The Legend of Ochi (2025) - Film Review

      The Legend of Ochi, 2025.

      Directed by Isaiah Saxon.

      Featuring Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Razvan Stoica, Carol Bors, David Andrei Baltatu, Andrei Antoniu Anghel, Eduard Mihail Oancea, Tomas Otto Ghela, Eduard Ionut Cucu, and Stefan Burlacu.

      SYNOPSIS:

      In a secluded village on the island of Carpathia, a timid girl grows up fearing a mysterious creature known as the ochi. However, when she finds an injured baby ochi abandoned, she sets off on an adventure to bring him back home.

      Writer-director Isaiah Saxon aimed to create a children’s film with The Legend of Ochi that steers clear of a corporate backdrop. He intended for it to evoke the essence of films from the 80s or 90s, without embracing intellectual property or the conventions of contemporary blockbuster cinema.

      He has certainly accomplished this with this Eastern European folktale, featuring puppetry and pastel imagery that have long been overshadowed by computer-generated characters and visuals. Nevertheless, while the stunning craftsmanship sets it apart from other films, The Legend of Ochi lacks the emotional depth often found in the polished children’s content it tries to differentiate itself from.

      The narrative should have been anchored in the bond between Helena Zengel’s character, Yuri, and the charming Ochi, a whimsical creature reminiscent of Gizmo and Grogu, infused with the personality of Ross Geller’s monkey. Their connection is echoed from the classic E.T. screenplay by Melissa Matheson, where a gun-wielding group forces the separation of this unusual creature, which then finds solace with a child from a fractured single-parent family.

      There's nothing inherently wrong with this premise; Spielberg’s film has resonated for years. However, despite Ochi’s endearing puppetry, the connection between him and Yuri feels insufficient to elicit the emotional responses intended in the film’s climax.

      The journey is intentionally stark, particularly regarding the human characters, who inhabit a world filled with mythical paranoia and distrust towards both the creatures of the forest and one another. The few characters we encounter include Finn Wolfhard’s conflicted brother and Willem Dafoe’s aggressive monster hunter, both navigating the desolate environment akin to a classic Terry Gilliam quest. The ever-appealing Emily Watson also appears as a Tom Bombadil-like figure that Yuri encounters, yet none of these characters come across as particularly compelling.

      Even though the film struggles to ignite emotional engagement, it contains moments that surpass the quality of films with budgets ten times that of Ochi. The creature effects are remarkable, from the tiniest blue caterpillars to the larger Ochi elders. The intricate world-building mirrors that of The Dark Crystal, sharing a similarly somber ambiance. A notable scene unfolds when Yuri and Ochi finally reach their destination, a vast cave adorned with greenery and moss, resembling an expansive Studio Ghibli backdrop. It’s truly a sight to behold.

      Children may find themselves both enchanted and confused, while adults might yearn for the magic imbued within the tale of The Legend of Ochi, rather than the film itself, which sadly lacks wonder beyond the impressive craftsmanship showcased.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★

      Matt Rodgers – Follow me on Twitter