The Legend of Ochi has received largely positive reviews from critics. The A24 fantasy movie revolves around a girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) who grows up on an island where she and the other denizens are taught to fear a species known as the Ochi. Yuri’s father, Maxim (Willem Dafoe), is particularly adamant about his hatred of the Ochi, and leads the charge to hunt down and kill the creatures. However, everything changes when Yuri befriends a baby Ochi and goes on a daring quest to reunite the young creature with his family.

What happens to Yuri and the Ochi may not have the most surprising outcome, but critics are still impressed by director and writer Isaiah Saxon’s feature film debut. Reviews for The Legend of Ochi have generally been strong and have led to the new movie holding an 80% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes from 88 reviews. Critics have found plenty of elements to enjoy in the movie, from the practical artistry to the story’s tone.

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There Is State-Of-The-Art Puppetry & Visual Effects

The Ochi Puppets Are Incredibly Expressive

One of the points that critics agree on is the deeply impressive nature of The Legend of Ochi‘s puppetry and visual effects. The Ochi are brought to life through puppetry that makes them look expressive and feel real, which is essential given their importance to the story. A reliance on puppets and practical effects is visually engaging while also evoking a sense of nostalgia for a time when movies primarily utilized these approaches to crafting fantastical creatures.

In a review for The ᴀssociated Press, Lindsey Bahr notes that the puppetry is only part of the movie’s impressive visual effects: “It’s impossible not to admire the creativity, the imagination and the care that went into making something like this, with puppetry, matte paintings and inventive graphics.” There is a thorough level of handcrafted artistry that is present at every level of the movie, and this is true for all scenes, and not only those featuring the Ochi. Such intricate detail makes the movie enjoyable to watch and it enriches the overarching story.

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The Legend Of Ochi Feels Genuinely Magical

It Perfectly Captures A Sense Of Wonder

One of the greatest challenges for a fantasy movie is to make it feel truly magical, and The Legend of Ochi manages to succeed at this in multiple ways. It first succeeds through the Ochi creatures, whose unique look, sounds, and culture make them feel like a fully realized species from a fantasy story. The magic goes beyond the Ochi, though, as it is also present in the setting as Yuri journeys to places she has never been before and is filled with a sense of wonder and hope she never knew was possible.

ScreenRant‘s Mary Kᴀssel writes that “The Legend of Ochi is warm and inviting, an aspirational world that feels old enough to breach the barrier separating us from a more fantastic reality.” This sentiment is shared by other critics, who note that filming on location in Romania enhances the story and adds a richness to the cinematic feel. In the true spirit of the Hero’s Journey, there is a sense of Yuri crossing the threshold and leaving her ordinary world behind, and what she discovers along the way feels magical for her and the audience.

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It Can Be Enjoyed By Younger & Older Audiences

The Legend Of Ochi Can Be Enjoyed By The Whole Family

With a PG rating, watching The Legend of Ochi with the whole family is viable, and critics applaud the movie for being accessible to younger and older audiences. There are valuable lessons present that can be understood and appreciated by different generations. As Yuri works to reunite the baby Ochi with his family, and her family pursues her, there is no denying that family is at the heart of the story. This makes it all the more meaningful for it to be a movie that families can watch and enjoy together.

In a review for Mashable, Belen Edwards praises The Legend of Ochi for being “a welcome addition to the currently underserved genre of live-action family fantasy adventures.” Not only is the movie family-friendly, but it also fills a genre and audience niche that used to be more prominent, and that benefits a new story like The Legend of Ochi. Adults can embrace the nostalgia of this fantasy while children are more enraptured by the magic. It is now a rarity for a movie like this to be an original live-action story instead of being animated or a live-action remake.

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The Legend Of Ochi Is Both Offbeat & Charming

It’s A Perfect Tone For This Story

Much like the fantasy movies from the 1980s and 1990s that clearly inspired it, The Legend of Ochi feels offbeat and charming, and this is a combination that is winning critics over. Despite the fairly straightforward plot, the offbeat and charming tone ensures that the movie feels fresh from beginning to end and that the characters are presented as more than caricatures. Zengel, Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson maintain this tone through their performances, which brings consistency to the overall creative vision.

The tone is endearing and leaves the audience wanting to further explore the characters and their world. It is a fantasy adventure that feels somewhat familiar while also having a distinct singularity to it. In an era of franchises and IP, The Legend of Ochi stands out as an original fantasy movie that contains plenty of quirky charm to make it feel inventive and engaging.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, The ᴀssociated Press, Mashable,