Viewers will instantly know if they are onboard with Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls or not. Bowser gives a very particular performance, full of fidgeting, and every swiftly delivered line out of his mouth seems to be unthought-out word vomit. For anyone uninitiated with the “Weird Guy” videos that gave Onyx his following, the actor’s performance may be a little too manic and over the top. Heck, even for fans, given how much longer this is, the film is asking a lot. But then, slightly more than halfway through, something shifts. Backstories shed light on off-putting traits, and empathy is gained for an annoying but well-intentioned person. Bowser navigates this shift with aplomb, allowing the secret depths to have always been there, just buried over a need to try too hard.
The rest of the cast is phenomenal, from their first scene to their last. Carson comes across as genuinely concerned, while Myrin’s comedic timing is top-notch. Chandra’s cattiness feels lived-in, and Dudley is magnetic. Of course, Jeffrey Combs owns as the big bad, clearly relishing the chance to be over the top. It is Reyes, though, who walks away with the movie. They are charming, funny, scared, dramatic, and sweet. It is a star-making turn that, by rights, should put Reyes in front of every casting director for all motion pictures in that leg of production.
“…[Reyes] walks away with the movie.”
Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls doesn’t just lean on the actors to engage all watching. Puppeteer Ryan Wilkes and the special effects team have crafted some truly wonderful sights. The mustached devil is huge and moves remarkably well. The ghouls the group turns into are a real treat. Their humorously exaggerated features — large saucer eyes and malformed mouths — make for a creepy silhouette.
Throughout the movie, Bowser pays homage to a number of 1980s and 90s features, notably Beetlejuice (see the aforementioned ghouls). However, the most impressive and funniest reference is a parody of Meatlove’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That.” Arthur Oliver’s costumes are another element that elevates the production. He visually captures each character’s personality via the clothing, making a lasting impression on a small budget.
Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls is funny, even when treading familiar ground. The cast is aces, and the effects are pure dynamite. Yes, Bowser grates as the titular character for the first 20 minutes. But once the plot kicks in, especially after the second ritual, the filmmaker makes the tics an endearing part of Onyx.
"…the most impressive and funniest reference is a parody of Meatlove's 'I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That.'"
