The Legend of Ochi is a new film from A24 debuting in theaters this upcoming weekend written & directed by Isaiah Saxon in his feature film debut. The film stars Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and Willem Dafoe. A young girl learns to never go outside after dark because of reclusive forest creatures known as the ochi. However, when a baby ochi is left behind by its pack, she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to reunite it with its family.

I didn’t have much expectations going into this one. A24 has been off to a rocky start in the beginning of the year, but they have been seeing a quick rebound since Warfare. This film was actually meant to release earlier this year, but got postponed to a later date due to Isaiah Saxon being impacted by the L.A. wildfires. The film is A24’s first family film, which marks a great opportunity for the distributor to market to a larger crowd. I can’t see this making families flock to the movie theaters, although it is a good one if you decide to go check it out.

For the last several years, I have been going through a lot of older films due to mainly nostalgia and wanting to see more films in general. What I have noticed over that time is how much I have been wanting practical effects to make it back into modern-day filmmaking. As a kid, I appreciated CGI more than I do now. Today, I feel like there’s so much heart and soul and believability when there is something practical on screen. That’s what we get with the ochi design.

The plot isn’t anything groundbreaking, and I can see that being the main takeaway with the film. It’s nothing Earth-shattering to make you go see it like Sinners nor is it an event level film like A Minecraft Movie. Take that into account when you go see it. If you like the A24 tone for what they are known for, I can easily see viewers enjoying it for what it is. The adventure is fun & offbeat. By the time we get to the destination, it does feel like something we have seen plenty of times before.

Helena Zengel is terrific in the lead role of the film. She clearly understands the direction given to her from Isaiah Saxon. Viewers may recognize her from 2020’s News of the World. This isn’t her breakthrough a film, though I could see this further serving as an example of her leading more films going forward. Willem Dafoe is also exceptional in a supporting role that is both emotional & humorous.

The film doesn’t always know what to do with the side characters. Finn Wolfhard doesn’t have a whole lot to do, which may undermine his talents for others. While Emily Watson stands out in a role that helps deepen who the main character is, it also doesn’t do much else other than to advance the story. Instead, I would have liked to have seen more of Zengel’s character interacting with the ochi. That’s where the film shines the best.

What surprised me most from the film, however, was the humor. The humor is right up my alley. I have a very sarcastic sense of humor where shock value helps. That’s exactly what we get here. I could see viewers taking the humor as adding more to the weird tone. For me, it works by making the film less serious as the film leans more into its mature themes.

While I can’t see this film doing much at the box office at the given moment, I can see this catapulting director & writer Isaiah Saxon’s career going forward. If he continues utilizing unique concepts with smart humor and add practical effects to the mix, I can easily see myself becoming a fan of his work. At 95 minutes not including credits, the film has a smooth pace to it that doesn’t overstay its welcome. As mentioned, the plot isn’t anything new, but under Saxon’s swift direction, this film elevates itself into something that’s worth watching.

Overall, The Legend of Ochi is an entertaining family-friendly movie worth exploring, even if the plot doesn’t entirely do anything new. It does show Isaiah Saxon’s strengths as a director and it has memorable performances that are heightened by its funny script. My favorite component of the film has to be the practical effects that are often underutilized today.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)