'The Legend of Ochi' reveals a bold fantasy adventure

"The Legend of Ochi" delivers an imaginative, unconventional family tale that challenges traditional storytelling norms.

Helena Zengel in “The Legend of Ochi.” (c) A24

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Some films march to the beat of their own drum, and The Legend of Ochi is one of them. This cinematic adventure demands viewers to meet its imagination halfway, a rare experience in today’s world where most entertainment caters to predictable tastes. As detailed in this The Legend of Ochi film review, the movie offers a vivid, sometimes unsettling break from the norm, leading to sharply divided reactions among its audience.

At a recent screening, two young men behind me dismissed The Legend of Ochi as “terrible,” while a couple nearby hailed it as one of the best films they had ever seen. For critics who watch hundreds of movies a year, finding something this different can either feel refreshing or frustrating. Yet despite its occasional narrative missteps, the film’s distinct vision, helmed by first-time director Isaiah Saxon, reveals a filmmaker with a clear and unique voice.

At its finest moments, The Legend of Ochi evokes a raw, almost primal wonder that recalls the spirit of Beasts of the Southern Wild from 2012 — a comparison that suggests Saxon’s feature debut may stand the test of time among lovers of daring cinema.

An unconventional family film for adventurous audiences

Although marketed as a family movie, The Legend of Ochi clearly targets a narrower audience — mainly adventurous 8- to 13-year-olds and adults who can still tap into that childlike sense of discovery. Saxon, known for his two decades of work in music videos and short films, crafts a world that feels both ancient and decaying, like an alternate Eastern Europe where medieval villages coexist with remnants of 1970s Soviet infrastructure.

The story takes place on an isolated island where humans have long fought against mysterious mountain creatures. These beings, the Ochi, are depicted as an evolutionary offshoot of humanity, closer to our simian ancestors than to modern humans. For generations, they have lived hidden, occasionally preying on livestock and unwary travelers. Maxim, a rugged hunter portrayed by Willem Dafoe, has dedicated his life to eradicating these creatures.

Dafoe’s portrayal captures a world-weary bravado that suits the dark fairy-tale atmosphere. Yet the true heart of The Legend of Ochi lies with Maxim’s daughter, Yuri, played by Helena Zengel. Blonde, blue-eyed, and fiercely independent, Yuri is reluctantly dragged into her father’s quest. However, when she finds a newborn Ochi trapped by Maxim’s men, she chooses compassion over duty and sets out on a journey to reunite the creature with its family.

A handmade fantasy world built with love

One of the most striking elements highlighted in this The Legend of Ochi film review is the film’s reliance on practical effects. The newborn Ochi is an extraordinary puppet creation, reminiscent of Baby Yoda but even wilder in spirit. CGI is used sparingly, keeping the focus on the tangible, earthy feel of the characters and environments.

As Yuri and the Ochi bond, communicating through a series of chitters, howls, and whistles, the movie moves into a deeply emotional register that transcends language. This evolving relationship becomes the core of the film’s emotional journey, reflecting themes of empathy, survival, and understanding across species and generations.

Saxon’s visual style further reinforces the handmade quality of the world. The digital film stock is processed to add analog grain, giving scenes a worn, timeworn look. Composer David Longstreth of Dirty Projectors provides a score rich with Wagnerian horns, enhancing the sense that this world exists outside of time and space.

Parental battles and mythic echoes

The Ochi movie review would be incomplete without acknowledging the deep thematic undercurrents running through the story. When Yuri reunites with her estranged mother Dasha, played by Emily Watson, the narrative steps fully into mythic territory. Dasha, living alone in the mountains tending sheep, embodies a pagan, earth-worshipping figure who has embraced the natural world.

Watson brings a fierce energy to her role, portraying Dasha as both nurturing and tough, someone who is just as capable of boiling bats to treat an Ochi bite as she is of offering heartfelt maternal advice. Her reunion with Yuri sets off a volatile clash between matriarchal and patriarchal forces, embodied by Dasha and Maxim respectively.

As Maxim and his army of boy soldiers, led by a "nice-when-no-one’s-looking" Finn Wolfhard, close in, the movie becomes a tug-of-war over Yuri’s future. The scenes between Dasha and Maxim crackle with raw emotion and wounded history. When Dasha accuses Maxim of cutting off her hand and he retorts that he saved her life, it’s clear their conflict runs much deeper than their immediate circumstances.

This mythic framework elevates The Legend of Ochi beyond a simple adventure, offering a profound meditation on family, loyalty, and the often painful process of forging one's own identity.

A test of the adventurous spirit

Despite its strengths, it’s important to note in this Ochi movie review that The Legend of Ochi will not be for everyone. Viewers expecting a traditional narrative with familiar beats may find themselves disoriented or even frustrated by its dreamlike structure. Saxon’s film resists easy classification, behaving less like a conventional children’s movie and more like an artifact from another era — a lost film from the 1970s, buried in a bog and unearthed just for the boldest audiences.

Those willing to surrender to its rhythms, however, will find a cinematic experience unlike any other this year. The Legend of Ochi refuses to pander. It tells its story in its own strange language, demanding patience, openness, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.

The world Saxon has created — carved from ancient folklore, stitched together with handmade magic, and infused with a fierce emotional honesty — feels like a place you stumble into by accident and never quite leave. It’s a film for anyone who has ever longed to be surprised again at the movies, to encounter something truly new under the sun.

For those ready to embark on a cinematic journey off the beaten path, The Legend of Ochi offers a rare and rewarding adventure — one carved in love, madness, and old wood.

More from Film coverage

Daniel Minahan’s adaptation of Shannon Pufahl’s novel turns love and longing into a slow-burning study of postwar yearning.
Dea Kulumbegashvili’s haunting film "April" dives deep into bodily autonomy, female grief, and rural isolation through the lens of a resolute doctor.
Constance Tsang’s debut feature "Blue Sun Palace" reveals the quiet struggles of immigrant women in Flushing, New York, through a lyrical tale of grief, friendship, and resilience.