Taglines: Something else is out there.
The Legend of Ochi tells the story of a young girl named Yuri, who lives in a remote mountain village and is warned not to go out after dark. There are creatures called “ochi” that live in the forests around the village and pose a danger to humans. However, Yuri’s life changes completely when he meets a baby ochi and a magical adventure begins.
A24 Films presents its most fantastic and fairy-tale movie to date with The Legend of Ochi. The first trailer of the production, starring Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Finn Wolfhard and Helena Zengel, has been released.
In recent years, the A24 studio has become known as the pioneer of the subgenre called “high horror”. But now he’s stepping into brand new territory with The Legend of Ochi: the family-friendly fantasy adventure. Directed by Isaiah Saxon, the film has the potential to be the studio’s most endearing and fascinating project to date.
The Legend of Ochi signals that it will be visually impressive as well. Director Saxon’s background in music videos and animation seems to have added a unique aesthetic to the film. The prominent use of mixed media in the trailer brings a breath of fresh air to the child-focused fantasy genre. Images Moonrise Kingdom, E.T. and The Green Knight.
The Legend of Ochi is part of A24’s strategy to build mainstream successes and solid brands. While the studio produces video game adaptations such as Death Stranding, it also aims to revive the family-friendly fantasy genre, which is about to disappear.
The cast of the film is also quite impressive. While young talent Helena Zengel stars in the leading role, she is accompanied by experienced names such as Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson and Finn Wolfhard. Especially Dafoe’s presence once again shows his strong bond with A24. The famous actor will soon take part in the studio’s projects such as Nosferatu and Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme.
One of the most striking elements of The Legend of Ochi is the cute creature at the center of the movie. The character seen in the trailer is reminiscent of The Mandalorian’s Grogu (Baby Yoda) and Gremlins’ Gizmo. This cute character is expected to become the mascot of the movie and become one of the most loved fantasy figures of 2024.
The film is based on Saxon’s own characters and script. The director describes The Legend of Ochi as “a film about the mysteries of animal communication” and also an “adventure musical.” The music is composed by Dave Longstreth, the founder of Dirty Projectors, with whom Saxon has worked before.
The Legend of Ochi (2025)
Directed by: Isaiah Saxon
Starring: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, Willem Dafoe, Razvan Stoica, Carol Bors, David Andrei Baltatu, Andrei Anghel, Eduard Mihail Oancea, Tomas Otto Ghela, Andreea Mustata
Screenplay by: Isaiah Saxon
Production Design by: Jason Kisvarday
Cinematography by: Evan Prosofsky
Film Editing by: Paul Rogers
Costume Design by: Elizabeth Warn
Set Decoration by: Kelsi Ephraim
Art Direction by: Sorin Dima, Mugur Aurelian Popescu
MPAA Rating: PG for violent content, a bloody image, smoking, thematic elements and some language.
Distributed by: A24 Films
Release Date: February 28, 2025
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