What we flagged
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Our take
A reclusive man and his dog are pulled into a sinister computer game in this lo-fi fantasy horror set in 1987. UK and Australian classifiers rate it for older teens. Demon and nightmare imagery, blood, a stabbing, brief full frontal nudity in one scene and occasional s-word and f-word outbursts appear. The tone is eerie and dreamlike rather than nonstop splatter, though pet loss and guilt weigh heavily. Best for mature teens who enjoy Lynch-style weirdness rather than younger gamers expecting a fun adventure.
Uplifting themes
Love for a pet anchors the story, though the ending offers little comfort
Story (may spoil tone)
Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.
What we flagged
Details
Violence A stabbing with blood, bug-killing talk and heavy guilt around a pet de…
A stabbing with blood, bug-killing talk and heavy guilt around a pet death
Language A handful of s-word and f-word moments during scares
A handful of s-word and f-word moments during scares
Sex / nudity Brief full frontal nudity appears once, according to classification not…
Brief full frontal nudity appears once, according to classification notes
Drugs / alcohol Dialogue mentions a cigarette, with no on-screen drinking
Dialogue mentions a cigarette, with no on-screen drinking
Frightening Demon kings, nightmare realms and Elm Street nods build slow surreal dr…
Demon kings, nightmare realms and Elm Street nods build slow surreal dread
Gore / death / weapons A stabbing with blood appears; gore stays modest for the fantasy-horror…
A stabbing with blood appears; gore stays modest for the fantasy-horror setting
Grief / bereavement Missing-pet grief and self-blame drive the emotional stakes
Missing-pet grief and self-blame drive the emotional stakes
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
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Talk after watching
- Conor treats his dog like his only friend. How does the film handle that bond when the game world takes over?
- The story mixes 80s horror references with early computer culture. What does that say about escaping loneliness through screens?
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Obex
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