A24 New Sci-Fi Is the Best Slow-Burn Horror of 2024 (So Far)
It’s a must-watch for fans of David Lynch’s surreal movies.
Known for making the most sensational horror flicks of the last decade, A24 is on all genre veterans' lips. There is no doubt that if you enjoy chilling stories you’ve seen at least one of their horrors, which include The Witch (2015), It Comes at Night (2017), Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019) and the recently hyped Talk to Me (2023).
Every fan of the studio knows it has just released another must-see horror, that combines not only scary parts and suspense, but also science fiction and drama elements. It was theatrically released on May 17 and has already gained lots of praise.
The plot revolves around Owen, a teenage outcast, who tries to make it through the struggles of coming of age and not belonging to the society. One day his classmate Maddy introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show titled The Pink Opaque that focuses on two teenagers who are fighting monster creatures using their supernatural abilities.
Owen and Maddy bond over the show, however, it suddenly gets canceled, and it becomes the very moment when their view of reality begins to crack, with the images from The Pink Opaque blending with it, and the show turns Owen’s life into a nightmare.
This synopsis promises an emotional roller coaster of the movie, and it’s proved by the first reviews it is now receiving. Fans are in awe of its dreamy, yet terrifyingly surreal atmosphere and, in particular, of its gradually growing sense of unease and fear.
The film also deserved the comparisons to David Lynch timeless works, such as Twin Peaks ( 1990 - 1991) and Mulholland Drive (2001), that are notable for its suspenseful tone and surrealistic cinematography, with its visionary images from the other world.
The more you observe Owen’s immersion into another dimension, the more you start to question what’s real and what isn’t. The movie’s relatively slow worldbuilding and steady exploration of the protagonist’s inner world clearly adds to its horror aspect.
Titled I Saw the TV Glow, this A24’s flick was positively received by critics, and it’s reflected in its 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience is also praising its unique narration and unnervingly beautiful cinematography.
“Wow. Visceral, unsettling, upsetting, and really portrays the horrors of growing up, self-identity, not feeling seen, melancholy,” says Redditor @L_sigh_kangeroo.
Don’t miss this sci-fi horror, as I Saw the TV Glow is now in theaters.