The Legend of Ochi harks back to an earlier era of children’s cinema. Set in the not-quite-magical, not-quite-real world of Carpathia—where mythical bipedal creatures roam the mossy forests, but stick-shift cars and terrestrial radio also exist—writer-director Isaiah Saxon crafts a vibe-heavy feature in which the all-natural landscapes and often jaw-dropping creature design take center stage. Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: a young girl bonds with a mysterious creature and sets out to return it home. It’s a story we’ve seen dozens of times, though few recent iterations arrive with this level of craft. It’s a film equally indebted to the works of Steven Spielberg and Wes Anderson, though it lacks the signature touch that gives those directors’ films such vivid life and clear sense of purpose. Read More
