Even without knowing that “Orion and the Dark” was written by the writer of “Adaptation” and “Being John Malkovich,” it’s clear that the script is a bit unconventional for a family film. References to David Foster Wallace and Saul Bass in a cartoon’s prologue are not something you see every day. In the clever opening, writer Kaufman and debut director Sean Charmatz introduce viewers to Orion (Jacob Tremblay), a young boy who is afraid of almost everything, especially the dark.
One night, after his parents (Carla Gugino & Matt Dellapina) try to reassure him, Orion encounters the literal Dark (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser), who gives a powerful vocal performance. He is afraid of being ignored and unneeded, much like Orion. The Dark decides the best way to stop Orion from fearing him is to show him how the night works, introducing him to various elements like Sweet Dreams, Sleep, Unexplained Noises, Insomnia, and Quiet.
This part of the movie feels reminiscent of “Inside Out,” as these elements work together behind the scenes like the emotions in the Pixar film. However, “Orion and the Dark” carves out its own path and doesn’t feel like a copycat.