In Jane Schoenbrun’s underground masterpiece, a pair of unusual teens find comfort in a feminine pastiche of Power Rangers peppered with Buffy-inspired typography. The narrative leaps through time periods. In the mid-90s, a young and solitary Owen becomes acquainted with the cooler and older teen Maddy, after he sees her engrossed in an episode guide of the young adult series, The Pink Opaque. Every episode sees the subtly lesbian characters Isabel and Tara confront a fresh monster sent their way by the arch-nemesis, Mr Melancholy.
As years roll by, our protagonists, Owen (played by Justice Smith) and Maddy (performed by Brigette Lundy-Paine) lead lives that are filled with sadness and seclusion. Owen’s mother Brenda (Danielle Deadwyler) falls terminally ill and his father Frank (Fred Durst), disallows Owen from watching what he perceives as a feminine programme. Maddy gets shunned for her sexuality and a related gossip in school. Desperate to leave her stepfather, Maddy eventually disappears, and the enigmatic series ends prematurely after five seasons.
Time passes. It turns out that these events were nothing but an initial hint at Schoenbrun’s eccentric metaphor for gender dysmorphia. Mere hype doesn’t suffice. Post the director’s ultra-trendy first feature film – We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, this fantastically creative tale aligns with Mark Fisher’s theories about unusual and suspenseful TV shows of the past.
The transgender community has wholeheartedly welcomed the film as representative of their transitioning journey, with the standout performance of Brigette Lundy-Paine acting as a significant catalyst. The distinguishing mythology, while increasingly unsettling, is detailed and comprehensive, offering a rewarding narrative. The same element manifests as an abundant source of untreaded paths and resonates with those who have navigated an uncomfortable adolescence or the delight of being a pop culture enthusiast.
Hedley Thomas, a committed investigator well-known from the Bronwyn: Teacher’s Pet case, is in pursuit of the mystery surrounding yet another missing mother’s supposed demise. Smith, famed for his noteworthy performances in widely acclaimed films such as Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, delivers a spectacular demonstration of subdued self-control. An unexpected graphic towards the end suggests that he is burdened by his past failings. This chilling display is assured to leave viewers stunned, the heart-wrenching denouement merely compounding that reaction. The film, ‘I Saw the TV Glow’, is set to hit cinemas this Friday, the 26th of July.