The A24 horror movie I Saw the TV Glow and the dystopian thriller Civil War, two of the year’s most acclaimed films, will land on HBO and Max in September. The two join the network, and its streaming counterpart, as part of a multiyear deal with A24, under which new theatrical films from the celebrated production company will run exclusively on HBO and Cinemax and stream only on Max.
Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow accomplished what horror films often don’t: a generally positive reception from critics and audiences alike. Eerie and nostalgic, the film centers on Owen (Justice Smith), a teenager just trying to make it through life in the suburbs, when his classmate Maddy (portrayed by Brigette Lundy-Paine) introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack. The film carries themes of identity, gender, and obsession and has further established Schoenbrun as a filmmaker to watch.
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In MovieWeb’s review of I Saw the TV Glow, Will Sayre called the film “a groundbreaking achievement for A24,” later adding:
”
I Saw the TV Glow
(the more you say the title out loud, the cooler you feel) is a can’t-miss for indie fans, lovers of ’90s TV, and queer cinema enthusiasts everywhere.”
Before I Saw the TV Glow, Schoenbrun was best known for their 2021 coming-of-age horror flick We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, which follows an isolated teenager increasingly immersed in an online role-playing horror game. Alongside Smith and Lundy-Paine, I Saw the TV Glow stars Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Conner O’Malley, Emma Portner, Ian Foreman, Fred Durst, and Danielle Deadwyler.
Alex Garland’s Civil War Was Met With Critical Acclaim but Divided Audiences
While Alex Garland’s Civil War doesn’t fall under the horror genre, the events in the film vividly illustrate a terrifying notion. Written and directed by Academy Award-nominated Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman, the thriller centers on a journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House. It’s violent and gory, but its horror lies in its reflection of the current state of American politics.
Civil War impressed critics and found huge success at the box office, but proved to be divisive with audiences due, primarily, to its political tone. While audiences have shared their opinion on the film on social media in hordes, the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes also highlight how varying viewpoints affect the experience. While some audience reviewers commend the film’s plot, visuals, special effects, talented cast, and poignant message, others slam the film’s political message, overtly violent scenes, and lack of character development.
I Saw the TV Glow begins
streaming on Max on September 20, while
Civil War
debuts on the streamer on Friday, September 13.
