I’m a big fan of animated movies, especially those Disney and Pixar ones. And no it isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s something about the way they tap the child inside me. These movies know how to send a message across without being preachy. Just caught Netflix’s “Orion and the Dark,” and I have to say, it’s a total gem. If you’re into sweet, quirky stories that take you back to your childhood while still having a lot for your adult self to learn, this one’s for you. It’s funny, serious, wholesome, and the best thing about the movie? It teaches you to face your fears… be it the dark, or life itself.
Plot
We meet Orion, an 11-year-old kid who’s scared of pretty much everything— bees, bullies girls, and skyscrapers. But his biggest fear? The dark (us rahega Orion bhai). One night, while he’s freaking out in his room, the literal Dark pops out from the shadows. He is tired of being the bad guy and decides to show Orion that nighttime isn’t as terrifying as he thinks. I had never thought people could actually make me feel bad for the dark, but here we are. Anyway, so they go off on a wild journey through the night, meeting other friends of Dark like Sleep, Quiet, and Sweet Dreams. Does Orion’s fear finally go away? We all know it does, but what if I tell you there’s more? You gotta watch it to find out. Such a wholesome story man.
Performances
People don’t appreciate the art of voice acting enough. It almost always goes unnoticed… such an underrated aspect in animated movies. And the best part? All of the actors nail their parts here. Jacob Tremblay is amazinggg as Orion. He’s anxious, he’s curious. He’s scared, he’s adventurous. We’ve all had our fears as children, right? Jacob will definitely remind you of those times and the weird thoughts we had as children. Also, I never thought I could actually feel for the dark until Paul Walter Hauser nailed it as Dark. The fact that the Dark is also scared of people leaving him for Light, that really got me. You can’t help but root for him throughout the movie. The supporting cast is stacked too. Angela Bassett, Colin Hanks, and Natasia Demetriou all bring their A-game. There’s no character that doesn’t stand out. Each one of them ate and left no crumbs.
Direction and Writing
I just got to know this was Sean Charmatz’s directorial debut. Ek main hoon jo 100 baar ek hi cheez karne ke baad bhi fck up karta hoon aur ek ye hain. First film and it’s an absolute banger. It’s both whimsical and deep, hitting that sweet spot that keeps both kids and adults hooked. So the next time your chote bhai/behen ask you to watch a film w them, you know what to watch! There is something about Charlie Kaufman’s writing, it somehow manages to be both quirky and emotionally deep at the same time. And to think there are also time jumps between the present and the past, but done so beautifully that children won’t get confused? In short, we need more of Sean’s work soon enough. Yeah, one thing that I didn’t like was how the script dives into a lot of complex emotions without feeling heavy. I get that it’s a film for children, but if it is so, then why deal with so many emotions in the first place?
Screenplay and Cinematography
The screenplay is so crunch that you’re not bored one single minute. Also, it’s got that Pixar vibe where you’re laughing one minute and feeling all the feels the next. So thoda bach kar rehna, you never know when the next cry sesh is around the corner. The animation is nice only. Nothing out of the ordinary, but humesha out-of-the-box bhi kaam nahi karta. This one’s simple and it works well for the film. It is sweet and colorful, bringing the night to life in a way that’s both magical and a little eerie. My fav are the scenes where Orion and Dark zip around different landscapes and you see the whole world through their eyes.
All in all, “Orion and the Dark” is a total win for Netflix. It’s fun, heartfelt, and visually gorgeous. The voice performances are top-notch, the writing is sharp, and the direction is spot-on. Haan, it tries to juggle a lot of ideas at once, but it doesn’t end up dropping the balls. Whether you’re looking for a feel-good movie to watch with your family or just something to remind you of your bachpan ke din, this film is a fantastic pick. Kaafi dino baad ek achhi animated movie aayi hai, don’t miss it!
