If you grew up watching magical movie classics like Gremlins and E.T., this may be the best film you’ve seen in a long time.
The Legend of Ochi follows a young girl named Yuri, played by Helena Zengel (Tom Hanks, News of the World). She was raised in a remote northern village, being taught never to go outside at night because that’s when creatures called ochi come out. But when a baby ochi is left behind by its pack, she embarks on an epic adventure to return him to his family and learns that she can communicate with him along the way.
This is A24’s first big foray into the fantasy adventure genre. And while The Legend of Ochi isn’t exactly a typical family film, it has that cross-generational appeal. It’s got enough magic and mystery for younger audiences as well as Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, but its the return to 1980s nostalgia and practical effects that will get us adults to the theater.
Plus I think it’s going to get another Kate Bush song back in the charts - Hounds of Love - Kate Bush.
Immediately when you play the trailer, you’re taken back to the type of 80s/early 90s fantasy movies we grew up on like E.T., Goonies and Gremlins but with modern day effects. It feels like Spielberg magic and really stands out in an era dominated by CGI-heavy movies.
The ochi itself is something part monkey, part fluffy alien, kind of like the reverse storyline of Boo in monsters Inc. It seems cute and innocent and doesn’t understand its own power. Think a fluffy Grogu but operated by seven puppeteers.
It’s the first feature film from Isaiah Saxon, who has previously made memorable music videos with artists such as Björk and Kanye West. He personally painted 200+ matte paintings across 6 years and combines puppetry, animatronics and computer animations to build the world in this film.
Fans of films like Pan’s Labyrinth, Where the Wild Things Are, and How to Train Your Dragon should keep a close eye on The Legend of Ochi. Because if the early buzz is anything to go by, this February 2025 release could add a new string to A24’s bow.
