A24’s 80% RT Fantasy Flick: Frustration Central

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Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for The Legend of Ochi!

A24’s latest fantasy-adventure production, titled “The Legend of Ochi“, boasts an impressive 80% RT score, but unfortunately, I found it one of the most exasperating films I’ve encountered in recent memory. Given the chance to review “The Legend of Ochi” for “Ebaster“, I seized it eagerly, despite A24 pushing back the release date by several months. My anticipation to watch this family-oriented fantasy-adventure film was uncontainable. The narrative centers around a young girl who has been taught to dread creatures known as Ochi, yet she forms a bond with an injured baby Ochi and embarks on a journey to return it home.

I’m quite fond of films that feature an unusual bond between characters from distinct species, so I was eager to appreciate “The Legend of Ochi“, which debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. I have a soft spot for art-house cinema, and I find puppetry to be one of the most enchanting methods of animation. Unfortunately, the movie fell short of my expectations, leaving me not only unsatisfied but also annoyed with its narrative and character development.

The Legend Of Ochi Surprisingly Lacks Originality & That’s Frustrating

The Story & Characters In The Legend Of Ochi Are Flat & Unoriginal

Despite striving to be a contemporary version of “The Dark Crystal,” the film “The Legend of Ochi” sadly fails to deliver as a quality movie. The fantasy journey primarily banks on stunning visuals to mask the fact that the characters are woefully underdeveloped and the narrative is distressingly devoid of originality.

In the movie “The Legend of Ochi”, while the baby Ochi is adorable, the other creatures lack depth or originality, failing to create a sense of intrigue. Characters consistently show fear towards them, yet they never exhibit behaviors that justify such terror. The audience only witnesses a slaughtered sheep and a defensive bite from baby Ochi. Similarly, the human characters appear one-dimensional, being defined by just one or two traits at most. A film with merely four significant human characters and one non-human character should offer complexity and richness, which unfortunately is missing in “The Legend of Ochi”.

Beyond that, the tale in “The Legend of Ochi” doesn’t set it apart significantly from other well-known films. It’s acceptable for A24’s production to borrow elements from its predecessors, but it should bring something unique to the table. Regrettably, the 2025 fantasy adventure seems to dip into both “E.T.” and “How to Train Your Dragon,” yet contributes very little more. Given the numerous flaws I encountered, I found myself wondering if the eight years spent on developing “The Legend of Ochi” were not sufficient. The movie might have been improved with an additional writer to enrich the script.

Critics & Audiences Have Had Very Different Experiences With The Legend Of Ochi

Critics & Audiences Have Similar Opinions But Very Different Takeaways

Regarding “The Legend of Ochi,” it’s interesting to note that while the audience and critics have significantly different ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, they tend to compliment and criticize similar aspects of the film. However, there are a few exceptions on either end. Most people admire the intricate detail and high-quality visuals in the film, which seamlessly blend puppetry, animatronics, matte paintings, and VFX. This is consistent with A24’s other films featuring Willem Dafoe, as he delivers a powerful performance in his role. Yet, both groups generally express dissatisfaction with the storyline and pace of the movie.

The Legend of Ochi Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Tomatometer: 80% Popcornmeter: 65%
Average critic rating: 6.9 Average audience rating: 3.7
Scores as of 5/2/2024

As a follower, I’ve noticed an intriguing disparity in opinions concerning “The Legend of Ochi.” Critics generally perceive the film as having a quirky, mystical atmosphere that I, for one, didn’t find reflected in many viewers’ descriptions. Instead, they often used terms like ‘fantasy adventure,’ but seldom ‘magical.’

Regarding The Legend of Ochi, although both critics and viewers share a common appreciation for the storyline, they tend to evaluate different aspects differently. Critics often place greater emphasis on intricacies such as visual effects, puppetry, and acting, scrutinizing every detail while overlooking larger flaws in execution. Conversely, the audience tends to consider the overall experience, taking into account both the fine details and the broader storyline’s cohesiveness. This discrepancy results in varying perspectives on the movie.

In the process, viewers tend to prioritize aspects like the gradual tempo, predictable plotline, and subpar sound quality when evaluating The Legend of Ochi. Despite noticing intricate details, they are primarily concerned with elements that usually influence audience connection and enjoyment. Consequently, it becomes evident that movie perceptions significantly vary based on individual expectations and hopes.

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2025-05-03 17:59