OBEX is the kind of movie that feels like it was beamed in from a basement in 1994—in the best possible way. Directed by Albert Birney, it leans hard into lo-fi fantasy and analog weirdness, telling the story of a lonely guy who gets sucked—emotionally and maybe literally—into a strange medieval computer game. From the jump, the film has this handmade, off-kilter charm that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something secret and slightly cursed on an old hard drive.
What really works is the mood. Set in 1987 and shot in monochrome, the film builds a hazy, time-capsule atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and faintly ominous. It’s a surreal lo-fi fantasy adventure, but also a cautionary tale about living life through a screen. The protagonist drifts through his real life with a kind of numb detachment, and when the fantasy game starts to take over, it doesn’t feel like an escape so much as a sideways step into another layer of reality. The movie plays with that blurry line between digital immersion and emotional isolation in a way that’s funny one minute and strangely sad the next.
Visually, it’s a treat if you have any affection for early computer graphics, public-access fantasy vibes, or scrappy DIY filmmaking. The effects feel intentionally clunky—rubbery creatures, grainy textures, odd costumes—and that’s exactly the point. There’s something refreshing about a film that embraces its limitations and turns them into a full aesthetic. It feels tactile. Personal. A little unhinged. That offbeat sensibility makes sense coming from Birney, whose previous feature Strawberry Mansion hinted at a similar love of handmade dream logic.
The humor is dry and understated. Nobody winks at the camera. The absurdity just… exists. Talking animals, cryptic quests, strange encounters—they’re all delivered with a straight face that makes everything even funnier. But underneath the oddball comedy, there’s a real thread of melancholy. Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until he begins playing OBEX, a supposedly state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy disappears, the line between reality and gaming collapses entirely, and Conor has no choice but to enter the world of OBEX to save her. It’s a simple setup, but it gives the film an emotional anchor that keeps the strangeness grounded.
The performances help sell that balance. Birney takes on the lead role himself, bringing a kind of awkward sincerity to Conor’s quest. He’s joined by Callie Hernandez and Frank Mosley, who add to the film’s off-kilter tone without ever overplaying it. The screenplay, co-written by Pete Ohs, keeps things deliberately slippery, trusting the audience to sit with the weirdness rather than decode it. And the score, recorded by Josh Dibb of Animal Collective, drifts in and out like a half-remembered dream, adding another textured layer to the film’s immersive mood.
The buzz around the film suggests it’s already finding its audience. Its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival drew comparisons from IndieWire to “Eraserhead meets The Legend of Zelda,” which honestly feels pretty spot-on. UK audiences won’t have to wait long: Lightbulb Film Distribution will release OBEX in the UK and Ireland from 9th March, following its UK Premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on 2nd March. It’s the kind of movie that won’t be for everyone, but for viewers willing to embrace its monochrome dream logic and lo-fi fantasy heart, it might just become a new cult favorite.
OBEX will be streaming on all available platforms on March 9th.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Albert Birney
Writer: Albert Birney
Cast: Albert Birney; Callie Hernandez; Frank Mosley
Genre: Fantasy | Sci-fi
Tagline: An adventure movie directed by Albert Birney
Memorable Movie Quote: "I love computer games"
Distributor: Lightbulb Film Distribution
Official Site:
Release Date: March 9, 22026 - streaming platforms
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Conor Marsh's secluded life is disrupted when he plays the OBEX game. His dog Sandy disappears, blurring reality and game. Conor enters the OBEX world to rescue Sandy, navigating its strange realms.
