Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls

I loved this movie. Mostly because I love the Onyx character, and I think the way he is incorporated as a main character in this horror/comedy is fantastic.

This is a grade-A b-movie. Like, it's not good. But I think they knew it wasn't going to be a fantastic movie when making it, so they were able to lean into the punches a little and I think it worked really well.

What are you going to do with a film where the protagonist is viscerally awkward and weird? You're going make it weird and fun as possible! So that's what they did. Decent storytelling, decent acting, good world building, consistent effects, and some clever writing.

Like this is the best outcome anyone can expect from an internet meme character. I'm happy they made this and I want to see more from them. I would casually watch this in show form.

On-par with Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.

Onyx the Fortuitous (Andrew Bowser) is a loser and a follower of Satanist Bartok the Great. He is excited to be one of five fans selected by Bartok to join him in a ritual to raise a demon.

I don't know anything about Andrew Bowser. Apparently, he is famous for this character. It is a character for specific taste. At first, I like his loserdom. I accept his voice as a part of that character, but that does wear thin after awhile. There is a whine to it that can be annoying. Then something happens to me. I actually started to appreciate his commitment to the bit and felt sorry for the character. I can see both sides of the criticism.

For a horror comedy, the movie really works well, some of the effects are really fun and the story is cheesy and campy enough to land this movie in the SBIG section.

One gripe i have is the way Onyx the Fortuitous talks.

I am not familiar with the Actor so if this is his reagular way of speaking i appologize.

IF it is not. Then oooh boy, is it bad, i dont mind Hammed up performances (its a SBIG movie, ham comes with the cheese)

The actor playing him is not bad, he works well in the style of the movie, hell al the actors give their best and sometimes delicious hammy performances that makes it look a fun friends stage performance on the silver screen.

So at the end of the ride, the movie is a blast to watch as a movie to laugh at and kinda make fun off.

I watched this without knowing anything about it and found it to be well made and fun with a good cast and great practical effects.

The only thing I didn't like was the protagonist, which is a shame. I understand he's supposed to be awkward but right from the bat he's extremely annoying and very unlikeable, his acting is too much over the top, and the character doesn't improve or develop in any way through the story.

The rest of the cast is not so bad, but feel like they're just in there as a filler.

What really made me watch and enjoy the whole film was Jeffrey Combs and Olivia Taylor Dudley. They are the high points and it's worth watching for the two of them.

This film had a lot more potential, It could have been rated higher if the main protagonist was more likeable (not such a loser), or he developed and grew in some positive way through the story. Or if the actor played it normal/straight, and not like a caricature.

The humor is good for a chuckle, but it's sometimes too childish. If it had been straight or dry humor like in the original Ghostbusters, it would have been amazing.

Onyx The Fortuitous is a wonderfully cheesy, low budget, horror comedy, created by Andrew Bowser.

A creator who is best known for his short horror films- and work on youtube- in which he plays a series of hilariously goofy, endearingly annoying, characters...inspired by the likes of Sacha Baren Cohen, Jack Black, and Tom Green.

Meaning, not only did he write and direct this film...he also plays the main character Marcus aka Onyx The Fortuitous.

An autistic fast food worker, who is obsessed with his childhood hero...satanist, Bartok The Great.

Thus, when he wins a contest to visit Bartok's home- with a select group of other individuals- he hops on the oppourtunity.

Unaware that Bartok plans to use them to raise an ancient demon...by harvesting their souls.

Bartok claims they are each the reincarnation of a roleplayer in the story of a grimoire he possesses.

Luring them into his trap, under the promise of immortality.

Until, Onyx unwittingly uncovers the ruse, after witnessing the murder of one of his fellow visitors.

Which puts the rest of the group on a path to play Bartok, before he plays them...

Bowser's characters generally have an annoyingly innocent charm to them...and Onyx- a character he developed for a youtube series in 2020- is no different.

So...seeing him get a chance to work them into a feature length film for the first time, is quite the treat!

Because not only is this a complete and utter cheesefest.

It also has some really cool Henson-style creatures...inspired by some of his favourite horror and comedy icons.

Like the ghouls- which look like a combination of the monsters from They Live! And Mars Attacks!; while the monster-in-a-box seems to act as a reference to the infamous Spaulding Gray.

Is it a masterpiece?

Of course not.

It is, however, a youth friendly horror-comedy on par with the likes of Tenacious D And The Pick Of Destiny, for example.

I, for one, was entertained.

And if you aren't too...then you might be taking life a little too seriously.

Because this is great fun!

6.5 out of 10.