Orion and the Dark Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

An anxious kid literally befriends the dark, but then the story gets retold by his future self, who then gets overridden by his future daughter, who adds time travel and an alien apocalypse because why not?

🍿 Orion and the Dark: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Orion’s World of Worry

Orion is an 11-year-old boy burdened by an overwhelming list of irrational fears, meticulously documented in his journal. From the mundane, like clogging a toilet, to the profound, such as the fear of death or social humiliation, Orion’s anxiety dictates much of his life. His biggest fear, however, is the dark, which he confronts nightly.

Meeting the Embodiment of Fear

One night, following a blackout, Orion’s deepest fear materializes: Dark, a giant, smiling, blue creature. Tired of Orion’s constant complaints about him, Dark proposes an unusual journey. He offers to take Orion on a worldwide adventure through the night, aiming to prove that there’s nothing to be truly afraid of after sundown.

Adventures with the Night Entities

Dark introduces Orion to his fellow Night Entities: Sleep, Insomnia, Quiet, Unexplained Noises, and Sweet Dreams. Orion witnesses their duties firsthand, from Sleep inducing slumber to Insomnia stirring worries, and Sweet Dreams crafting vivid dreams. Initially, Orion’s anxiety interferes with their work, but as he warms to Dark, he begins to assist them, slowly overcoming his fear of the night.

The Rise of Light and Dark’s Despair

During their travels, Orion briefly encounters Light, Dark’s counterpart who ushers in daylight. Orion inadvertently suggests that Light is preferable, leading the other Night Entities to feel dejected and abandon Dark, believing he is the source of their unpopularity. Heartbroken and abandoned, Dark halts on a mountaintop, allowing Light to pass through him and cause him to vanish, leaving Orion alone and ashamed of his actions.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Orion (Jacob Tremblay): The severely anxious elementary school boy who must confront his overwhelming fears, especially of the dark.
• Dark (Paul Walter Hauser): The literal embodiment of Orion’s greatest fear, a gentle giant who takes Orion on a journey to show him the wonders of nighttime.
• Hypatia (Mia Akemi Brown): Orion’s imaginative daughter who inspires him to revise his story and find a more hopeful ending.
• Light (Ike Barinholtz): The personification of daylight and Dark’s seemingly preferred counterpart, whose constant presence creates an imbalance in the world.
• Sleep (Natasia Demetriou): A night entity responsible for inducing slumber, often depicted using surprisingly aggressive yet effective methods.
• Insomnia (Nat Faxon): A night entity who fuels anxieties and prevents people from sleeping by amplifying their inner worries.
• Sweet Dreams (Angela Bassett): A benevolent night entity who generates wonderful dreams, later helping Orion to re-enter his subconscious.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Orion: “In real life, when you’re dead, you’re dead. The realization that there’s no way around it terrifies me. I try to imagine what death is like. I’ve concluded it’s like nothing. This is black and silent, not nothing. Blackness and silence is something. Nothing is perhaps the one unimaginable thing.” – Orion expresses his deep existential fear of death, which is a major source of his overwhelming anxiety at the beginning of the film.
• Dark: “Hello, Orion. I’m Dark. And I’m here because you keep complaining about me.” – Dark first appears in Orion’s bedroom, introducing himself directly and unexpectedly, tired of being the target of Orion’s constant fear.
• Dark: “Everyone thinks I’m evil. But I’m just me. I bring quiet, and dreams, and stars.” – Dark tries to convey his true, benign nature to Orion, explaining the beneficial aspects of his existence that are often overlooked due to fear.
• Orion: “But Dad, that’s not how the story ends! You can change it!” – Young Hypatia, Orion’s daughter, interjects during adult Orion’s storytelling, refusing to accept the sad ending and insisting that the narrative can be rewritten for a better outcome.
• Orion: “Fun is just the word people use to hide fear.” – Orion delivers a pessimistic, anxiety-driven observation about the concept of ‘fun,’ highlighting his cynical perspective shaped by his fears.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Orion and the Dark Reviews

Personal Review

I went into `Orion and the Dark` expecting a cute DreamWorks film about a kid conquering fears, and for the first chunk, it totally delivered! I loved seeing Orion’s hilariously specific anxieties brought to life in his journal, and Dark was such a surprisingly gentle and charming character. Their dynamic was genuinely sweet and made you root for them. However, when the story started shifting perspectives and adding in future generations and time travel… well, I confess, I got a little lost. It felt like the movie kept trying to reinvent itself. Despite the narrative gymnastics, the core message about understanding your fears and the balance between light and dark really resonated. It’s a film that definitely makes you *feel* things, even if you’re scratching your head at the plot a few times.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Families seeking animated films with deeper philosophical themes.”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about overcoming anxiety and fear.”
  • “Fans of Charlie Kaufman’s unique storytelling style (though toned down for a family audience).”
  • “Those who appreciate creative character design and animation that blends different styles.”
  • “Young adults and older teens grappling with similar anxieties.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depictions of anxiety and intense fears (e.g., murderous clowns, death, natural disasters).”
  • “Scenes portraying how ‘Sleep’ induces sleep (e.g., smothering with a pillow, chloroform, mallet near a baby).”
  • “Discussions of death and existential dread.”
  • “Plot becomes complex and meta-fictional, potentially confusing for younger viewers.”
  • “Brief instances of mild peril and conflict between characters.”

