Two teenagers bond over their love of a supernatural TV show, but it is mysteriously cancelled.Two teenagers bond over their love of a supernatural TV show, but it is mysteriously cancelled.Two teenagers bond over their love of a supernatural TV show, but it is mysteriously cancelled.
- Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations
Emma Portner
- Mr. Melancholy
- (as Emma Porter)
- …
Timothy Griffin Allan
- Lance
- (as Timothy Allan)
Marlyn Bandiero
- Brenda's Friend
- (as Marilyn Bandiero)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
See A24's Film Slate for 2024
See A24's Film Slate for 2024
Devoted followers of A24, behold! Find out what's on the indie studio's 2024 film slate.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCanadian dancer and choreographer Emma Portner plays four different roles in the film, three of them being villains in The Pink Opaque. She played Marco, the evil clown, and Mr. Melancholy. The only non-Pink Opaque character she plays is Amanda, Maddy's friend who originally began watching The Pink Opaque with her until they stopped being friends. Maddy later says "I feel like she's a secret agent sent here to make my life miserable" after bringing up how their friendship fell apart. The fact that she plays most of the villains in The Pink Opaque adds to the quote.
Featured review
A surreal coming of age tale that lingers days after watching
We aren't even halfway through the year yet, but I can't imagine another 2024 movie topping "I Saw the TV Glow" for me. It's a surreal coming of age tale - definitely NOT straight-forward, in-your-face horror - that will likely be a "love it" or "hate it" due to writer-director Jane Schoenbrun's bold and distinct vision. It's obviously a "love it" for me, as I found the film moving and near-perfect on every level.
If anyone's feeling hesitant because of Schoenbrun's micro-budgeted directorial debut, "We're All Going to the World's Fair," "TV Glow" is completely different stylistically and in its scope. I appreciated "World's Fair" as a directorial debut and thought it had strong moments, but it ultimately fell short for me. HOWEVER, watching it did make me excited to see what Schoenbrun would do for their next film!
While "World's Fair" felt mostly grounded in reality (or maybe a somewhat augmented reality due to the character's downward descent into their online world), the uncanny and hypnotic are more present in "TV Glow." As I mentioned, this isn't a straight-forward, in-your-face horror movie - it dabbles more in the Lynchian approach of slow-burn nightmares that leave you unsure of what exactly you just witnessed. The focus, though, is mostly on our protagonists and their individual and shared journeys of loneliness, dysmorphia, and the horrors that spawn from such damaging states of mind.
Also, I can confirm (without spoilers) that this is NOT based on that one creepypasta about the mysterious children's TV show, "Candle Cove"! The movie does center on a TV show for young people, but the type of show it is and its role in the characters' lives are much different. While that creepypasta has a great and terrifying twist, this movie's characters' relationship with "The Pink Opaque" is one of obsession, nostalgia, and realization.
Lastly, "TV Glow" will likely PISS OFF viewers that cry "WOKE" at every instance of diversity or inclusion - and that is ALWAYS a PLUS in my book! What they're really complaining about is the fact that different people and communities are having more and more movies about them. I know, this review kind of went off track... the only thing left to say is: They'll be fine with "The Beekeeper", "Argylle", "Fall Guy", "Boy Kills World", and a slew of other Hollywood movies representing them in 2024 and beyond. Meanwhile, unique and necessary voices like Schoenbrun's can simultaneously exist and we're all better for it.
If anyone's feeling hesitant because of Schoenbrun's micro-budgeted directorial debut, "We're All Going to the World's Fair," "TV Glow" is completely different stylistically and in its scope. I appreciated "World's Fair" as a directorial debut and thought it had strong moments, but it ultimately fell short for me. HOWEVER, watching it did make me excited to see what Schoenbrun would do for their next film!
While "World's Fair" felt mostly grounded in reality (or maybe a somewhat augmented reality due to the character's downward descent into their online world), the uncanny and hypnotic are more present in "TV Glow." As I mentioned, this isn't a straight-forward, in-your-face horror movie - it dabbles more in the Lynchian approach of slow-burn nightmares that leave you unsure of what exactly you just witnessed. The focus, though, is mostly on our protagonists and their individual and shared journeys of loneliness, dysmorphia, and the horrors that spawn from such damaging states of mind.
Also, I can confirm (without spoilers) that this is NOT based on that one creepypasta about the mysterious children's TV show, "Candle Cove"! The movie does center on a TV show for young people, but the type of show it is and its role in the characters' lives are much different. While that creepypasta has a great and terrifying twist, this movie's characters' relationship with "The Pink Opaque" is one of obsession, nostalgia, and realization.
Lastly, "TV Glow" will likely PISS OFF viewers that cry "WOKE" at every instance of diversity or inclusion - and that is ALWAYS a PLUS in my book! What they're really complaining about is the fact that different people and communities are having more and more movies about them. I know, this review kind of went off track... the only thing left to say is: They'll be fine with "The Beekeeper", "Argylle", "Fall Guy", "Boy Kills World", and a slew of other Hollywood movies representing them in 2024 and beyond. Meanwhile, unique and necessary voices like Schoenbrun's can simultaneously exist and we're all better for it.
helpful•4535
- yoshimasu_k
- May 7, 2024
New and Upcoming Horror
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Я видел свет телевизора
- Filming locations
- 601 Main St, Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA(The Saint music venue)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,575,964
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $119,015
- May 5, 2024
- Gross worldwide
- $3,575,964
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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