Obex Review: A Surreal Lynchian Tribute to Retro Gaming Fantasy
If David Lynch had been born two decades later and developed a deep fascination with 1980s home-computing technology, he might have crafted a film like Obex. This black-and-white analogue surrealism masterpiece, directed by and starring Albert Birney, delivers smudges of dot-matrix horror in an endearingly imaginative fantasy. Birney portrays "Computer Conor," a reclusive individual who earns a living by virtuosically tapping out ASCII reproductions of people's favourite photographs. In his downtime, he immerses himself in a stack of three televisions, watching multiple VHS tapes simultaneously.
A World of Unseen Intrusions and Virtual Escapes
Outside Conor's isolated existence lies Mary, played by Callie Hernandez, an unseen grocery-delivery girl, and the unsettling biological world represented by an emerging cicada brood. However, Conor's internal world is invaded when he subscribes to Obex, a mail-order sword-and-sorcery video game that allows players to personalise their own avatars. Initially disappointed, Conor becomes increasingly enveloped in the game when his printer spontaneously produces a command: "Remove your skin." Soon after, the game's radiant demon Ixaroth arrives in his apartment and spirits away Conor's beloved dog, Sandy.
From Eraserhead Echoes to Zelda-Style Adventures
The first half of Obex bears a distinct resemblance to Eraserhead, featuring a tightly wound protagonist navigating his personal microverse. Birney masterfully racks up the intensity with askew shot choices, insistently sluggish pacing, and atonal sound design and score, supplied by Animal Collective founder Josh Dibb. Once Conor dons a Zelda-style cap and ventures through the portal, the film loosens up. It transforms into a live-action homage to classic role-playing games, with Mary reimagined as a power-up vendor, and his adventure evolves into a pastiche silent-movie picaresque reminiscent of Guy Maddin's work.
Lovingly Conceived Yet Conventionally Resolved
Despite being lovingly conceived and fun, it is arguable whether Obex amounts to more than fan service at the retro altar. While the film includes grotesqueries like the bug invasion, Birney does not tap into the same torrent of molten surrealism and ambiguity as Lynch. Instead, he resolves the quest along conventional lines, directly transposing Conor's childhood issues and crafting a cautionary tale about vicarious escape into virtual realities. Shot with abundant DIY inventiveness and gusto, this 8-bit junkyard will intrigue both old heads and gen-Z nostalgians alike. Obex is available on digital platforms from 9 March.
