'Legend of Ochi' surprises

"The Legend of Ochi," a film starring Oscar winner Willem Dafoe, will hit theaters on April 25. Few know, however, that the film, a fantasy story, was filmed entirely in Romania, by…

How the Legend of Ochi director found his perfect throat-whistler

In A24’s new fantasy adventure movie The Legend of Ochi, the titular apelike creatures communicate via strange chirps and whistles. Their unique vocals become a pivotal plot point, especially after lonely 12-year-old Yuri (Helena Zengel) runs off to return a baby ochi to its colony deep in the forest. For the most part, people like Yuri’s father (Willem Dafoe) view the ochi as aggressive, but Yuri learns that they’re not as dangerous as her vill…

Move Over, Grogu — There’s a New Fuzzy Whatsit in Town

When director Isaiah Saxon began his search for the voice of Ochi, the titular creature in his new film, The Legend of Ochi, he didn’t look to established actors, but YouTube. “I typed in ‘throat whistling,’ and I found this guy with one video on his account where he’s in his basement in sweatpants, and he’s like, ‘Hey guys, I figured out this thing I can do in the back of my throat,’” Saxon says. “And he opens his mouth, and the sound of the Oc…

For his first feature film, filmmaker Isaiah Saxon proposes an immersion in a world he created from all pieces – with a budget of only 10 million! The Press spoke to him as well as Helena Zengel and Finn Wolfhard, who embody a sister and brother immersed in a fantastic adventure in The Legend of Ochi.

“It feels alive”: The Legend of Ochi director on the power of puppets

The Legend of Ochi feels like a film that shouldn't exist today. It's an original story, not an adaptation of an already popular book or comic. It's filled with complex puppetry and practical effects, something many films avoid because CG is simply easier to deal with. And it evokes some of the scarier children's films of the '80s and '90s, like the nightmare-inducing adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches. According to Isaiah Saxon, the film's …

'The Legend of Ochi' cast and director break down the film's glorious puppets

A24's The Legend of Ochi introduces instantly memorable film creatures in the blue-faced, golden-furred Ochi, who live on the fictional island of Carpathia in the Black Sea. These fantastic animals were brought to life using techniques like puppeteering, animatronics, and performers in suits, all of which combine in a beautiful celebration of practical filmmaking. SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Ochi' review: This beautifully crafted fantasy adventure…