I clearly had a different experience from most people who saw this movie. I liked it. Unconventional films like this remind me how unique film is as a medium of storytelling. Stuff like this movie, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, and Beau is Afraid have given me entertaining, cathartic experiences I never knew I needed.

But I also understand why they are divisive. When you look at things purely in terms of plot, a lot of them sound uninteresting, but that's because you're not supposed to do that. These movies aren't telling us a story in a conventional way, they aren't here to hook us the way stories normally do. It doesn't surprise me that they usually fail to make as much money as others.

This film is heavily trans coded, so a lack of connection would probably hinder your appreciation of it. I think it stands on its merits regardless, but knowing this made it more enjoyable for me. That's why Owen wears a dress with the Pink Opaque tattoo and there's this palpable tension between them and their father about their gender.

I also think you'll enjoy this movie less if you interpret some scenes too literally. My interpretation is that this entire film is kinda like one long episode of The Pink Opaque. The awkward dialogue is intentional, it's supposed to reflect the world of a cheesy cult classic airing on the Young Adult Network.

I interpreted the Pink Opaque to represent a life of joyful authenticity and being unapologetically yourself. Owen's reality represented a life of melancholy behind a mask. That's why they crash out at the birthday party at the end and just walk around apologizing to everyone. They ignore the light inside themself that makes them different for the sake of others and reject the Pink Opaque.

Last thing, I think Owen exists in a surreal, Kafkaesque type of dimension where they do have the same psychic powers as their alter ego in the Pink Opaque, but they fail to do anything about it because they're too complacent.

I can see why trans people would identify with them. I can see why so many marginalized groups would.

I Saw the TV Glow makes some obvious references to Lynch's 90s sensation Twin Peaks from the teens' obsession with the weird, dark show to criticism of the suburbs, and time travel involving doppelgangers. Unfortunately that's all it is - really obvious references. This mess lacks the depth and complexity of Twin Peaks.

Here are the two points the movie makes: suburban capitalism makes people feel trapped and dead alive (the references to the melancholy and quiet despair Owen and Matty feel working at empty jobs and living under a veil of conformity). Then the second point is how closeted queer people can live double lives and feel dead in a fake life. Matty openly is struggling with being a lesbian and Owen is trans.

Owen is woman. She's living a lie. That's it. That's the mystery. No need to watch this four times the "hidden" meaning practically beats you over the head.