OBEX (2025): A Surreal Journey From Isolation to Analog Fantasy — A Deep Dive Into the Year’s Most Unconventional Sci‑Fi Film

In an era defined by glossy visual effects and sprawling cinematic universes, OBEX emerges as one of the most singular, experimental films of 2025 — a work that challenges genre conventions while offering a poignant reflection on solitude, technology, and the human need for connection. Written, directed, edited, and led by Albert Birney, this black‑and‑white science fiction fantasy defies easy categorization: part psychological exploration, part lo‑fi video game odyssey, and part meditative indie art‑film.

Released theatrically on January 9, 2026, after premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, OBEX occupies a rare position in contemporary cinema — a low‑budget independent film that resonates both as a nostalgic homage to the dawn of personal computing and as a surreal critique of modern digital life.

A Singular Vision: Albert Birney’s Indie Sci‑Fi Leap

Albert Birney — known for his earlier work Strawberry Mansion — returns with OBEX, marking his first time helming a feature largely on his own terms. Birney not only directs the film but also co‑writes it with Pete Ohs, co‑produces, and stars as the protagonist Conor Marsh. This multi‑role involvement is emblematic of the film’s creative ethos: a deeply personal project that blurs the lines between filmmaker and subject, narrative and introspection.

Shot entirely in black and white, OBEX is set in 1987, an era before the internet reshaped everyday life. But this is no simple period piece; instead, the film uses its retro setting as a conceptual canvas on which to explore timeless themes of isolation and obsession. The deliberate aesthetic — grainy visuals, minimalist set design, and lo‑fi soundscapes — harks back to both early cinema and vintage computing, creating a deliberately uncanny atmosphere that feels both historical and eerily reflective of today’s hyperconnected world.

Plot Summary: When Reality and Game Blur

At its core, OBEX centers on Conor Marsh, a socially withdrawn man who lives a solitary life with his beloved dog, Sandy. Conor’s world is a quiet one: he spends his days in isolation, absorbed in digital pursuits such as creating primitive computer portraits on an old Macintosh and watching late‑night horror films on multiple television sets. His interactions with the outside world are minimal, limited largely to a neighbor, Mary (played by Callie Hernandez), who leaves him groceries but never crosses his threshold.

Everything changes when Conor discovers OBEX, a mysterious high‑end computer game advertised in an old hobbyist magazine. Unlike typical games, OBEX promises — and then delivers — something far stranger: the ability to transport the player into the game itself. But this is not merely virtual play. When Conor’s dog Sandy disappears, seemingly abducted by the game’s demonic forces, he is compelled to follow her into OBEX’s labyrinthine digital world.

Once inside, Conor confronts surreal landscapes filled with strange, analog creatures — from armored knights to humanoid cicada soldiers — and unsettling characters such as Victor, a guide whose head takes the form of an old television set (portrayed by Frank Mosley). The boundary between reality and fantasy collapses, forcing Conor to face not only the monstrous inhabitants of OBEX but also the psychological ghosts of his own isolation and emotional detachment.

Aesthetic and Tonal Boldness

What most sets OBEX apart from contemporary mainstream sci‑fi is its aesthetic restraint and tonal ambition. The choice to film in black and white is not merely stylistic — it underscores the film’s meditation on the analog past and serves as a thematic counterpoint to the saturated, hyperreal worlds of current digital culture. This aesthetic choice gives the film a timeless, almost dreamlike quality.

Complementing the visuals is a dense, evocative soundscape: droning synths, static hiss, cicada chirps, and the mechanical clatter of dot matrix printers and early computer keyboards. The audio design lends a tactile quality to every frame, enveloping viewers in an atmosphere that feels at once nostalgic and unsettling.

Critics have responded positively to this unusual approach. On Rotten Tomatoes, OBEX holds strong early reviews, with many praising its imaginative merging of analog and surreal elements, as well as its emotional depth beneath the surface strangeness.

