed the journey of this film. The ending was not satisfying but it is horror. The way the characters talk never bothered me because there both weird and don't quite fit in.
Just watched it an came here to check am the only one, I felt regret on first 45 min of the movie bcz of the boring and predictable story line all of sudden things seems upside down and questioned my conscious oh shit!!! "hello darkness my old friend" fking metaphor made me think each awkwardness have to be happen the way it is 🤝😌, damn hell of a trip Marianna m a great admirer of your reviews this on hit me personally the exact review it meant to be by taking a neutral stand b/n those who love n hate, thanks for knitting it to the same category with beau is afraid & m thinking of ending things.✨✨
Honestly I understand the take aways from a viewers emotional perspective. But because I couldn’t relate as much (and trust me I have always struggled with living authentically…still do), I found the whole thing quite boring. Except for the 90s tv nostalgia and the cinematography…those were great.
I enjoyed this a lot more the second time around. If I had to compare it to anything, it would be The Matrix Resurrection without the baggage of franchise, and filtered through another 90's series recently resurrected, Twin Peaks. I Saw The TV Glow is the nightmare of the Blue Pill existence with failing life-support system, and the full knowledge that the real world; your truth; is slipping further out of reach.
Seems like a lot of people are enjoying it more on a rewatch, makes me curious if I should give it another viewing - maybe I'll like it even more the second time around as well.
I'm going to be one of those people who calls this the best film of the decade. For transparency's sake, I am trans so all the messaging around the trans experience hit especially hard. A fun fact about the movie is that the director got permission from A24 to seek out 15 brand new tracks for this film which is why the soundtrack sounds especially cohesive
I really wish more movies had real soundtracks like this one, seems to be a lost art at this point, and it was SO refreshing to hear these songs that fit perfectly!
That hoodie looks good on you. It makes you stand out with a glow 🌟 about you 😍 What do the letters say on your hoodie? Anyways, I saw the trailer for this and wasn’t sure if I was going to watch it, but since watching your review of it I’ll give it a watch 👀
I really wanted to like this movie. I typically have a similar taste to this channel. I just couldn't get there. It never hit me in the way that I wanted it to. I wouldn't watch it again.
I liked the movie, but was not a fan of the ending at all where it was very abrupt. I definitely preferred it over The People’s Joker which I saw last week. I’ve seen that monotone line delivery before from Justice Smith for a video game.
@@ImpressionBlend I understand why it has good reviews mainly based on the concept where it is a transgender coming-of-age story, but it really is just a fan film and the acting is pretty poor.
Not knowing anything about this movie other than the trailer and your video, I am picking up some 'Stranger Things' vibes here. Am I way off base with that assessment?
The idea was cool but overall it was a boring bland attempt at arthouse horror. But due to the underlying meaning I think it will find supporters but we all know this was a slugfest and we really have to stop calling anything that’s a little creepy a “horror “ film
Thanks for watching! I'm not sure why it's difficult to decipher though? Some things work, some things don't, and it all depends on your personal perspective.
@@asan1050 OK, well, there is a rating in the video. I don't focus on ratings because I don't think reducing a film to a single number has enough nuance and the review is much more important than the rating. But I still put it on the screen.
the ending was perfect. It didn't try to make you leave just satisfied, it made you feel the feelings of the character and I respect them for that cause usually sad or other-than-happy endings are hard to leave with.
i feel like the monotone way that both maddie and owen spoke was intentional. it was to portray even deeper than the visuals, how miserable and out of place they both feel in the midnight realm. and also, as a trans and autistic person, it didn’t feel weird or annoying to me at all. it actually felt quite spot on to how a lot of people i know talk. i think you must spend all your time with allistic (neurotypical) people, because people do indeed talk like that, even if you haven’t experienced it personally.
Yesss!!!
Trans AND autistic? Damn, God really backhanded you.
It seemed so obvious
Yeah some of the most realistic feeling dialogue I’ve ever seen to me 😅
Hmmm I interpreted the tone of voice as maybe that they have depression
My wife connected with this movie a LOT. I didn't connect with it as much, but I thoroughly enjoyed the surreal experience it provided, and the discussion she and I had about the movie afterwards just cemented it as one of my favorites of the year.
