Jane Schoenbrun’s astounding second feature hits with the force of Niagara Falls, a gripping trans allegory that dives deep into the denial of self and the seismic opaque of self-discovery. Expanding on their uncanny ability to study a childhood lived through the screen, I Saw the TV Glow serves as both a vital work of urgency for those trapped in between the person they’re meant to be and the person they are, and a radiant rumination on the joys of finding community in art and the dangers of hiding in that art when you’re beckoned to grow into its lessons. Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine both deliver devastating portrayals of two people trying to decide if they’ll let the glow take them or if they’ll hide away in their present misery. Lundy-Paine, in particular, leaves an unforgettable mark, particularly in one globe-rattling monologue in a dive bar.
Inviting you in with the late-night discomfort and allure of 1990s Snick-era young adult television and stunning you with the still-shock of David Lynch, David Cronenberg and Ari Aster, Schoenbrun’s triumphant coming-of-age horror fantasy will serve as a life-changer for some and a fierce call for empathy for others. It’s a monument of trans cinema and a breathtaking leap for Schoenbrun into auteur status. This film is a major work of the decade so far, and the closer it draws you in to its glow, the more you’re likely to avoid the perils that await staying still.
Where to Watch: In Theaters