"The Legend of Ochi" got caught up in this "VFX is for Marvel movies (derogatory)" discourse when the first trailer for the A24 film dropped. So many online comments accused the film of being AI-generated that director Isaiah Saxon felt the need to comment in a now-deleted Twitter post that confirmed the titular Ochi,

The Legend of Ochi budget was $10 million, with a $1 million creature budget, and after years of development — Baby Ochi prototype development began in 2018 — the results are spectacular. Like the movie as a whole, Baby Ochi's existence is a celebration of puppetry and practical effects.

The Legend of Ochi” is being pitched as a family movie by A24, but I don’t believe most kids would enjoy this slow-moving slog set in the Carpathian mountains. Sure, the scenery looks great, and a few vistas are breathtaking.