Tags:
Film: Obex
Year: 2025
Director: Albert Birney
Writer: Pete Ohs and Albert Birney
Starring: Albert Birney, Callie Hernandez and Paisley Isaacs
Review:
This was a film that I actually didn’t know anything about. I saw that it was showing at the Gateway Film Center. After looking into it, thinking it sounded interesting and was in the horror genre, that was enough to check this out. I came into this one blind other than that. I’ve also given it a rewatch for my end of year list as this is a wide release for 2026. It is a Voyage through the FiVes watch as well.
Synopsis: Conor Marsh (Albert Birney) lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy (Dorothy), until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs as Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.
We start this by learning that it is 1987. We’re following Conor as he goes about his day. It involves turning on this tower of televisions. He puts on the news for one of them. He lives with Sandy. We see that for money he will create computer art for five dollars. His groceries are brought to his house by Mary (Callie Hernandez). He is also haunted by the cicadas that live around his house.
One day, when the mail comes, he checks a computer magazine to ensure that his ad ran correctly. He also finds another for a computer game called OBEX. You have to take a video of yourself, answering a few questions and send it off with $20. They will then insert you into the game. He sends for a copy.
When it arrives, he immediately tries it out. It seems too repetitive and gives it up. Strange things start to happen though. He goes to print a picture and there is a dead cicada inside of his printer. He then gets an odd note about ripping his skin from him. It also indicates that there is something on one of his tapes. He starts to work through them. Something to include here is that the name of the demon from OBEX is Ixaroth. This entity comes into his home while he sleeps and steals Sandy.
Conor goes into the game. It is inside that he meets a different version of Mary. She looks to be an elf that runs a store. She provides a knight, played by Tyler Davis, a rope to trap the demon. Conor gets a hat and sword, starting him on his journey. He ends up saving Victor (Frank Mosley), who has an old television set for a head. He kills two Cicada Soldiers, played by Paul Oh, to free Victor. They journey together, heading for Ixaroth’s castle.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that this is a fun film to watch. It sparked the nostalgia in me for computer or old Nintendo games. The controls are limited, there wasn’t much that you could do with the gameplay or story wise, but those were ones that I started out on when I got into gaming. What I will say though, we don’t get a lot of this as it is just more to set the stage.
Now that I have that set up, this is truly a character study of Conor. It is a journey narrative, but an interesting one with the reveal at the end. I won’t spoil it though. I get the idea that Conor is agoraphobic. He gets his groceries delivered by Mary. They’re left outside, which I’m guessing he also leaves money for her too. There is stress for him when he learns that she is potentially moving for a new job, he doesn’t acknowledge it though. It doesn’t help that he’s being driven mad and creeped out by the cicadas coming out. Birney does well in setting this character up.
What is then fun is seeing him on this adventure. Elements are set up through dreams and nightmares, one including his deceased mother. She is played by Paisley Isaacs. He travels with Victor, to give him someone to talk to. On this journey, he battles Cicada Knights, so we see that he must do something to survive. I do love that this journey of growth is sparked to save his dog. I’d probably do the same for my cat.
Then coming back to explore Conor's agoraphobia a bit more. This focuses on his safe interaction methods: screens/digital world and mail. He's always connected, with monitors constantly on—an early look at digital dependency. OBEX being that it is state-of-the-art and somewhat "dangerous" to his current state. The era is set just before true digital reliance, something to consider. The story also links cicadas, their emergence, and Conor's need for growth, as the game blurs his reality.
Where I’ll then go would be over the acting performances. This is carried by Birney, but that’s also by design. Everyone else mirrors non-playable characters in games. Hernandez is a source of contact for Conor. It is fitting that she takes on the shopkeepers in the game. Isaacs and Mosley work as characters that help make Conor look inside and grow. I love Dorothy as Sandy, the ‘princess’ he needs to save. Ixaroth is also brought to life by Birney, Davis and Paul Oh, so credit to them as well.
All that is left then is filmmaking. This is shot in black and white, which I think was done for the more artistic flair of representing nostalgia. This isn’t working with a large budget so there is a do-it-yourself feel. The cinematography and framing were solid. How they’re able to make things look bigger was good. I also like the practical approach with the effects. There are older computer stuff that adds charm. Other than that, the music and sound design fit what was needed. If there is a gripe, this is just a bit slower paced and it ends in a flurry.
What I’ll then say with this second watch is that I do love blurring the lines of this game with Conor’s real life. There are little aspects that are incorporated into the game. Even his karaoke singing of the song ‘Cars’ is interesting because of how the lyrics mirror aspects of his existence. The vivid imaginary adds something as well. For me, visually and conceptually it is great. It is held by story wise, but that is similar to the games of that era. I still enjoyed this overall.
In conclusion, this is a uniquely charming and deeply thoughtful film that uses the veneer of an 8-bit adventure game to explore themes of agoraphobia, digital reliance, and personal growth. Birney carries the film with a solid performance, supported by a strong cast playing roles that cleverly mirror video game archetypes. While the pacing can feel deliberate before its rapid resolution, the film's artistic black-and-white cinematography, effective practical effects, and nostalgic, DIY aesthetic make it a compelling watch. It successfully blends character study with an unexpected journey narrative, making it a rewarding experience for those who appreciate indie horror with a distinct voice and heartfelt core.
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10