It's been a while since I've written one of these (literally the start of november - I just checked). But I recently watched "I Saw the TV Glow" with my good friend Sof and it has so solidly settled into my head that I simply have to write about it. To be honest, I'm still somewhat speechless about it and it's something I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about.
I was so stuck into the film whilst watching it that I don't think I said more than about 20 words the whole almost 2 hours it was on. It just grasped me and would not let go. When the film finished, I had no words and just had to sit with it in silence for a good while. The whole rest of the day I could almost feel it there sitting with me.
Without giving away too many spoilers, I think what makes it feel so important to me is how it takes that feeling - the one where you are suffocating and everything is zooming past you and you feel like you are dying - and says this is uniquely horrifying. It says that yes that feeling is deserving of a whole horror movie. Not just that, but it is so unabashedly a trans film and I think that's so important. The whole thing feels mostly comforting in some way. To be honest if you ask me again in a months time I will probably be talking about it different aspect because I will be thinking about it more. I don't say it lightly when I say this is easily one of my favourite, if not the most important films of my life.
Now to get onto the more relevant part (at least to this) - the music. Man did I love the music of this film. Maybe in part because it felt reminiscent of ethel cain at times - to the point where I was waiting for something from here to show up. I thoroughly enjoyed both the individual songs on the OST, but most importantly the whole film score done by alex g is simply breathtaking. It's so so beautiful and I really cannot recommend enough taking a listen through.
To name a few of my favourite songs from the OST:
- Starburned and Unkissed - this song is so ingrained in my memory of the film for reasons I can't quite put my finger on. It helps that it is a banger to be honest.
- How Can I Get Out? - Gloomy, slow, guitar led music and it's six minutes long. They know how to get me that's for sure.
- Claw Machine - I feel like it is hard not to pick this song. "I think I was born bored / I think I was born blue / I think I was born already missing you". They did a great job getting Phoebe Bridgers on this soundtrack because damn do her songs make me feel things and this is no exception, it hits.
- Ice Cream Transformation - for such a short song, this is so memorable. It's probably because the scene it's from is so memorable, but I just love that the same sounds that run through the rest of the film can feel so serene, so hopeful.
- Planetarium (Outside) - eughh the noise of it all. This is sooo delicious, the little build ups that go nowhere, the fizzing towards the end it's right up my street and I love it.
- Planetarium (Inside) - pretty similar to the outside. They got that hurdy gurdy ass instrument that is in all the music I'm loving right now. It's haunting in all the right ways. I can't stop listening to this pair on repeat, they're sooo good.