Obex Will Make You Nostalgic for Old Technology

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The phrase “touch grass” started gaining popularity around 2019, but it feels much older in today’s hyper-connected world. It’s meant as both a gentle nudge and a slight jab, encouraging someone to disconnect from screens and get a reality check, preferably outside. However, the advice overlooks the fact that grass isn’t always pleasant to touch – it can be itchy, sticky, and full of bugs. In contrast, Albert Birney’s film Obex repeatedly demonstrates the deep satisfaction people find in interacting with machines, serving as both a celebration and a cautionary tale about our dependence on technology.

The film, co-written by Birney and director Pete Ohs, takes place in Baltimore in 1987, before the internet was widespread. It centers on Conor (played by Birney), a young artist who creates images using only the 128 characters available on old computer keyboards – letters, numbers, and punctuation. Before color printers and high-quality photos, artists like Conor would painstakingly recreate pictures in black and white using these characters. People mail him photos, and he rapidly types them into his computer. His life is quite solitary; he lives with his dog, Sandy, but lacks the strong family and social connections of those who send him pictures. His neighbor, Mary, helps with groceries, and his only time outdoors is in his small, cicada-filled backyard.

Conor loves technology, but in a unique way that almost seems enjoyable. While we’re used to sleek, modern devices, he finds pleasure in the clunky, tactile experience of older technology – the satisfying thunk of a vintage machine. The film highlights these analog treasures, presenting a modern take on the idea of embracing the past, but instead of a rustic lifestyle, it’s all about VHS tapes, old TVs, and VCRs. We know Conor prefers to be alone, perhaps even avoids going out, but the film lets us decide if his solitary life is a good one. He has a job, a pet, and his hobbies – is that enough? The film cleverly draws us into Conor’s world, showing that his obsessions, even if old-fashioned, don’t necessarily make him happy or connected. He’s still distant from the things he seems to care about most.

Conor thinks he’s doing alright, but everything changes when he gets pulled into a computer game called Obex – both in a metaphorical and surprisingly literal way. Obex is similar to Tron, but with a medieval setting and a retro, low-tech feel. At first, Conor isn’t impressed; he finds the game boring, like many gamers do when trying something new. However, things quickly become personal when the game’s villain, Ixaroth, kidnaps his dog, forcing Conor to confront his discomfort. The world of Obex – and the real world Conor has been avoiding – is unsettling, filled with disturbing textures like goo, mud, and fire, and creepy bugs that look awful even in their 8-bit form. When we finally meet Ixaroth, the monster’s design is truly unbelievable, a remarkable blend of real-world effects and computer graphics.

During the 2020 pandemic, I watched my friend really get into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He even started calling playing it “going hiking” because the game has such amazing, open landscapes. This film, Obex, feels similar – it swaps the mountains of Hyrule for the fields of Maryland, making the fantastical feel grounded and relatable. What really struck me is the constant presence of Sandy, a creature who exists beyond the digital world, always bringing the main character, Conor, back to reality. He doesn’t even need to feel nature; just petting Sandy is enough. The film smartly avoids making us feel guilty about screen time. Instead, it sees screens as doorways – portals that can draw us in or push us out. Ultimately, Birney wants to remind us that there’s a real world out there, full of things worth exploring, even with all its imperfections.

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2026-01-14 22:54