I Saw the TV Glow (2024), directed by Jane Schoenburn, is an allegory of the experience of transgender individuals. It leans into rawness and authenticity, and is a breath of fresh air in terms of both its genre and socio-cultural message. It tackles serious issues in a way that puts people who live through these at the forefront, giving them a voice and representing struggles in what is considered a real and emotionally-impactful way. The creative decisions further embrace the messages and themes.

The psychological horror film explores self-actualization, gender expression, and whether to accept or repress one’s own identity. It utilizes symbolism as well as temporal distortion to show the progression of a person’s psychological state when in an environment that rejects them. The director themself is non-binary, and multiple members of the cast are also members of the LGBTQ+ community. In posts made by a24, the network the movie is featured on, Jane openly talks about how terrifying it can be to realize you may be transgender, and how the story is meant to reflect their personal feelings years ago, early into their transition. 

The film focuses on two characters, Owen and Maddy. The two teenagers initially bond over their love for a specific TV show, but later on, the two drift apart when Maddy runs away from their small hometown. It isn’t until years later that the two reunite, and Owen has to make a decision for himself on whether to join her. As time progresses, we see multiple moments from Owen’s life where he is questioned, or questions himself, as to what he truly wants in life. 

The movie uses heavy symbolism to illustrate its themes. Initially set in the 1990’s, I Saw the TV Glow  emphasizes  vibrant, neon colors to reflect the setting. Colors such as blue or pink are shown during moments where Owen seems more open with himself, while colors grow dull during scenes where he is anxious or tries to hide parts of himself. Most scenes are set at night, creating an ominous or eerie atmosphere, inducing a sense of paranoia in audiences. Televisions are an important object in the movie. The Pink Opaque is frequently watched on a TV, usually Maddy’s, as the movie progresses. The show itself is pivotal to the story, as the narrative shifts between the “real world” and the world and characters of The Pink Opaque. When they are adults, Maddy asks Owen to be “buried alive”, like how she was, alluding to her experiencing some kind of awakening after she ran away from home years ago.

Throughout the movie, Owen finds himself in situations where he is made to question his gender identity and self. In early childhood, his father questions him wanting to watch The Pink Opaque as it is considered a “girl’s show”. When visiting Maddy, he tries on her clothes and seems to have a moment of realization. As teenagers, Maddy comes out to him and asks him directly whether he likes boys or girls, to which he replies; “I like TV Shows.” Although, he never gets “buried alive" like Maddy, and we see him carry on a normal or socially palatable life. He continues to live in his childhood home, and appears as an older, depressed man who works at a family entertainment center. 

Childhood is another prevalent concept in the film. The movie taps into the nostalgia audiences may feel, as it starts in a middle school, showing activities such as gym class and parent-teacher events, and ultimately, ends at a family entertainment center, where children commonly play. Maddy fixates on her and Owen’s favorite childhood TV show, even after he has long lost interest in it. In contrast, when Owen revisits his childhood later in life, he is disillusioned by it, and doesn’t understand why he felt so strongly about the things that used to be at the center of his life. 

As time progresses, we see the effect Owen’s struggles have on him physically and psychologically. Owen almost always comes across as anxious and wary throughout the movie. He is non-confrontational, and expresses that he just wants to live normally. However, his depression and asthma worsen with age, and by the end of the movie he appears timid, afraid, and fatigued. These aspects of Owen’s character show how gender dysphoria and social pressures impact or even define his self-esteem, motivations and lifestyle.

Overall, I Saw the TV Glow adopts an otherworldly, yet dreary atmosphere to help the audience feel the emotions, goals and dilemmas of its characters. It uses unconventional story beats, character arcs and symbolism to illustrate an experience that is considered unconventional by our society, The cinematography and soundtrack decisions create a very specific tone, and directs audiences to the experiences that come when social pressures conflict with self-discovery.