“OBEX” follows Conor Marsh, who lives a secluded life until he begins to play OBEX, a new state-of-the-art computer game.

Isolation By Design

The film immediately succeeds at showcasing Conor’s isolated nature. This is established in many ways.

At the heart of the character is the relationship with his dog, Sandy. The performance of Albert Birney (Conor) is key to this, with subtle shifts in his delivery when speaking to his pet versus humans.

The visuals also speak to his seclusion. “OBEX” is shot in black and white. This gives it a nostalgic feel that matches the 1980s, but it also does something else – it makes Conor’s life feel all the more bleak.

On top of this is the repetitive structure of the first half of the movie. To start, “OBEX” is monotonous… by design. Conor goes through the same motions on a daily basis, over and over again. And it’s clear that his character has a desire for something more.

While this approach is effective, it’s also tedious for the audience. Viewers are required to wait almost 45 minutes for the true nature of the story to be revealed. Is it worth the wait?

Entering the World of OBEX

Once the world of OBEX is unleashed, the film becomes a lot of fun.

“OBEX” isn’t complex in its visuals. It has a grainy style, with cinematographer Pete Ohs using an older camera to achieve the effect. Rather than succumbing to a CGI fest, many of the visuals are done practically – and impressively so. This includes backgrounds, suits and props that transform each scene into an oasis.

The film doesn’t look “perfect,” nor is it trying to be. “OBEX” embraces the imperfections of the time period, making slow-rendering computers and dot-matrix printers core to its identity.

And the black-and-white style isn’t a gimmick. As “OBEX” transitions from real world to fantasy, it helps the scenery shift seamlessly.

The sound design and score are integral to the movie as well. Composer Josh Dibb brings electronic, lo-fi sounds that immerse viewers in the world.

A Strange But Heartfelt Journey

“OBEX” is many things: fantasy, sci-fi, drama and even horror. One moment, creatures lurk around dark corridors. The next, characters voyage through a video game-style world. At other times, they discuss the meaning of life and heaven. The film attempts to do many things at once, often succeeding in the process.

It’s because of this that “OBEX” truly is impactful. It’s a tale of loneliness, showing the beauty that life has to offer when you take a leap.

“OBEX” is an unapologetically weird movie with a genre-bending approach. It has an old-school atmosphere that many will adore and a heartfelt core that resonates long after it ends.

Rating: 4 out of 5