Mostly Horror: E209: The Legend of Ochi (A24): Isaiah Saxon on Bold Fantasy & Handmade Worlds

Hey horror fans! This week we’re joined by Isaiah Saxon, director of A24’s The Legend of Ochi and co-founder of the visionary film and animation studio Encyclopedia Pictura. We talk about Isaiah’s early creative roots, from drawing and stop-motion to building the kid-focused platform DIY.org, and how all of that shaped his unique approach to storytelling. Then we dive deep into the stunning handmade world of Carpathia—filled with puppets, animatronics, painted maps, 1930s lenses, and big heart. Isaiah shares what it was like working with Willem Dafoe and Helena Zengel, how he blends mythology and music, and why he believes films should feel like moving paintings instead of hyper-reality. We left this conversation genuinely inspired; Isaiah is someone bringing magic back to movies in a way we haven’t seen in a long time. If you’re into bold storytelling, weird creatures, and fantasy flicks from the ’80s and ’90s, this one’s for you so... COME HANG OUT!!! https://wondery.com/shows/mostly-horror-movie-night/episode/10857-the-legend-of-ochi-a24-isaiah-saxon-on-bold-fantasy-amp-handmade-worlds/