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Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Legend Of Ochi Movie Review: Reconciliation and myth collide in a slow-burning adventure
Story: Yuri, a young girl from a village living in constant fear of Ochis, mythical creatures, sets out to return a baby Ochi she finds injured. Along the way, she discovers her strength and strives for reconciliation between her community and the mythical beings. Review: It's tough to figure out if 'The Legend of Ochi' is aimed at children or adults, given the peculiar nature of the plot. On one hand, we see Willem Dafoe's character becoming violent towards the Ochis, mythical primate-like creatures, while on the other hand, his daughter, Yuri, forms a protective bond with a baby Ochi. This duality makes it hard to pinpoint the target audience, and in the end, the film becomes predictable and dull. While the stunning cinematography and the charming baby Ochi captivate at times, the film struggles with narrative depth. For most of its duration, nothing significant happens, and the film appeals only sporadically. Despite its captivating backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains, the plot fails to maintain a compelling rhythm, making it difficult to stay engaged. The story follows Yuri (Helena Zengel), a young girl raised in a tight-knit community in the isolated mountains of Carpathia. The people live in constant fear of the Ochi, elusive and dangerous creatures. Yuri's father, Maxim (Willem Dafoe), a strict man, has always warned her to avoid the Ochi, especially after the disappearance of her mother, believed to have been taken by the creatures. However, Yuri's world shifts when she discovers an injured baby Ochi in the forest. The bond between them grows, and Yuri even begins to understand the creature's language. Determined to return the baby to its family, she embarks on a journey. Along the way, she meets Dasha (Emily Watson), a herbalist with knowledge of the Ochi, who helps Yuri connect with the creatures and uncover their true nature. Yuri learns to challenge her community's fears and discovers her strength in striving for reconciliation between humans and the Ochi. Visually, 'The Legend of Ochi' is a standout. The cinematography captures the isolated beauty of Carpathia, with sweeping shots of mountains and dense forests. The setting, paired with the mystical Ochi, creates an atmosphere that could have made the film engaging. However, the film falters in its screenplay. The pacing is uneven, and much of the plot feels meandering and underdeveloped. The characters are not given enough depth, making it hard for viewers to form emotional connections. The balance between fantasy and drama is shaky, with the film failing to explore the potential of its premise fully. Despite the visuals and premise, the story feels thin and predictable, offering little originality. In terms of performances, Willem Dafoe brings a quiet menace to Maxim, the conservative father who invokes fear in his daughter and others. Emily Watson's brief appearance as Dasha is one of the film's highlights. Though her screen time is limited, Watson's portrayal brings a sense of wisdom and warmth. It's Helena Zengel's performance as Yuri that truly stands out. She delivers a natural, vulnerable performance that anchors the film with warmth and tenderness, providing much-needed emotional depth. 'The Legend of Ochi' had potential but falls short in key areas. While the film boasts stunning visuals and a few memorable performances, its underdeveloped plot and lack of emotional connection make it a missed opportunity. It doesn't quite live up to its potential, leaving viewers wishing for a more engaging narrative and sharper execution.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Legend Of Ochi' Review: Willem Dafoe In Wondrous Mystical Fantasy Adventure That Feels Like A Twisted ‘E.T.' In A Good Way
I have become so accustomed to defining childrens or family films in this era as animated that when you come upon one that doesn't fall into that easy defintion it is a welcome shock to the system. The Legend Of Ochi, premiering today in the Family Matinee section of the Sundance Film Festival, is a throwback, one of those films clearly inspired by more adventurous PG entertainments of the past and never talking down to its intended audience. In this way the A24 release is a breath of fresh air and a stunning visual treat that will appeal well beyond the youngest members in the household. With cinematic inspirations like The Black Stallion, My Neighbor Tortoro,, Roald Dahl's The Witches, Princess Mononoke, and clearly Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, director/writer Isaiah Saxon, with his feature