The discussion afterwards is the best part!
Oof
As a newly out trans woman who saw this on a whim knowing nothing about it I was unwell watching this. Never thought I’d ever see anything like this.
5:47 People do talk like that at their age! At least everyone in my school did, it took me way back and made me cringe a bit to remember, which is one of the themes of the movie (embarrassing/odd nostalgia), that's for the poetic/fake deep part, and the monotone part just adds to the neurodivergent undertones
exactly! glad someone else thought this way
As an asexual guy on the autusm spectrum, a lot of this spoke to me HEAVILY, as did the obsession with weird 90s basic cable horror shows (the Pete and Pete of it all was excellent, as were all the Buffy nods).
There have been movies about transness and trans people before, but there's never been one that's been able to so thoroughly convey the *experience* of being trans the way this movie has. That feeling of being lost and empty, of knowing something is wrong, something about you is different, but that you can't put your finger on it. The way you look for connection to something that speaks to you in that way, and how that often ends up being various bits of media. And you don't know *why* those things speak to you, just that they do. You hold on to them, even after they've lost some of the magic, because what else is there? Until finally everything you've used to try and help you cope isn't enough anymore. That's the reading I have of the ending. Owen/Isabel attempt to just be who they were convinced to be just isn't working anymore, and they have to know. This is the "egg cracking" moment often talked about, that they understand who they are inside. It's why I see the movie's ending as optimistic and hopeful. Sure, there's no instant embracing of their true identity, because it's still not easy to move forward. But they know what's ahead now, and there is still time.
Seeing how this movie had major narrative about a TV show I almost expected the credits to stop and more movie to happen. The ending was definitely abrupt.
The ending of “Pink Opaque” was also abrupt. The show was cancelled without giving a satisfactory conclusion, just like how life can also be ended abruptly before you’ve lived it to the fullest.
Looks and sounds intriguing. One of my favorite lines from Pedro Almodóvar’s ‘All About My Mother’ comes from the great Agrado, who says (I hope I’m getting it word perfect), “You’re most authentic the most you resemble what you’ve dreamed of being.” Your insights and discussion of the film’s themes remind me of this
I have to say that I loved the way this movie made me feel, even when I had no idea where the plot was trying to go. I recommend it to anyone who ever felt the joy of escaping reality through any form of media, whether it's TV, books, D&D, video games, etc, especially if you shared that experience with a friend.
I graduated High School in 1997, so this was huge nostalgia for me and I often miss the tube TV sets and older programming. I do love how this movie can be viewed many different ways in terms of what is real and what is not.
One thing I found interesting was how the two main characters would physically approach one another, like they were using an extra level of caution as to not startle one another's sensitivities. Maddy in particular would move closer to Owen in stages and I think this represented their increasing comfort levels with each other while they were generally not comfortable being near other people.
When I saw the trailer, I thought it was going to be more like a movie version of the creepypasta “Candle Cove” than the official adaptation _Channel Zero_ was. But thank you for explaining how it is more than that. 😊
I thought the message of the movie at first was to not watch scary things before going to sleep especially at later hours of the night. I was confused throughout the movie and I so happened to stumble on this video for clarity. Thanks for the explanation!
I see what you're saying about the way they talked BUT you definitely didn't know any 'weird kids' because there were definitely a few kids who spoke like that at my high school when I was growing up
I've definitely met and hung out with some "weird kids" back in my school days, pretty sure I was a "weird kid" for a time (for different reasons), but this monotone conversation filled with long pauses just wasn't my experience. Then again, I went to high school in Ukraine, so perhaps there is a language element to this as well.
@@ImpressionBlend Mariana, I’m just curious - at the time you were growing up, did the schools teach in Ukrainian or Russian? When I was there during the 80s it seems like Russian language was forced on everyone. But my friends (and gf) spoke Ukrainian at home and to each other. Just wondering about your experience.
@@dukeon Ukrainian! I went to school after USSR fell apart, so I actually grew up in independent Ukraine.
