Obex (2025) Review
Obex (2025) Review
Set in 1987 and shot in monochrome, OBEX is a surreal lo-fi fantasy adventure with a cautionary tale about living life through a screen. The world premiere took place at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival where IndieWire called it “Eraserhead meets The Legend of Zelda.”
Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy disappears, the line between reality and gaming blurs, and Conor must enter the world of OBEX to save her.
OBEX is a fantasy-adventure feature from the creative-mind of Albert Birney; writer and director of Strawberry Mansion (2021). Co-written by Pete Ohs (Erupcja), it stars Birney alongside Callie Hernandez (Jethica) and Frank Mosley (Rent Free).
In this era of streaming, anyone with access to a camera that feels compelled to cobble together something generic and usually substandard with the aim of making a quick buck is commonplace and films with unique ideas and offering quality are no longer the norm. Fantasy-adventure OBEX is one of those rare movies that stands out far above the rest by simply offering up something fresh and innovative.
As someone who was in their teenage years during the late Eighties, when the film is set, I could both relate and warm to the early days of home computing and the imagery onscreen. I was also thrilled by the film’s retro electronic score recorded by Josh Dibb, founding member of experimental rock band Animal Collective. In fact, I loved the film score so much that I started digging out synth music from the early Eighties after watching the film to continue the warm and fuzzy vibe that Josh Dibb brought to OBEX.
This black-and-white affair is enhanced by surreal touches that border on Lynchian and moments of darkness before ending on a poignant and heartfelt note. Admittedly when it comes to Conor defeating the film’s bad guy, demon Ixaroth, it is never as compelling as it could have been but otherwise there is a lot else here to recommend OBEX be added to your list of forthcoming films to watch.
OBEX will be available to stream or download from 9th March.