debut, has accomplished a striking bit of world building, combining puppetry, animatronics, matte paintings, CGI and visual effects to take us, like the best movies do, somewhere we have never been in a adventure that blends naturalistic and fantasy settings to feel like watching a movie that has been painted (he created 200 matte paintings for it himself), as much as being shot through a lens. More from Deadline Sundance: Jacinda Ardern On Her Docu 'Prime Minister;' Feminism, Semi-Automatic Weapons Ban, Covid Border Closing And Women's Rights Including Abortion In Kiwi Country 'Atropia' Review: Alia Shawkat & Callum Turner Play War Games In Absurdist Bush-Era Satire - Sundance Film Festival Sundance: Bill Murray Makes Surprise Appearance In Park City Techniques and inspirations aside, the story, first and foremost, must be there and Saxon has written a compelling one. It centers on Yuri (played by German actress Helena Zengel, so wonderful opposite Tom Hanks in News Of The World), born into a family as the only child of Dasha (Emily Watson) who leaves them to go tend sheep in a remote part of the small village on Carpathia where they live, and the eccentric and militaristic father Maxim (Willem Dafoe) who had longed for a son and teaches her the code of this place which is to fear the elusive primate creatures who roam the land known as the Ochis. Along with Petra (Finn Wolfhard), his adopted son and Yuri's half brother, plus his band of young ragtag soldiers (think the Lost Boys) he sets out on hunting expeditions to kill the Ochis. After a failed hunt though, Yuri stumbles on to a frightened and separated baby Ochi and begins to learn that maybe they aren't to be feared at all. She bonds with the creature who has the effect of bringing her out of her own closed world which consisted of staying in her own corner listening to black metal music and being alone, and now finding she can communicate in the Ochi's own unique language. She sets out to reunite the baby Ochi with its family, running away from her home, and perhaps in the process changing her fate – and the Ochis- forever. Emotion is at the core of this story, just as it was in E.T. , but Saxon is looking for his own stamp on the genre, and feels as much kinship with Ken Loach's realistic story of a boy who befriends a falcon in Kes as much as that blockbuster. It is an independent wonder made for an estimated $10 million but if done at a studio probably would be over $100 million judging by the visual results. What is remarkable is how it all comes together so seamlessly. Casting the human element is important of course, and Zengel, telling us so much with little dialogue, is splendid, especially as her scene partner is a puppet coming to life in large part through the work of John Nolan Studios, and especially primate choreographer Peter Elliot, a veteran of films using primates, to make the baby Ochi so endearing. Saxon says he was inspired for the look by a type of Chinese Golden Monkey. To me he looks like a pre-evil transistion Gremlin. Dafoe, in another memorable character turn, creates a rigid combat leader battling the creatures, but who also still manages to be a three dimensional dad who does love his daughter. Watson is wonderful as the AWOL mother who has also found a calling studying the communication techniques of the Ochis, and who will provide some key support for her daughter. Wolfhard (Stranger Things) also finds a perfect balance as a sensitive young man, with fondness for Yuri and torn between Maxim's expectations and the fact he is not suited to be part of his army. Shot largely in Romania, in the rural areas of Transylvania, cinematographer Evan Prosofsky's camera work expertly blends with all of Saxon's filmmaking tools to create a visual palette caught somewhere between reality and otherworldly. David Longstreth's impressive score is highlighted by a recurring haunting theme balanced by a more classical approach usually found in these kinds of tales. Think John Williams. With A24 leading the way, The Legend Of Ochi could well be positioned to become a big hit with families this Spring. It certainly deserves to be seen – and savored. Producers are Jonathan Wang, Richard Peete, and Traci Carlson. Title: The Legend Of Ochi Festival: Sundance (Family Matinees) Distributor: A24 Director/Screenplay: Isaiah Saxon Cast: Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Finn Wolfhard Rating: PG Running Time: 1 hour and 36 minutes Best of Deadline Deadline Studio at Sundance Film Festival 2025: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jennifer Lopez, Chloë Sevigny, Alison Brie & More 'Severance' Cast Through Seasons 1 And 2: Innies, Outies, Severed and Unsevered 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More
