A24 rarely makes family-friendly films, but The Legend of Ochi adds to that small list in the coolest way. In a remote village in the Carpathian Mountains, a shy farm girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) is raised by her father Maxim (Willem Dafoe) to fear an elusive animal species known as the ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home. On this journey, she questions everything she has learned.
In his directorial debut, Isaiah Saxton creates a throwback to 1980s adventure films like The NeverEnding Story and The Dark Crystal. While they can be kids’ movies, they contain many dark fantasy elements. The Legend of Ochi threads the line between a teen movie and a young adult target audience. The themes revolve around the coming-of-age story, but it goes about it in a more grown-up way. However, the cuteness of the ochi is to be enjoyed by everyone.
Immediately, I became enamoured with the design of the ochi and how the film uses puppetry, animatronics, computer animation, and matte paintings. The Legend of Ochi proves how modern filmmaking excels at bringing puppeted characters to life, if filmmakers are willing to put in the work. The Mandalorian is another stellar example of how puppets work so well for sci-fi or fantasy characters, and it deeply adds to the emotional performances of the human actors, too. The CGI touch-ups are just there to support.
“The Legend of Ochi threads the line between a teen movie and a young adult target audience.”
The practical effects stand above anything else in this film. The makeup and prosthetics for certain moments throughout Yuri’s journey with the ochi look naturally real. Making fictional creatures and beings on-screen is something Hollywood has been struggling to balance with fantasy and sci-fi films recently. The Legend of Ochi finds that perfect balance.
The colouring and aesthetics of The Legend of Ochi appear to be inspired by Wes Anderson, Robert Eggers, and bits of Ari Aster. The movie blends colours that pop like in Anderson’s films and has dark fairy tale elements found in an Eggers or Aster movie. Some sequences feel like a daydreaming moment, with the camera being hazy or slightly blurry at times when Yuri is staring out into the forest.
The colour-filtering of the sky reminds me of what Yorgos Lanthimos does in Poor Things, or how JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure plays around with colours in the Diamond is Unbreakable arc. The use of colour and cinematography amplifies the fantasy vibes of the entire production. Even Yuri’s clothing choice makes her feel like a fantasy character because she wears a yellow coat with pink and cyan boots. Yuri’s whole outfit gives cyberpunk energy as well.
The filming location deserves praise for using the most gorgeous mountaintops and forests in Romania. Every lush greenery and every water molecule is in crystal clear view. By the end of the film, you will be left wanting to go visit these amazing scenes in the Carpathian Mountains—or maybe give you the urge to go visit a local forest or park.
With a runtime of only 96 minutes, The Legend of Ochi’s story keeps it short and simple. The mystery surrounding the ochi is one of the few complex aspects to take in from the entire movie, but the human lessons are fairly straightforward. The movie inadvertently tackles themes of separated parents, but it feels natural, despite how cutthroat Maxim is. However, Dasha (Emily Watson) proves how resourceful and tough she is in her own right.
Maxim and Dasha’s opposing views of the ochi are also clear-cut to understand where each of them is coming from. Neither of them encourages Yuri to return the lost ochi, but each of them provides Yuri the tools to finish the trek. At the end of the day, they want Yuri to be safe, but they have to face the reality that Yuri’s curiosity has outgrown their protection.
In a time where many people are trying to escape the grim realities of our current politics and times, many hats off to Saxton for bringing this wonderful fantasy story to life. The Legend of Ochi harkens back to ‘80s children’s dark fantasies so well, making this movie feel timeless.
Whether this is A24’s attempt to build out a kids/tween/teen catalogue or not, the story and overall style work for the production house, which is typically geared for adults. For those who enjoy The Goonies or The Bridge to Terabithia, this is an ode to every child who went on adventures and dreamed big.
