I Saw the TV Glow
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Writer: Jane Schoenbrun
Cast: Justice Smith, Jack Haven, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, Fred Durst, Amber Benson, Michael C. Maronna, Danny Tamberelli
Seen on: 2./4.1.2026

Content Note: (critical treatment of) (internalized) queermisia

Plot:
Owen (Ian Foreman, later: Justice Smith) is a lonely teenager in a rather strict household. But he connects with Maddie (Jack Haven) who is in his school, though a couple of years older, when he sees her reading a book about The Pink Opaque, a TV show that always intrigued Owen but he was never allowed to watch. After Maddie simply invites him to watch with her, Owen’s life is never the same again.

I had heard good things about I Saw the TV Glow, so I was really looking forward to this. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed in the slightest – the movie is beautiful, terrifying, touching, funny and very astute in its allegory.

I Saw the TV Glow is one of the most creative films about being queer, especially trans that I ever had the fortune to see. Despite or because of its allegorical nature, it is also one of the clearest examinations of one aspect of the trans experience: when you realize something about yourself, but you don’t really have the vocabulary, you don’t know what transitioning is, just that it would mean leaving your old life behind completely. And are you really prepared to do that?

I never really knew where the film was headed and it took me by surprise quite a few times in its developments, and yet, everything fit perfectly together. As a queer (though not trans) person myself, I found the film deeply meaningful and had to shed more than one tear for both Maddie and Owen and their paths.

I have to admit that the film being set in the 90s (when I was a teen) and drawing heavily on Buffy the Vampire Slayer with The Pink Opaque makes it even more personal for me as Buffy was also a formative show for me (and I used to watch it through videotapes recorded by a classmate). But The Pink Opaque is not just a knock-off Buffy, it is its very own thing and Schoenbrun does excellent work there in hitting all the right notes, making me both want to watch the show and know that it would probably feel very disappointing to watch as an adult. (It did remind me a little of The Mighty Boosh in their more nightmare-ish moments which was another weird connection to make.)

I was completely transfixed by the film. Justice Smith is fantastic as Owen and Jack Haven in their more supporting part as Maddie really owns their moments. Schoenbrun’s vision is also simply unique and stylistically wonderful – watching this movie certainly bumped their first feature up on my watchlist. I just loved the film.

Summarizing: something special.