I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Ehrlich praises the film as an astonishing, haunting exploration of trans identity and the power of media. He singles out Brigette Lundy-Paine’s intensely delivered monologue as especially chilling and poignant.

Jackson calls the film a triumph of beautiful darkness, while noting its unusual approach may not appeal to everyone. He praises its evocative visuals and the hypnotic, emotionally unsettling performances of Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine.

Rosenfield finds the film a potent, assured portrait of anxiety, repression and transgender life. She especially praises its vivid, eerie visuals and the way its horror elements gather force.

Venning finds the film awe-inspiringly original, visceral, and intensely moving. She especially praises Justice Smith’s revelatory performance and the film’s affecting queer allegory.

The critic finds the film an astonishing, emotionally powerful exploration of identity and self-denial. They single out Justice Smith’s phenomenal performance and praise the film’s dreamlike ’90s atmosphere.

Lee praises the film as a richly immersive and haunting work, with particular force in its exploration of queer and trans experience. He finds the last act imperfect but says its emotional impact leaves a powerful impression.

Brody regards the film as a profound, carefully realized vision of trans experience and adolescent isolation. He especially praises the performances and Schoenbrun’s evocative visual composition.

The review presents the film as a vivid, engaging coming-of-age mystery-horror. It singles out the story’s trans twist as a distinctive element.

The review calls the film an eerie, empathetic allegorical horror that both unnerves and mesmerises. It praises Schoenbrun’s uncanny imagery, especially moments that make ordinary scenes feel nightmarish.

The review presents the film as a haunting evocation of childhood television obsessions. The standfirst singles out its treatment of those obsessions for praise.

The review finds the film fantastically inventive while emphasizing its unsettling, isolating view of reality and human connection. It singles out the analogue textures and saturated colours of the fictional show as especially effective.

Willmore finds the film intensely personal and enveloping, though its obliqueness can be frustrating. She praises its rich sensory details and Schoenbrun’s willingness to work things out through the filmmaking.

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Howells applauds the film’s haunting, important cautionary tale but finds its relentless gloom likely to turn viewers off. He praises Justice Smith’s performance while lamenting the character’s heartbreaking unfulfillment.

Shaffer finds the film’s exploration of transgender self-actualization compelling but muddled by genre conventions. He praises its innovative portrayal of trans temporality, while criticizing horror imagery that distracts from Justice Smith’s vulnerable performance.

Lodge finds the film affecting in its portrayal of two guarded teens, but less compelling as it shifts into fragmented surrealism. He praises Brigette Lundy-Paine’s fragile, volatile performance while criticizing the film’s increasingly wayward control and repetitive abrasive style.

Nicholson finds the film’s mood and imagery haunting but says its sluggish scenes make engagement difficult. She praises Schoenbrun’s evocative ’90s details while criticizing the modern folk soundtrack and drawn-out dialogue.

The critic calls the film terrifyingly brilliant and a rare work that seems to rewrite the cinematic rulebook. They single out its empathetic, unsettling exploration of fandom and the trans experience, supported by Justice Smith’s performance.

The critic calls the film a modern masterpiece and a rare, revelatory work. They especially praise Brigette Lundy-Paine’s performance, amplified by Eric K. Yue’s cinematography and the soundtrack.

The headline gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it an entrancing trans masterpiece. It singles out Schoenbrun’s richly stylized approach for praise.

Nayman finds the film haunting, ambitious, and deeply affecting, praising Schoenbrun’s ability to turn fandom and nostalgia into a story about identity and isolation. He singles out Yeule’s cover of “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” as a beautiful, emotionally resonant centerpiece.

The review calls the film an instant cult classic and a fresh, exciting work. It especially praises the performances and the film’s trans-identity allegory.

Bonaime finds the film fascinating, unconventional, and deserving of discussion. He particularly praises its unsettling tone and Justice Smith’s performance, which give its exploration of identity and alienation emotional force.

The critic finds the film difficult to unlock at first, but says its themes ultimately have a powerful impact. They praise Justice Smith’s fearless performance and the film’s nuanced understanding of how fandom can reveal hidden desires.

The critic gives the film a strong recommendation, calling it a potentially vital work for viewers who connect with its story. She praises its haunting visual storytelling and its portrayal of the fear and repression surrounding Owen’s emerging identity.

Robertson finds the film a vivid, disturbing coming-of-age story about identity and repression. She praises its ultraviolet imagery and its depiction of the monstrous forces at the edges of fantasy.

Wise finds the film dizzying and sometimes hard to follow, but ultimately a must-see gut punch. He praises Schoenbrun’s combative visual style and its intuitive grasp of cult-movie fandom.

The critic finds the film unsettling, visually dazzling, and likely to enchant some viewers while baffling others. They praise its haunting use of light and its evocative portrayal of devotion to a mysterious television show.

Monson finds the film’s trans metaphor compelling and its emotional perspective empathetic, but judges the story underdeveloped and frustratingly passive. They praise its neon-soaked atmosphere and its affirmation of transgender experience, while faulting its thin narrative and overexplained mythology.