A dark, artistic fairy tale

As a movie fanatic, I’ve never locked myself into one specific genre. For me, what makes a film stand out is the balance between cinematic craftsmanship and an original story. Those are the films that stay with you — and The Legend of Ochi, A24’s latest fantasy feature, fits right into that category.

A24 has been on a hot streak lately, building its reputation on bold, original storytelling. With Ochi, the studio leans into a nostalgic, handcrafted fantasy tale that feels both timeless and daring.

Story & Setting

The film is set in a remote village on the island of Carpathia, where a shy young girl, Yuri (Helena Zengel), has been raised to fear an elusive species known as the Ochi. When she discovers a wounded baby Ochi left behind, she escapes the confines of her village on a quest to return the creature to its home.

Her father Maxim (Willem Dafoe), a man obsessed with power and masculinity, blames the Ochi for taking his wife and raises the village boys to hunt them. Yuri’s journey reveals truths Maxim has hidden — including the fact that her mother Dasha (Emily Watson) is still alive and has become a kind of “Mother Nature” figure who embodies the balance of the land. Through her quest, Yuri learns the Ochi are not a curse, but a vital part of the world around her.

Aesthetic & Craftsmanship

What truly elevates The Legend of Ochi is its commitment to practical effects and visual artistry. The film embraces a tactile, 1980s-inspired aesthetic: puppetry, animatronics, and matte paintings combine to create a world that feels “impossibly real.” It evoked for me the same magic as The NeverEnding Story, where the artistry of filmmaking makes fantasy tangible.

The pacing is slow, with stretches of quiet, cinematic scenery and minimal dialogue. But that deliberate rhythm works to deepen the sense of immersion — pulling viewers into a “dark, artistic fairy tale” that relies more on atmosphere and mood than fast plotting.

Themes & Performances

At its heart, the story explores belief, legacy, and the clash between fear and truth. Willem Dafoe brings an unsettling intensity as Maxim, embodying toxic tradition and the danger of living by fear. Helena Zengel shines as Yuri, delivering a quiet but emotionally resonant performance as a girl breaking free of her father’s shadow. Emily Watson’s Dasha adds mythic weight, grounding the film in themes of nature, motherhood, and renewal.

The Ochi themselves — brought to life through puppetry and design — capture both wonder and melancholy. Their presence isn’t just a fantasy creature gimmick but a mirror of the film’s larger ideas about misunderstanding and harmony with nature.

Final Thoughts

The Legend of Ochi is not for everyone — its slow pace and minimal dialogue may test the patience of viewers expecting high-energy fantasy. But for those who value atmosphere, artistry, and stories that feel handcrafted, it’s a mesmerizing experience.

This film reminded me why I love cinema in the first place: the way it can merge craft and story into something that feels both mythical and deeply human. Like the best fairy tales, it suggests that no matter what we believe, the universe always finds ways to surprise us — through creatures, myths, or the power of nature itself.

Verdict: A haunting, beautifully crafted fantasy that prioritizes atmosphere over speed — The Legend of Ochi is a reminder that sometimes the smallest, strangest stories can hold the biggest magic.