@@ImpressionBlend 👍🏼 Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 💙💛
I really loved it ! It was really beautiful, yes weird, but the concept didn’t read as pretentious to me. Much more of a coherent story than the director’s first film and the acting was great. I think the plot leaves some room for interpretation, which is a cool creative choice in my opinion.
Nah, I don't think it's pretentious at all, even though I don't think it's mainstream audience friendly. More than anything, it's just pretty niché because of the style and storytelling - you have to be patient with it and read between the lines.
I absolutely loved this movie, so much so it’s going somewhere in my top 3 of all time. I love the “what if” aspect the film presents. What if Maddy was right? What if this world is all just a lie and you have to die here so you can be reborn as your true self? But what if it’s not? What if it’s not worth taking that step? At first I didn’t like the ending, but upon thinking about it more, Owen’s ending is a message to the viewer: don’t be like him. Don’t live your life wondering what would have happened if you’d have taken that risk. Don’t live your life wishing you could be something else. Do something to change yourself and become the best version of yourself you could be.
I was so perplexed about what I was watching upon initial viewing. I processed it afterwards, slept on it, and I recognize I Saw The TV Glow as my second favorite movie of the year right after Late Night With The Devil.
After hearing about it on a podcast I knew I had to see it and it became all I could think about all week. Movie did not disappoint and after seeing it I still have had it constantly on my mind all this week. Looking forward to seeing it again this Sunday. A movie I will definitely buy as soon as it becomes available and will watch a million times.
People do talk like that, I talk like that. Many of my friends talk like that.
Not saying your experience is the same as mine, but just as a data point... a lot of us mask and pretend to be very talkative to mask and not be off-putting.
That's interesting, so you would say you and your friends sound more talkative and "upbeat" (I don't know what else to call it) in public vs more monotone and "slow-paced" in a more intimate setting?
@@ImpressionBlend I think what he's saying is that the reason you haven't seen people talk like this in real life is because they mask it, monotony in speech is a common presentation of autism, specially for children before they learn masking
A lot of people complain about the monotoned dialogue and pacing, but I honestly didn't notice anything out of the ordinary in either case. I thought the performances were compelling and the film's pacing was just right. I also don't think the film is quite as weird as people claim. It's not like it's Eraserhead with obscure and impenetrable symbolism and metaphor. It's actually straight forward and everything that happens in it is perfectly intelligible and justifiable in that it serves the story. Its premise is magical realist and I suspect a lot of people who think it's weird just didn't understand this about it.
Yes, I completely agree with you. It makes perfect sense if you take it literally. It's no weirder than rewriting the world to make Dawn be Buffy's sister, even though Dawn wasn't even a person to begin with.
I also feel like it has a lot in common with The Matrix. (Which makes sense, since both are trans allegories.) Both are about whether you are brave enough to question your reality. I see this film as the answer to, "What if Neo took the blue pill?"
I’m typically not one for horror movies as someone with C-PTSD. But as an autistic trans woman, this movie was so powerful to me 💜
When you're an adult, nobody will care about any of those things. So prepare yourself for that.
big words for normal feelings im sure. what else do you have?
@benjamindover4337 you think there aren't trans autistic adults? 😂
@@drtydsh if you think trans feelings are "normal" maybe you're trans 😉
@@benjamindover4337 Lol I’m 27 you dolt
I knew nothing about this movie going into it except that it was based around a 90s TV Show and Fred Durst and Phoebe Bridgers were in it. It was definitely an experience to get through, and I left it feeling terrible for Owen. I think you're hoping that something good will happen for him before the film ends, but sadly that is not the case.
I have no idea when my local theater will be getting TV Glow, but honestly, the trailer didnt really pull me in. So, thanks to your review I'll give it a chance.
I generally really like movies that are this far out of the box. I’ll definitely give it a watch. When you were describing questioning one’s identity, the feeling of time speeding by - yeah. That is me. Really good non-spoiler review, btw. You painted a great picture of the film without actually giving much away, and you highlighted what its strengths and weaknesses are enough that I think most people will know whether it might be for them or definitely not. Dyakuyu 🙏🏼
I loved every part of this film and sobbed in the middle of it. To me everything was perfect. Even the monotone monologues nature for the disasociation and derealisation and depersonalisation of dysphoria. Like ugh i cant wait to rewatch it. Every choice the director and actors took felt hella intentional. I feel like i havnt witnessed clearer story telling while still being left to guess a few things. Even the ending mwah.
