We were legit worried that A24 might consign Jane Schoenbrun’s masterful new horror flick I Saw the TV Glow to the Island of We-Don’t-Know-How-To-Sell-This Toys. Still, based on this new fanfare-filled trailer that the boutique studio dropped earlier on Wednesday, it seems they found a way to get it out of the shadow of Civil War and Love Lies Bleeding. There’s not much more that we can say about this film — we already dumped some 2,000 words on you when we saw it back at Sundance in January — and honestly, this preview speaks for itself. Just do yourself a favor and don’t take any “chemical enhancements” before you see this — it’s a practically guaranteed bad trip, even if it’s an amazing movie.
Peep it:
You can always go back and read our review from this year’s Sundance at any time, but here’s the blurb that enticed us from the Festival Program in lieu of a proper official synopsis:
“Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.
Writer-director Jane Schoenbrun’s ‘We’re All Going to the World’s Fair’ (2021 Sundance Film Festival) introduced us to a new genre of their own design: emo horror. Their follow-up feature builds upon that vibe, worming its way into the subconscious with an equally potent autopsy of reality versus fiction. As Owen, Justice Smith exudes a quiet vulnerability, while co-lead Brigette Lundy-Paine displays a confident yet awkward conviction. Schoenbrun has a knack for portraying the trappings of adolescent family life with nuance and a welcome ambiguity, freeing audience members to relate in a way that is best suited to their own experiences. ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ forces us to consider whether the memories of our youth betrayed us, or if something more sinister is at play.”
I Saw the TV Glow hits theaters on May 3.