Review: ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ — A Haunting View of Suburban Discomfort
Jane Schoenbrun’s second feature film is strange and disturbing, beautiful, brilliant and alienating
Jane Schoenbrun’s debut feature film We’re All Going to the World’s Fair released in 2021. I remember it as a specific moment in film as, amongst my friends at the time, there was a real hype around the film. It was unique and fascinating, a film easily discussed because of its open-endedness. When I got around to it, I liked it but remained nonplussed. I still don’t really know how to describe the experience of seeing it — it’s a bizarre film, one that holds the viewer at a certain distance because of its specificity. At the same time that I felt I didn’t really understand the film, I still noticed a tightness in my chest and a feeling of unease just at the thought of it. Clearly, it was effective whether I understood why or not.
Funnily enough, my experience with Schoenbrun’s new film mirrored my experience with her debut quite closely. I was and still am mystified by the experience of I Saw the TV Glow, but I’d be lying if I said I really knew why.
Schoenbrun’s technical artistry certainly isn’t the problem as, for the most part, this film is exceptionally put together. The script and the performances…
