I grew up during the late 1970s through the 1980s and 1990s. I am a member of Generation X. Films like E.T. The Extraterrestrial, The Goonies, and other films dealing with the coming of age of children are a part of my upbringing, as are the values my parents hoped to impart to me. So, when a new film like The Legend of Ochi comes along, it is exciting to experience a throwback to these younger, more innocent times when a filmmaker hopes to recapture that magic. Now, I won’t say that The Legend of Ochi succeeds in capturing that cinematic magic, but it comes close.
Writer/director Isaiah Saxon tells the story of a young Carpathian girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel), a sweet and caring child who has been coping with the separation of her parents, but is also pressured into the life her father (Willem Dafoe)has chosen for her and her older brother Petro (Finn Wolfhard). After a traumatic attack on Yuri’s mother, Dasha (Emily Watson), her father, Maxim, has made it his mission, and the mission of his family, to hunt the “ravenous” creatures who nearly killed his beloved wife. Forced to become a hunter of the strange creatures known as Ochi, Yuri has remained reluctant to help her family pursue this mission but has done so to satisfy her father.
During one particular hunt, Yuri discovers a frightened Ochi child who has been separated from her group. Because she feels empathy for the frightened creature, she decides to shelter it from her family. This proves problematic, as her father is determined to exterminate the creatures from the land surrounding their home.
Though the overall concept of the movie is not exactly original, the story of The Legend of Ochi rings several truths about humanity and the fears that drive us to very dark places. Filmmaker Isaiah Saxon does a solid job of mixing humor, suspense, thrills, and family drama to tell a story that is as old as time. The film is rated PG, so there are some harrowing moments and strong language. It is up to parents to decide if these elements are too much for their younger children, but pre-teens and teenagers will enjoy this film, as will most adults.
I certainly enjoyed the performances by the cast. In particular, Helena Zengel performs well as Yuri. She captures the troubled and conflicted mind of a young girl who knows what her family is doing wrong. As her father, Maxim, Willem Dafoe is a delight, channeling his inner Captain Ahab in wonderfully theatrical ways with a mix of self-aware humor that had me tickled. I also welcomed the inclusion of Emily Watson as Yuri’s more sensible and thoughtful mother who realizes that Maxim’s mission/obsession is not actually helping the family.
Considering that this movie is a throwback, I appreciate that Saxon and his crew decided to use practical puppetry and animatronics for the Ochi creatures. It helped make this film feel more organic and a genuine tribute to the 80s movies that captivated me in my youth. The Legend of Ochi is now in theaters and is a fun and heartfelt film that definitely took me back to my childhood.