Ah, say no more. Gonna see it tonight!
Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think!
What is it on?
@@Ixillu it's in theaters
Ok
@ImpressionBlend So...yeah. Identity Horror. Reminds me of "Are you afraid of the dark?" but with "The Truman Show" essence.
It gave me the same feelings Donnie darko gave me
This is possibly the closest we've gotten to a dreamcore movie. Or weirdcore. Or nostalgiacore. Or any one of the cores.
You're not wrong
I just saw this, it was really interesting. I agree with your thoughts, it spoke to me emotionally to some degree. I know what you mean about the dialogue but I think it's supposed to feel very awkward. I loved the aesthetic and music and themes so it was great but not perfect.
As a fan of Gregg Araki, David Lynch, films like Donnie Darko, I'm Thinking of Ending Things and certain 90s TV... this was wonderful. And it was a surprise what way it appealed to me versus the trailer. I did think it was going to be more like Color Out of Space in part with the color scheme I admit. It's not viewer friendly for those eerie "out of place" feelings. And while I think the ending hurts in the way it's "unsatisfying", they set it up kind of making it the right ending.
It reminds me a lot of Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin in its mix of harsh reality and escapist weirdness. It's nostalgic and emotionally disturbing, although I wouldn't call it horror, it's more of a drama with horror elements. But I liked it.
Having seen t his film a few times now and having parsed the symbolism in it, I think it's easily the best film that has come out this year. It's actually not weird at all. Everything in the film is there for a specific dramatic purpose. If you get the idea behind the movie, you see that and what formerly seemed weird and stylized actually serves the story. It's not cool kid art film obscurantism and irony at all but really the opposite. It's totally sincere and heart on your sleeve storytelling.
I loved this film, I'm not a trans or queer person but I really connected with Owen and how much he feels uncomfortable in his life. I have always been a very shy and insecure person but particularly the first quarter of my life I would say was the worst. So I definitely saw myself in him.
The ending just broke me and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, particularly the last scene of him apologizing for inconveniencing others with his outburst in the party, who don't even acknowledge him or pay attention to him. It was too brutal in my opinion to end in such a sad note.
This is the first movie I haven't really enjoyed from A24. It was exactly how you titled this video weird but beautiful.
Saw it last night. Absolutely loved it. Definitely won't be for everybody, but hit very close to home for me.
Saw it and didn't care for it. I appreciate the message of the film, but like you, I didn't like the character acting. It really got on my nerves. The film was visually appealing, and the music is nice, but the story and structure are lacking IMO. If I'm being honest, the film just felt very slow. It's weird in a bad way for me. And I enjoy when directors and writers are given the opportunity to get REALLY creative, but this just felt pretentious. I feel like people are giving the movie a pass because of the subject matter and the studio behind it. Which I agree needs to be talked about more, but in a better way. But the movie advertised itself as a supernatural creepypasta-inspired horror, and the movie does NOT deliver at all. If you enjoyed this movie more power to you, but I just wasn't feeling this one..
I’m with you, just saw it todat
I think I considered these two characters Gen-Xers based on the timeline, and Gen X definitely feels like the kids that never had their own revolution, sexual or otherwise. Boomers before had free love , millennials have more freedom of fluidity and identity. Gen X were the ones who were scared into submission by the threat of nuclear war, the fear of AIDS, and gay panic. I think that’s represented by Owen still not being their fully formed self even as the film fades to black. Great movie. Need to go again.
The line delivery is awkward because both the characters are not comfortable in their own body and in their own skin.
I totally understand that, and that's why I said it was stylistic choice, but I personally am just not a fan of that style of line delivery when it's the entire movie.