Professional Reviews

• Film Critic: “Orion and the Dark, surprisingly layered due to Charlie Kaufman’s touch, beautifully explores how balance is essential in life. Jacob Tremblay’s portrayal of Orion’s fear and Paul Walter Hauser’s lovable Dark make their journey enjoyable. The animation style is original and visually stunning, especially in the night scenes, making it a contender for animated film awards.
• Film Critic: “This sweet and charming film tackles anxiety in a unique, cross-generational way, reminiscent of peak Pixar. While its non-linear structure might initially seem jarring, it beautifully resolves, adding depth. It’s especially recommended for families navigating anxiety or neurodivergence, offering a relatable and heartwarming experience. The voice acting is spot on, enhancing this very good family film.
• Film Critic: “Orion and the Dark delivers a surprisingly unique and creative experience. The character designs for Dark and the other Night Entities are visually captivating and well-executed. The plot takes unexpected, interesting turns, especially with its time travel elements, keeping you engaged. The voice casting is strong, with Ike Barinholtz’s Light being a standout, making it a highly entertaining watch.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers appreciated the film’s unique approach to addressing childhood fears and anxiety.: The personification of abstract concepts like Dark, Sleep, and Insomnia was widely praised for its creativity and relatability, especially for families with anxious children.

Overall Consensus: Orion and the Dark is largely seen as an ambitious animated film, lauded for its unique take on childhood anxiety and the personification of abstract concepts. While its narrative twists divided audiences, many appreciated its emotional depth and originality, particularly for its target demographic.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film portrays Orion as being eleven or twelve years old, which is significantly older than the character’s age of six in Emma Yarlett’s original book.”
• “The screenplay was written by Charlie Kaufman, known for his complex and often meta-narrative live-action films like ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘Being John Malkovich’, marking a unique departure for an animated DreamWorks film.”
• “The opening DreamWorks Animation logo itself is stylized as a drawing, featuring a scared Orion on the moon who draws a light switch to change the dark background to bright white.”
• “The movie marks the directorial debut of Sean Charmatz, who previously worked as a storyboard artist on various animated projects, including ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’.”

🖥️ How to Watch Orion and the Dark?

As a DreamWorks Animation production, “Orion and the Dark” is primarily available for streaming on Netflix worldwide. While Netflix is its official streaming home, you might also find it available for digital purchase or rental on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu, depending on your region. Check your preferred digital storefront for the latest availability and pricing to own or rent this animated adventure.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Orion and the Dark, you might like these similar films:

• Inside Out (2015): Both films personify abstract concepts (emotions in Inside Out, night entities and fears in Orion and the Dark) to explore a child’s inner world, anxieties, and emotional development in a visually imaginative way.
• Where the Wild Things Are (2009): Explores a child’s imaginative journey into a fantastical world to confront and understand difficult emotions, anger, and loneliness, creating a rich internal landscape as a coping mechanism.
• Turning Red (2022): A recent animated film that tackles adolescent anxieties, coming-of-age challenges, and the complexities of self-acceptance through a fantastical transformation that symbolizes internal struggles and family dynamics.
• Coraline (2009): Features a child venturing into a fantastical, often unsettling, alternative world to confront fears and discover truths, appealing to those who enjoy animated films with deeper, slightly darker, and more complex themes.
• The Pagemaster (1994): Centers on a timid, fearful boy who embarks on a magical journey through the world of books to overcome his anxieties, learning bravery and self-reliance, similar to Orion’s journey with Dark.

🛒 Orion and the Dark Related Products

• Orion and the Dark Original Picture Book by Emma Yarlett: Dive into the enchanting original story that inspired the film. This beautifully illustrated picture book offers a gentle, whimsical take on facing childhood fears, particularly the dark, through the eyes of young Orion.
• Dark Plush Collectible: Embrace your fears with this super-soft, smiling Dark plush! Perfect for cuddling, this lovable creature embodies the gentle giant from the movie, making nighttime a little less scary and a lot more comforting.
• Night Entities Adventure Digital Comic Series: Explore new adventures with Sleep, Insomnia, Quiet, Unexplained Noises, and Sweet Dreams in this exclusive digital comic series. Discover untold stories and expand the whimsical world of the Night Entities beyond the movie.
• Orion’s Nightlight Journey Interactive Sleep Game/App: An interactive mobile app designed to help children (and adults) relax and ease into sleep. Guide Orion through a gentle, fear-conquering journey each night with calming visuals and soothing sounds inspired by the film’s themes.

🎧 Soundtrack

Orion and the Dark features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Apocalypse Dreams” – performed by Tame Impala

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

step in the booth with Jacob Tremblay & Paul Walter Hauser for Orion and the Dark! 🌙

Ever wonder what it’s like for actors to bring animated characters to life? Jump into the recording booth with Jacob Tremblay and Paul Walter Hauser to see how they voiced Orion and Dark – it’s fascinating to see their energy in action!

Pitch Black Vs Dark #meme #edit #dreamworks #netflix #riseoftheguardians #orionandthedark

So, who’s the ultimate master of darkness: Orion’s Dark or Pitch Black from Rise of the Guardians? This video dives deep into their powers and gives a fun, thought-provoking comparison that might surprise you!

Storyboards vs Onscreen TRANSFORMATION 🤯 | ORION AND THE DARK

Get a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it look at movie magic! This super quick video shows you how initial storyboards transform into the stunning final animation, and it’s super cool to see the creative process in action.

Orion and the Dark Was A MASSIVE Disappointment

While many loved ‘Orion and the Dark’, this creator has a very different take on it. If you’re curious about a critical perspective and why someone might have found the movie disappointing, this review offers some really interesting points to consider.

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