This year has been remarkable for horror fans. Oddity scared the pants off everyone, Longlegs set the box office ablaze, and In a Violent Nature reinvented what a slasher movie could be. There were sequels and prequels better than their franchise starts, and the Top 10 horror movies at the domestic box office grossed nearly $600 million in total (I did the math). That makes whittling down the best of the best a more challenging feat than it usually is, though we here at Dread Central have at least agreed about what the best horror movie of the year is, and you can catch it streaming on Max now.
Love Lies Bleeding, Smile 2, and The Vourdalak were certainly favorites among our staff here—and they’re all worth checking out—but I Saw the TV Glow is undoubtedly the best movie of the year. Jane Schoenbrun’s interrogation of nineties nostalgia, queer identity, and oppressive suburban ennui is so tender, so suffocating in its authenticity, I imagine it’ll not only top the year, but the decade (hell, even the century) as well.
I was fortunate enough to catch I Saw the TV Glow at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Nestled in the mountains for a midnight screening, I was blown away by the care Schoenbrun exhibited in crafting their sophomore feature. I Saw the TV Glow captures the same sense of angst and isolation as We’re All Going to the World’s Fair with a touch more optimism and care. I Saw the TV Glow is still a frightening, existentially horrifying watch at times, though it’s a testament to Schoenbrun’s talent that it all feels so singular, so deeply felt.
Per Max: Introduced to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a secret, supernatural world — teenage Owen’s reality begins to crack.
In my perfect, five-star review of the film earlier this year, I wrote, “I Saw the TV Glow is a masterclass in queer storytelling whose genre ethos elevate it to new heights.” The whole team here was so moved by the film—gosh, did it resonate—we even arranged an entire Pride Month series on the film. You can check that out here. With the year coming to a close, now’s as good a time as any to check out I Saw the TV Glow on Max. Don’t miss arguably the year’s best feature.
What do you think? Were you a fan of I Saw the TV Glow? What’s your pick for the best horror movie of the year? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins. Oh, and stream the soundtrack. It’s so, so good.
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