I could have completely misunderstood the film, but it seemed like it was trying to say that things will never feel as real or important as they did when you were a child, that life is going to get worse and worse until you die so you may as well k!11 yourself and hope you get a better afterlife. It seemed to say that you will spend your life trying to relive that part of childhood where you genuinely believed that you would be as important or powerful as the people on TV, have never ending bonds with others, but the reality is that you will feel awful and unfulfilled until you reach the end of your uninteresting and meek life. Frankly, I came away from the movie finding it depressing, hopeless, and a waste of potential. It had great artistic direction and cool themes like replacing spirituality with media, or media worship in general. Alternate realities and determining whether to believe the metaphysical or not are also interesting concepts. I just wish it was not so depressing. It showed only two endings for humans to take: self delete, or have an awkward and uninteresting life filled with regret for the things you didn't decide to do while you had the chance. What BS.
I dont actually think you got the movie because theres an ambiguity in whether maddy actually dies or if she goes back to the pink opaque. The underlying theme of not truly living in your own body is one many people experience and is deeply queer. While you could have that takeaway i just viewed it as 2 sides of a flawed coin. We also dont know what he does with what he cuts out his stomach at the end. He mentiones it at the beggining. I believe it signifies hin truly recognizing his self worth. Aside from the movies literal canonical ending thats my takeway
thats one interesting way to interpret the movie but that's not actually what the message is at all
@@JoeMama-vg7ef Thank you for taking the time to reply with this.
It's true that we have no way to know if she returned to the Pink Opaque, which is the same for death for us in the real world. We don't know what happens; it could have been the Pink Opaque, it could have been a regular death in their version of the "real" world (the world created by Meloncholy).
I do see how the story focuses on different ways to either accept or repress one's identity, and how both characters are shown as flawed perspectives that we can strive to become better than. Admittedly, even taking it as solely a euphemism for realizing and living with one's identity or changing it to fit in where you think you need to, it is still a bleak story in my opinion.
I was mainly commenting on it from it's own universe, beyond the metaphor. Beyond the metaphor, two kids couldn't tell if reality was true or not, and they could either k1ll themselves to get a better life, or grow up living a meek, unfulfilled existence. That was my interpretation away from the metaphors.
To me, neither the intended story of accepting your trans identity, nor the cut and dry story that plays out on paper are to my taste. Again, just because of the depressing themes.
@@earlysunzetz I'm aware of the director's intended message, but the plot as I understood it was still very depressing, whether or not she intended it to be so.
I'm not gonna watch the video yet, but I'm so upset that I can't see the film! I already have to cross to the US to go watch most movies (live in the frontera) and first they didn't show Problemista and now I Saw the TV Glow. What's worse, the Alamo mistakenly said they'd show it but sent an e-mail saying it was a mistake. Maybe the best way to fix that mistake is tell us WHEN you'll show it (and I think they won't. Had to wait for Problemista to hit VOD after all). Anyways, sorry for complaining, Marianna. I hope you enjoyed this film and I'm happy to have read on Goodreads you enjoing Veronica Roth's newest novella. She's my favorite author ♥
Aww that's a bummer! It sucks with these limited releases, you just never know if they're going to be playing anywhere near you, even when it says they're expanding nationwide. I still haven't seen "Problemista", I completely missed when and where it was even released.
Identity horror? I think you have just coined a genre.
I enjoyed the journey of this film. The ending was not satisfying but it is horror. The way the characters talk never bothered me because there both weird and don't quite fit in.
Just watched it an came here to check am the only one, I felt regret on first 45 min of the movie bcz of the boring and predictable story line all of sudden things seems upside down and questioned my conscious oh shit!!! "hello darkness my old friend" fking metaphor made me think each awkwardness have to be happen the way it is 🤝😌, damn hell of a trip
Marianna m a great admirer of your reviews this on hit me personally the exact review it meant to be by taking a neutral stand b/n those who love n hate, thanks for knitting it to the same category with beau is afraid & m thinking of ending things.✨✨
Relational drama meets supernatural horror.
😁💯👍
Honestly I understand the take aways from a viewers emotional perspective. But because I couldn’t relate as much (and trust me I have always struggled with living authentically…still do), I found the whole thing quite boring. Except for the 90s tv nostalgia and the cinematography…those were great.
Great review Iove the way you explained this.
