The Legend Of Ochi ★★★

Released: 1 August 2025

Director: Isaiah Saxon

Starring: Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson and Finn Wolfhard

After being unceremoniously pulled from the UK release schedule earlier this year (likely due to distribution issues), A24’s family-friendly fantasy flick The Legend of Ochi has finally made its way across the pond, following its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Writer and director Isaiah Saxon’s impressive feature debut is undoubtedly a spiritual successor to a whole host of beloved 80s fantasy instalments, but does the creature feature set itself apart enough from its predecessors?

The fable-esque tale transports viewers to the wondrous landscapes of the fictitious Carpathia Island, a Slavic-inspired setting where rural communities routinely persecute the Ochi – a reclusive, golden, primate-like species – blaming them for preying on villagers’ livestock. Despite her father Maxim (Willem Dafoe) devoting his life to ridding the village of these mythical creatures, leading nightly hunts with a group of gun-toting boys in his (rather eccentric!) golden armour, the introverted teenager Yuri (Helena Zengel) doesn’t want to follow in his footsteps. Her scepticism of his claim that the Ochi “took his wife” has also led to a fractured relationship between the two, as she knows her mother (Emily Watson) left of her own accord.

But her life is soon upended when she discovers an injured baby Ochi in the woodland, caught in one of her father’s traps, and after gaining the trust of the adorably fuzzy primate (think Grogu crossed with Gizmo) and sharing a moment bonding over a caterpillar, she resolves to set out and reunite it with its family. However, with her father and his band of merry boys hot on their heels, and the dangerous wilderness to contend with, can the newfound friends make the perilous journey?

The ensuing journey is an amusing and heartfelt adventure through the breathtaking misty mountains and wild woodlands of Carpathia, as the pair find themselves navigating a series of dangerous challenges, treacherous threats, and surprising revelations. There’s certainly a lot of promise when it comes to The Legend of Ochi, particularly in the endearing central relationship, with highlights including a hilarious car hijacking and a wholesome discovery as they revel in the coos and trills of their shared communication. However, the film doesn’t quite dare to explore uncharted waters, lacking the narrative ambition to truly set itself apart – despite hints at more intriguing concepts. Instead, it treads the all-too-familiar story beats of its predecessors – such as How to Train Your Dragon (particularly in the misfit teen bonding with a misunderstood, mysterious creature) – as well as Amblin classics such as E.T. and Gremlins.

Where the film truly comes to life is in its wholly immersive and beautifully realised world, proving an unrivalled technical feat. The mix of breathtaking puppetry, animatronics, and stop-motion animation seamlessly brings the adorable baby Ochi puppet to life – rivalling Lucasfilm’s scene-stealing Grogu. The creature is incredibly expressive and tactile-looking, operated by an impressive five puppeteers. Filming on location in Romania and Eastern Europe – utilising real-life spots such as the Transfăgărășan Road, one of the most scenic mountain drives – paired with matte paintings, evokes a magical, dream-like environment you can almost reach out and touch. The enchanting score by composer David Longstreth is the cherry on top, incorporating similarly lavish strings reminiscent of classic John Williams for a truly wondrous experience.

And while the performances are solid across the board – particularly Dafoe in his suit of armour, adding another delightfully bonkers role to his bow – the characters lack true development and depth, to the film’s detriment. Emily Watson’s appearance is crucial but frustratingly unresolved, while Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard is disappointingly underused.

The Legend of Ochi is an incredible technical feat, rivalling a Jim Henson production or a classic Amblin creature feature. If you’ve ever wondered what a Wes Anderson take on How to Train Your Dragon might look like, look no further! But while the film is a visually stunning and immersive endeavour from first-time writer and director Isaiah Saxon, it frustratingly lacks the heartfelt emotional core and narrative ambition to truly set itself apart from its predecessors.