Nostalgia can be a toxic impulse. It’s a hit of dopamine when we see something from our childhood that can easily devolve into a yearning for “better days” that never really existed. Nowadays, nostalgia is a big seller, with reboots of classic franchises and “retro” well… everything. When used as little more than a crutch, its toxicity bubbles up and spills over into a vile mess. However, nostalgia, when used properly, can be a powerful tool to invoke emotions, not of yearning for days gone by, but rather of understanding and kinship. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a film that understands and utilizes this concept.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a 2023 Horror Comedy film based on a character writer/director Andrew Bowser created for a series of viral internet clips. Removing a viral character from the confines of bite-sized, sharable videos can be a recipe for disaster. Few, if any, fans want to spend 90+ solid minutes with a razor-thin character concept. (Unless you’re Blippi, then kids will watch that ALL DAY LONG.) However, when Onyx made the jump to the big screen, he received a healthy shock of character development that infused real life into the seemingly hollow shell of the concept.
Building upon what was previously drip-fed to the audience in the online videos, we learn that our hero, Mark “Onyx” Trillbury, is a lonely and eccentrically-spoken millennial who still lives with his parents. His mother, while there physically, is mentally far away in her in her own world where Onyx is an afterthought. His biological father is long out of the picture and his step-father, whom he is constantly at odds with, sees him as a disappointment. Onyx has no love life to speak of, or really any friends, and he works at a burger stand with co-workers who barely know he exists and customers who bully him. In short: his life sucks. His few joys in life are his Battle Katts collection, Satan, and the teachings of the infernal guru, Bartok the Great. When Onyx wins a contest to spend the weekend at Bartok’s estate, it looks like his prayers have been answered and his life is about to change for the better.
Along for the “weekend of a lifetime” are an eclectic cast of characters reminiscent of the Breakfast Club, where each person represents a character trope. You have the bookish professor hungry of knowledge, the perky housewife, the confident and cool tattoo artist who seems to have it all going for her, and the non-binary loner who plays by their own rules. Each of these supporting characters are well crafted and, like the Breakfast Club, they are all relatable in their own way. Granted some back-stories are thinner than others, but enough is provided for each character for you to get a complete sense of who they are, even if their screen time ends up relatively limited due to Bartok’s nefarious scheme.
Onyx and the other four "chosen ones" are shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!
Speaking of Bartok, he’s quite the character. Played by a scenery-chewing Jeffrey Combs (of Re-Animator fame), he’s grandiose and elegant in public and, as is established early on, he is the real deal as he does wield some mystical powers. He has used his mastery over the dark arts to profit immensely by creating a multi-faceted brand including online courses, albums, books, and a workout video to bring him ever closer to his ultimate goal. He’s serious about his mission and Combs plays him with the intensity required to portray such ambition. However, we are allowed glimpses into less serious aspects of his character, which grounds him in reality and adds just enough depth to allow the audience to believe a person like this could exist.
The baleful Bartok.
Rounding out the small-yet-memorable cast is Bartok’s “assistant,” Farrah, played by Olivia Taylor Dudley with a range that goes from cowering powerless to all-powerful. She’s got bright green hair and an air of mystery, but also she has an eye for Onyx that for the viewer culminates in an absolutely hilarious Meat Loaf-inspired musical dream sequence. As the movie progresses it’s clear there is a lot going on internally with Farrah, which is seen in subtle expressions and glances that Olivia flashes, sometimes to the camera and sometimes on the side. A subtle frown here and a raised eyebrow there; these artful expressions speak volumes and do well to add a bit of sly depth to the story without the need for tons of exposition.
The story in Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is the tried-and-true hero’s journey of triumph over evil and self-discovery. It’s doesn’t try to do anything more with that arc by adding unnecessary elements or ham-fisted morals. Andrew Bowser’s writing shines by taking the standard hero’s journey motif and weaving in subtlety along with emotional growth and humor in a way that appears seamless. On first watch the movie is satisfying, but upon repeated viewings you pick up upon many of the smaller aspects of the story and characters that are not as noticeable the first time around (like Farrah’s expressions or the contents of Onyx’s lunchbox). These nuances add a depth to the movie that might be lost on a casual viewing, but add a deeper appreciation for the film when you know they’re there.
Farrah, sensing shenanigans.
As mentioned at the outset, Onyx utilized nostalgia to target the millennial audience. Bowser, being a millennial himself, clearly understands what his audience wants and delivers it with a wink and a nod versus using it as a crutch. This film has a LOT of subtle and not-so-subtle references throughout its 108 minutes. Some are more obvious, like Beetlejuice, Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers, Alf, and Chucky/Child’s Play, but others are blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, like Army of Darkness and The Monkey. Utilizing nostalgia can be a tightrope walk because it is very easy to lean too heavily into your references. You see this happen in Ready Player One, where the references ARE the main “draw” and the story plays second fiddle. “You liked this as a kid, right? Well, here it is! Cool, huh?” It belies weak writing and/or a flimsy plot. Onyx, however, avoids this by using the nostalgia as an ingredient in the cement that, combined with likeable characters, emotional weight and humor, helps solidify the viewer’s attachment to the story and film as a whole.
It's important to note that Onyx the Fortuitous was a Kickstarter-funded film. It was made for just over $600,000 and definitely qualifies as a low-budget film. However, it doesn’t feel like a low-budget film. All of the creatures in the movie (including the giant Abaddon) are made with practical effects. Each demon and ghoul (and werewolf and mouse) are expertly crafted and punching way above the weight class the budget might allow. The afore mentioned ghouls, especially, are well crafted and masterfully designed to invoke a twisted version of the people they once were. This, combined with excellent camera work and acting, make for movie that looks like it was made for twice the amount of dough.
Practical effects FTW!
The films that are considered “horror comedies” can be very hit or miss. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls falls very firmly in the category of “hit,” even if it flies under the radar of many people. I myself stumbled upon it, not knowing any of Bowser’s other work, including the decade’s worth of Onyx Youtube videos. It’s a great introduction to the lovable loser that is Onyx the Fortuitous, and if we don’t ever get a sequel, this film is still an excellent summation to the Onyx story.