I enjoyed this a lot more the second time around. If I had to compare it to anything, it would be The Matrix Resurrection without the baggage of franchise, and filtered through another 90's series recently resurrected, Twin Peaks. I Saw The TV Glow is the nightmare of the Blue Pill existence with failing life-support system, and the full knowledge that the real world; your truth; is slipping further out of reach.
Seems like a lot of people are enjoying it more on a rewatch, makes me curious if I should give it another viewing - maybe I'll like it even more the second time around as well.
I'm going to be one of those people who calls this the best film of the decade. For transparency's sake, I am trans so all the messaging around the trans experience hit especially hard. A fun fact about the movie is that the director got permission from A24 to seek out 15 brand new tracks for this film which is why the soundtrack sounds especially cohesive
I really wish more movies had real soundtracks like this one, seems to be a lost art at this point, and it was SO refreshing to hear these songs that fit perfectly!
I loved this film and would be surprised if I saw something better this year.. can't go all the way to the decade, though.
I Can see everything that she says in this video, but I feel like the whole movie was so much deeper than this.
1 minute 43 seconds into your video and I already knew this was my kind of movie.
Ive tried to watch Worlds fair like three times. Fall asleep each time.
That hoodie looks good on you. It makes you stand out with a glow 🌟 about you 😍 What do the letters say on your hoodie?
Anyways, I saw the trailer for this and wasn’t sure if I was going to watch it, but since watching your review of it I’ll give it a watch 👀
She's not going to date you, man
We're All Going To The World's Fair was an interesting film experience as well, but I Saw The TV Glow was much more engaging.
I really wanted to like this movie. I typically have a similar taste to this channel. I just couldn't get there. It never hit me in the way that I wanted it to. I wouldn't watch it again.
I was trying to relate to this movie so much but couldn't. Lol
I mean, if it's not for you - it's not for you. Happens to me all the time lol
The last ten minutes of this movie ruined me.
ssssss beautiful is a strong word...
I liked the movie, but was not a fan of the ending at all where it was very abrupt. I definitely preferred it over The People’s Joker which I saw last week. I’ve seen that monotone line delivery before from Justice Smith for a video game.
I keep hearing about "The People's Joker" , maybe I need to check that out...
@@ImpressionBlend I understand why it has good reviews mainly based on the concept where it is a transgender coming-of-age story, but it really is just a fan film and the acting is pretty poor.
Not knowing anything about this movie other than the trailer and your video, I am picking up some 'Stranger Things' vibes here. Am I way off base with that assessment?
Hmmm no, I can't say that's how I felt about it.
@@ImpressionBlend I see. Thanks for the response.👍
It’s about gender dysphoria or growing queer and attempting to cope with everything by depersonalizing or dissociating through popular media
I didn’t understand it but I dug it.
I loved the movie.
The idea was cool but overall it was a boring bland attempt at arthouse horror. But due to the underlying meaning I think it will find supporters but we all know this was a slugfest and we really have to stop calling anything that’s a little creepy a “horror “ film
"we all know" lmao
Would you use the term thriller? Or something else?
Difficult review to decipher, Like when you come to a fork in the road take it, Thanks for posting this video.
Thanks for watching! I'm not sure why it's difficult to decipher though? Some things work, some things don't, and it all depends on your personal perspective.
@@ImpressionBlend Right, What would you give it on a scale from 1 to 10? That would make it clear. Thanks!
@@asan1050 OK, well, there is a rating in the video. I don't focus on ratings because I don't think reducing a film to a single number has enough nuance and the review is much more important than the rating. But I still put it on the screen.
@@asan1050 7/10
IB, he could be blind.
Leaving a comment
I really really liked it
I loved it
best a24 film
i really liked this movie
Living authentically is with Christ
Movie was pretty awful
It was going good until trans stuff
Well I got something to tell you about the writer/director…
@@s.rodriguez8308the director of matrix is trans and didn’t made idiotic movies. Americans don’t understand that ideology is a mask of communism.
@@yurilsapsthere are worms in your brain
@@juan-zf3rl you are a fish on the sea arguing that water doesn’t exist
@@yurilsaps you clearly didn’t get the matrix subtext or see recent interviews about the matrix with the wachowski sisters. Lol
It had a slight “Nowhere” vibe (Greg Araki).
PofSh