Legacy of Nostalgia and Isolation

Although OBEX operates within the trappings of sci‑fi and fantasy, its heart lies in a deeper exploration of loneliness and human connection — themes that resonate powerfully in an age increasingly dominated by screens and digital isolation.

The film’s protagonist, Conor, embodies a paradox: he is a man surrounded by technology yet profoundly disconnected from real human relationships. His seclusion and reliance on digital self‑expression echo broader societal concerns about how screens can both connect and alienate us. In this sense, OBEX uses its 1980s setting not merely as a nostalgic backdrop but as a lens through which to critique contemporary life.

The analog nightmare Conor experiences inside the OBEX game becomes a metaphor for his own psychological journey — a descent into the digital ether that ultimately forces him to confront his personal fears and emotional stagnation. The film’s surreal quest, then, is not simply about rescuing Sandy. It becomes an odyssey of self‑discovery, questioning how isolation can distort both reality and identity.

Production and Festival Journey

OBEX had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it was showcased in the NEXT section — a program known for highlighting boundary‑breaking independent films. The festival screening marked a major milestone for Birney and his collaborators, offering early audiences a chance to experience the film’s unique fusion of analog nostalgia and fantastical narrative.

Following Sundance, Oscilloscope Laboratories secured North American distribution rights — a significant win for an independent production seeking a wider theatrical presence. Oscilloscope has a history of championing distinctive, artistically daring films, making OBEX a fitting addition to its catalog alongside previous releases that emphasize creative originality.

The film’s theatrical release was limited but strategically scheduled to reach niche audiences who appreciate experimental cinema. It also screened at international festivals including the Fantasia International Film Festival, where its strange, pixelated world drew curiosity for its lo‑fi visuals and bold narrative experiments.

Cast and Collaborators

At the center of OBEX is Albert Birney himself, portraying Conor Marsh with an understated yet compelling performance that anchors the film’s surreal twists with human vulnerability. Callie Hernandez, known for her work in Under the Silver Lake, brings quiet emotional resonance to the role of Mary, Conor’s neighbor and unlikely emotional touchstone. Frank Mosley adds to the film’s quirky allure as Victor — the enigmatic guide with a television head who represents both threat and aid within the game world.

Behind the scenes, Birney and screenwriter Pete Ohs co‑crafted the film’s narrative architecture, while producers Emma Hannaway and James Belfer helped shepherd the project from its indie roots to festival screens and distribution deals. The original score by Josh Dibb enriches the film’s atmospheric depth, marrying synth textures with a wistful undercurrent that bridges analog past and digital present.

Critical Reception and Impact

While OBEX is not positioned for mass commercial appeal, it has earned considerable respect within indie film circles and among critics who champion unconventional storytelling. On Rotten Tomatoes, early compiled reviews reflect a strong critical response, with praise focused on its imaginative visuals, emotional ambition, and boundary‑pushing fusion of fantasy and introspective drama.

Critics have described the film as a “miniature epic of melancholic whimsy,” noting that its black‑and‑white lo‑fi aesthetic and surreal storytelling set it apart from more conventional sci‑fi fare. Many have also highlighted its capacity to linger in the viewer’s mind — much like a memorable piece of music or a haunting dream — long after the closing credits.

Conclusion: A Quirky Triumph of Indie Sci‑Fi

OBEX stands as one of the most intriguing cinematic experiments of 2025 — a film that eschews blockbuster spectacle in favor of intimate, introspective world‑building. Its blending of analog nostalgia, surreal fantasy, and psychological depth creates a viewing experience that is at once unsettling, deeply human, and defiantly original.

In a landscape where major studios often recycle familiar formulas, OBEX reminds us why independent cinema continues to matter: it pushes boundaries, takes creative risks, and opens new pathways for storytelling that resonate with both the heart and the mind. Whether you encounter it at a film festival or in limited theatrical release, OBEX is a movie designed to linger — blurring the line between reality and imagination just as its protagonist blurs the line between life and the digital unknown.