Hey everyone, Slick Dungeon here! If you know me, you would consider me a cinephile. I see more films than most people and I like all kinds of genres. So, rarely does a film come along that is surreal, challenging, multi-layered, beautifully shot, and interesting that I have not seen. I can say without a doubt I Saw the TV Glow does all of that. However, there are some big cautions before I recommend it.

This is an A24 psychological horror film about two people who bond over a television show. If tell you much more than that, I will spoil the film. But not everyone will appreciate this one. The movie may very well challenge your patience. To say it is a slow burn is an understatement. There are long pauses and hyper-focusing on mundane events. Yet the surreal aspects in the movie do keep you guessing as to what is real and what is something else.

Overall the film provides a sense of dread and sometimes small bursts of terror but not in the traditional sense of horror. The story itself is multi-layered and the ending can be divisive but I think it works in the long run. There are several interpretations you can take away from the movie but I think, no matter what way you look at it, this film is ultimately about identity. Do we choose to accept who we are or bury ourselves deep in the ground?

The film is also a callback to 90s nostalgia. I think I’m just a little too old to truly appreciate that aspect but I’m young enough to recognize what is going on. If you were into oddball kids shows like Goosebumps in the 90s the show within the movie is going to feel familiar to you.

I can’t emphasize enough that this film expects both your attention and your patience. This is something we’ve almost entirely lost in film lately so I really appreciate it here. But if you are not comfortable with the surreal this may not be for you. And if you need constant action, this film will frustrate. But I promise you, you aren’t going to find a film like it anytime soon.

It’s a bold statement made by true artists. Whether you like that or not is up to you but I hope A24 does continue to allow their creators to take risks and tell us new stories. The more of that we get, the better film in general will be.

Some people will find the ending too abrupt. I admit, I was waiting for some kind of major event to twist things around and it never quite came. But the end they did go with is just as impactful. This is the kind of film that probably needs multiple viewings to be appreciated. And you have to be comfortable with a heavy dose of ambiguity and interpretation. But if you can keep an open mind, you’re in for a unique experience.

Surreally yours,

Slick Dungeon