Sky have just dropped a hidden gem into their movie collection, a film so captivating it caught the eye of none other than Martin Scorsese.
Subscribers to Sky Cinema, or those with access through NOW TV, can now indulge in the psychological horror I Saw The TV Glow.
Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, this is the second instalment of their Screen Trilogy, following the 2021 release We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, although you don’t need to have seen that film to enjoy this one.
The film stars Justice Smith and Jack Haven as Owen and Maddy, two teenagers who find solace in a late-night show reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, named The Pink Opaque. As they immerse themselves in its supernatural narrative, their reality begins to fracture after a series of unsettling events.
Fans say the film will be a cult classic in the future (Image: A24)
Despite an impressive 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a slew of positive reviews, I Saw The TV Glow was surprisingly snubbed during awards season, leading comicbook.com to assert that “the Oscars and Golden Globes criminally overlooked” the title.
Nevertheless, it did not go unnoticed by elite, with the legendary director Martin Scorsese himself offering high praise for the film, .
The legendary director behind cinematic masterpieces like Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street, opened up to AP last November about the film that deeply impressed him. He praised: “There was one film I liked a great deal I saw two weeks ago called I Saw the TV Glow. It really was emotionally and psychologically powerful and very moving. It builds on you, in a way. I didn’t know who made it. It’s this Jane Schoenbrun.”
Scorsese loved I Saw The TV Glow (Image: A24)
Scorsese isn’t the only one enamoured with the thriller; fans have been expressing their profound connections with the film online.
One viewer was moved to tears, sharing: “This movie hit me hard. Resonated with me so deeply I had to cry through the credits, ruminating on my own life, the choices I’ve made and the repression/conformity I’ve put myself through in hopes of an easier, safer existence. I think anyone who grew up as an outcast/weird kid, especially in a suburb will relate to the film and characters struggles.”
Another fan recounted a poignant moment in the cinema, saying: “After the screen went black, through their devastated sobbing, I heard the person sitting behind me say, ‘I’m feeling emotions right now that psychology doesn’t even have the words for.’ And I realised that sometimes, it’s more important for a film to be affecting than entertaining.”
One viewer was captivated by the film’s unique storytelling, remarking: “This film reminded me of the first time I saw Donnie Darko. It left me thinking and needing to watch it again. This film is entirely metaphorical and does not follow an obvious straight forward plot line. It will make you think and try to discern what every scene means and I enjoy that style of filmmaking.”
Echoing this sentiment, another cinema-goer predicted the film’s potential status, saying: “A future cult classic that deserves to be seen on the big screen, but it was fitting I saw this with a smattering of others in a matinee. It’s a movie that can change your life if you let it, and is somehow also about the danger of letting media change your life. It walks a delicate balance and is a wholly original work of pastiche filmmaking.”
I Saw the TV Glow is streaming on Sky Cinema and NOW.