by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden
In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s retro sci-fi thriller OBEX by director Albert Birney.
Synopsis
Set in pre-internet 1987, Conor Marsh (Birney) lives a secluded life with his dog Sandy, until the day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing the line between reality and the game blurs, and Conor must embark on a mission to save her.
The Good
Joseph: Each time I thought OBEX was headed down one weird direction, it shifted into even more bizarre territory. If there is one thing Birney’s independent labor-of-love feature isn’t, it’s predictable. The film boasts a simple and touching story about a man and his pet, horror and science fiction elements, humor aplenty, vintage vibes, and fantasy video game aura. Cinematographer Pete Ohs, who cowrote the screenplay with Birney, does a marvelous job of capturing — in grainy black-and-white — the authentic retro feeling of Marsh’s two 1987-set worlds: his real-life one with his faithful dog Sandy, an abundance of cicadas, and a Macintosh Plus computer, and the OBEX world filled with fantastical elements including TV-headed man Victor (Frank Mosley) and a demon named Ixaroth. “Real-life” next-door neighbor Mary (Callie Hernandez), who does grocery shopping for agoraphobic Marsh weekly, shows up in the video game world as a helpful otherworldly being. The cast is super, with Birney carrying the heaviest weight as a man who must traverse a dangerous video game to find a connection with the real world outside his self-imposed cage of a home.
Mike: OBEX really shines when it comes to sticking to a unique sound and visual style with Birney taking lo-fi charm to a whole new level here. Even though it looks simple, the production design is very carefully made, making a world that feels both handmade and alien. In this age of CGI, practical effects are a nice change of pace and give the magical parts a nice, tactile quality.
There’s a sense of childlike wonder and playful absurdity that runs through the story. It has times of unexpected humor and real sadness that cut through the rest of it. This movie isn't afraid to be different, and viewers who are open to its quirky charms and don't mind the way it tells its story will enjoy it.
The Bad
Joseph: It’s difficult for me to find fault with anything about OBEX. I can say that it isn’t a film for everyone, and that its lo-fi commitment to old-school technology and practical effects might not sit well with less patient viewers. But then, that’s the charm of the film for those who connect with it.
Mike: OBEX's greatest strength is that it is different, but this can also be its biggest problem. A lot of patience and a willingness to just enjoy the movie without definitely understanding it in a normal way are needed to watch OBEX, which may turn off a wider audience.
The Verdict
Joseph: Absurd, avant garde yet accessible, and huge-hearted, OBEX is a highly entertaining, out-there romp that examines escapism through technology and the importance of maintaining real-world connections. The groundwork for preferring computer-based virtual reality to real-life was laid decades ago, which Birney wonderfully recreates here, and the film’s ultimate message about living life to the fullest — no matter how simple whatever makes you happy about the real world might be — resonates strongly. OBEX is great — make sure to place it on your need-to-see lists.
Mike: OBEX is definitely a movie for a certain type of person. It's a difficult, art-house fever dream that puts mood and abstract expression ahead of a clear story with a rich and satisfying experience for people who like experimental film, unique visual art, and filmmakers who aren't afraid to push the limits. It's a strange and beautiful work that confirms Biney’s place as one of the more interesting voices in independent film, even if that voice sometimes whispers instead of yells.
OBEX
Directed By: Albert Birney
Written By: Albert Birney, Pete Ohs
Starring: Albert Birney, Callie Hernandez, Frank Mosley
Run Time: 1h 30m
Rating: NR
Release Date: January 25, 2025 (United States)
No trailer was available at the time of our screening
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