Orion and the Dark
Orion and the Dark is streaming on Netflix at the time of writing. Rated TV-Y7. Common Sense says 8.
STORY: C-
A surprise narrator gives the story some much needed juice.
Just about every single thing on earth scares Orion, an absolutely lovable fifth grade boy just trying to make his way through life. The story is massively influenced by Inside Out, but it falls way short of that film’s narrative and emotional power.
Luckily, the shift in narrator doesn’t feel cheap. My interest meter shot up dramatically when it happens. The shift legitimately elevates the story’s impact.
PEOPLE: D
Orion is great, but he doesn’t get much help from the rest of the gang.
Most of the supporting cast don’t seem necessary (although Dark is a vital, well written and nicely designed character) They come off more like a cute idea than characters with any depth. That gap in depth forces Orion to carry more of the story’s weight than he’s capable of.
If the movie were a game of tug-of-war. Orion would be the all-star anchorman on a team of 28 pound weaklings. He can’t pull this off all by himself.
FILM NERD STUFF: B-
The editing picks the perfect moments to shift timelines.
Filmmakers use narrative “tricks” all the time. But that doesn’t mean they always work. The editors get final say on when the shifts actually happen, and they get it just right in this film.
They sense whenever the narrative starts to run out of steam. Like a veteran EMT, they bust out the defib machine at the exact perfect times.
UM, I THINK YOUR MOVIE’S INSIDE OUT (Elective Class): B-
The characters are not the only influence from Inside Out.
Young kids won’t be turned off by all of the similarities to Inside Out. In fact, they’ll likely love the parallels. Making it so obvious is actually a smart move by the filmmakers.
In Inside Out, Sadness gets to step into the spotlight. Here, fear receives its flowers. Both films teach the important lesson: embracing and accepting (instead of running away from) your “negative” emotions actually help you move past them more quickly.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Orion and the Dark is a super well intentioned movie that is certain to entertain the audience it’s meant to reach.