‘The Legend of Ochi’ Review: A24’s Family-Friendly Fantasy Is a Richly Imagined, Gorgeously Designed Throwback

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During the latest festive season, many theaters were filled with family films heavy on animated and computer-generated imagery (CGI). It’s refreshing to discover a movie that instead opts for live action, high-quality production, and creative storytelling, relying less on the technological enhancements typically associated with digital effects.

The story of Ochi, crafted by writer-director Isaiah Saxon, showcases his extraordinary creative flair and visual style, built upon his renowned experience directing music videos for artists such as Bjork and Grizzly Bear. This imaginative tale bursting with adventure and novelty benefits from Saxon’s reputation, setting the stage for a spellbinding cinematic journey. With A24 planning to launch it during the April spring break, Saxon’s first film seems primed to seize the momentum of the family moviegoing trend.

The movie begins by soaring above the enigmatic Carpathia Island, hidden within the vast Black Sea. This imaginary landmass lies off the Romanian coast and houses a sparse community of resilient villagers, as well as the recently discovered ochi, a peculiar primate-like creature with reddish fur, distinct blue facial characteristics, and a unique musical sound. Although the narrative unfolds in 1982, there are occasional anachronistic sights like cars or supermarkets. However, this lush island appears to be stuck in time, with its rustic buildings and agricultural practices reminiscent of the 19th century.

12-year-old Yuri, a thoughtful and reserved girl, finds life on her father Maxim’s farm remarkably similar to the Dark Ages. With minimal excitement in sight, she cherishes the opportunity to explore and study the wonders of nature. However, her father cautions her about venturing near the ochi, as they are believed to have been responsible for her mother’s death years earlier.

The filmmakers predominantly filmed in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, focusing on expansive outdoor shots. They skillfully utilized the area’s rugged charm, from towering mountains to thick forests and treacherous waterways, to create the fictional home of the ochi, a harsh environment unfriendly to humans. Although the forest-dwelling ochi don’t seem particularly threatening to villagers, they are still feared and despised by them.

Maxim leads a group of armed individuals on a mission to chase and intimidate the ochi creatures. Yuri, along with her brother Petro (played by Finn Wolfhard), hesitantly becomes part of this operation. The following day, during his routine trap checks, she stumbles upon a young one that seems to have lost its mother.

Despite getting hurt while escaping one of the traps, Yuri develops a connection with the tiny creature and attends to its small cuts after hiding it in her backpack. However, when the ochi’s shrill sounds tip off Petro to her hidden pet, Yuri is compelled to run away, vowing to return home with the ochi later on.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but marvel at how the filmmakers pour substantial efforts into presenting the idea that the ochis communicate through a unique language, reminiscent of music. These hints build up to an unexpected twist in the storyline, where Yuri’s imitations of the young ochi’s distinctive chirps and whistles (using a lesser-known vocal technique called hocketing) play a crucial role in fostering a deeper comprehension of this fascinating species.

It’s unlikely that younger viewers will care much about the scientific accuracy of Saxon’s views on interspecies communication and wildlife conservation in the script, as they are likely to be drawn more towards the animatronic ochis, which seem like a mix between E.T. and a Gremlin from the 80s. These creatures’ homemade aesthetic and use of realistic puppetry techniques tie their creative origins to these beloved fictional species from family classics of that era.

In The Legend of Ochi, Saxon’s unique attention to detail is evident across numerous artistic aspects, reflecting his customary meticulous style. This results in a strikingly realistic environment filled with vibrant colors, subtly adjusted using matte paintings and other physical effects by Saxon, along with a touch of computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Detailed attention to aesthetics can be seen all over The Legend of Ochi, which is characteristic of Saxon’s signature style. This leads to a vividly realistic setting that’s saturated with colors, carefully altered using matte paintings and other practical effects by Saxon, as well as some computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Ochi puppets offer physical counterparts to the actors that digital effects can’t replicate, which is especially important for Zengel, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance alongside Tom Hanks in Paul Greengrass’ 2020 Western “News of the World”. Throughout most of the movie, she interacts with these ochi characters.

The ochi puppets provide real objects that actors can touch, which digital effects cannot imitate. This is particularly significant for Zengel, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role opposite Tom Hanks in Paul Greengrass’ 2020 Western “News of the World”. She interacts with these ochi characters throughout much of the movie.

Dasha, played by Emily Watson, handles obstacles gracefully while giving another captivating performance using her exceptional linguistic abilities to reveal the world of the ochi to outsiders. Yuri’s long-lost mother, Dasha, is among the villagers who are left in awe by the ochi. In contrast to Maxim, played by Daniel Day-Lewis with his typical energetic zest, who comes off as comically inept.

I must admit, I’m utterly amazed by the quality of “The Legend of Ochi.” Despite being made on a reported $10 million budget, its production values are top-notch and showcase Saxon’s ability to bring a unique, fully-realized vision to life. Now it’s up to us, the audience, to decide if this masterpiece will join the ranks of timeless classics.

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2025-01-27 21:25