STACK #250 August 2025

FEATURE MOVIE

HANDMADE MAGIC: THE LEGEND OF OCHI GENRE: Family fantasy RUN TIME: 1h 35m

Step into a world of wonder with The Legend of Ochi , a magical adventure filled with strange and fantastical beasts, echoing the spirit of Jim Henson’s beloved films of the ’80s. A side from those Henson classics, such as The Dark Crystal , there really isn’t

a living entity… When you see something handmade, the imperfections become charming.” As a music video director, Saxon has worked with artists like Björk and Grizzly Bear, which allowed him to hone his craft and create stories through imagery. And from the moment The Legend of Ochi begins, it’s obviously made by a sophisticated storyteller. “I have this discomfort with our reliance on

anything like this movie. And with its use of practical effects and puppetry, it’s certainly something new for the kids of today. Set in a nondescript place, high in the mountains where the modern world and old entwine, the story tells of a small village always on alert for the dreaded Ochi, a species of beasts that live in the forests. When a young girl finds a baby Ochi, she decides - against her elders’ wishes - to return it to its mother. It’s an adventure full of heart, led by Helena Zengel ( News of the World ), with a fantastic ensemble of actors such as Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, and Finn Wolfhard. When it came to bringing the Ochi to life, music video director Isaiah Saxon - making

language as our primary communication format as humans,” he says. “It’s hard to express myself in words, so my medicine is music, pictures, dance, and

his feature debut - was adamant about using puppets. “There's a magic in puppetry that goes back deep into our unconscious, like shadows on the cave wall,” he explains. “Even when you watch the marionette being controlled by the puppeteer overhead, you accept it as

movement.” Glenn Cochrane

• The Legend of Ochi is out Aug 27

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

The Dark Crystal, The Labyrinth, The NeverEnding Story, Willow, Legend

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