OBEX
Starring: Albert Birney, Callie Hernandez, and Frank Mosley
Director: Albert Birney
QUENTIN
Reviewing low-budget indies is always tough because I can’t help but respect the effort even when I don’t enjoy the viewing experience. OBEX, which has been described as “no-budget,” has a do-it-yourself 80s aesthetic that certainly creates a vibe, but it’s weird and very Lynchian. Since Lynchian surreality isn’t really my thing, I just couldn’t get on board. However, from a technical standpoint, writer-director-star Albert Birney has thoughtfully created something extremely distinctive, though patience-testing. I can’t exactly recommend OBEX, a sort of Eraserhead meets The Wizard of Oz via Tron, but it has made me curious what Birney could do with a proper budget.
KATIE
OBEX is an impressive accomplishment from writer-director Albert Birney, who also plays the leading role. Following a man living a life safely insulated by VHS tapes and horror movies before diving into the fantastical, the film has a reverence for analogue technology that drives its distinct hand-made aesthetic. This black and white, lo-fi, retro fantasy has Lynchian vibes and a dark fantasy synth score that imbues every moment with nostalgia. It manages to achieve these things with next to no budget, and although it won't be for everyone, I appreciate the clear craft and thought that went into it.
