Magic has been a topic of fascination and intrigue for centuries. From ancient civilizations to modern-day practices, the concept of magic has continued to captivate our imaginations. But is magic really possible, or is it merely an illusion? There are different perspectives on this matter. Skeptics argue that magic is nothing more than trickery and deception. They believe that magicians use various techniques and sleight of hand to create the illusion of something supernatural. According to this viewpoint, there is no actual supernatural power involved in magic.

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls Is Almost Too Bad to Cringe At

Even if you laugh at the kind of overwritten fantasy language that lends Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls its title, I still don’t think you’ll like the movie. Based around Andrew Bowser’s character from a bevy of viral videos, Onyx is 110 Kickstarted minutes of unfunny dithering, giving the writer/director another showcase for his muttery, nasal diatribes. His grown goth nerd combines ‘80s references and profanity at random, served with a sweaty, m’lady delivery (Onyx would probably refer to it as being like the Micro Machines guy) as outdated as the fedora-donned memes from which he takes his aesthetic. Shoving this middle school nightmare of a character into a half-hearted demon-summoning plot, Onyx aims for low-fi absurdity, like a Hot Topic Napoleon Dynamite or talentless Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. It’s awful. To cringe at this movie’s dearth of comedy is a kindness, one that might actually be too good for its off-putting central performance.

And that’s really all there is to the movie. You’d have to find it amusing to enjoy the film, because if you don’t like Onyx saying a joke—then saying it again with additional volume and speed, like a kid in the back of class who just got the endorphin rush of a big laugh—you’ve got nothing else to hold onto. When Onyx isn’t running through his lines, Bowser loses interest in his own film, directing it like he’s killing time.

But there’s something gross about his anxious, compensating yammering, maybe because—no matter the shoehorned backstory—it always feels like the character’s joke is punching down, mocking furries, Satanists and other members of fringe subcultures (or, like one of his YouTube videos, homeless people) for an easy, bullying laugh. You can try to reclaim the word all you like, but when your sketches do numbers because of a “Weird [X] Guy” titling convention, you’re even straying from the equally exhausting trend that turned “geek” and “gamer” into capital-building buzzwords. Video games, comic books, horror movies and all the TV shows you loved as a kid are the dominant culture, folks. You can drop the persecution complex at any time.

All the people Onyx meets when he wins a contest, giving him a Satanic golden ticket out of his burger-flipping real life, are certainly self-assured. The dull group of stilted, single-joke characters are there to serve Bartok the Great (Jeffrey Combs), ready to help summon a demon. Naturally, this isn’t why they’re actually there, and Onyx has to toughen up for once to help out his new friends and figure out what’s going on. But the plot is too dull to reach the over-the-top, Saturday Morning Cartoon silliness powering its horror-comedy influences, and its styling feels less like a satirical riff on other “gather a group at a spooky mansion” movies and more like a bunch of people cosplaying their Dungeons & Dragons actual-play characters.

Even with fantastical nods to werewolves, magic tomes and mind-controlling gems, there’re few meaningful gestures to the actual genre that it’s in (aside from the meta-examples of casting Combs and featuring a cameo from his Re-Animator co-star Barbara Crampton), and even fewer gags based around it. By far the best thing about the movie comes in the form of some shambling, tongue-lolling ghouls and fantastically fun demon puppets courtesy of creature designer Adam Dougherty. Who doesn’t love a silly demon puppet? They’re so colorful, enticing and odd that the whole movie should’ve been a horror-comedy based around them.

But it isn’t, so you’re left with the genre-agnostic pulpit from which Onyx rants about virginity, Gadget Hackwrench and Underoos. The nostalgia-based humor is in a tough spot, demographically: It aims towards neckbeards of a certain age that’ll get and/or relate to its “baby-man loves toys and cartoons” shtick, yet the film has the tone and aesthetic of a Nickelodeon TV movie. Its gags are childish, but with F-bombs aplenty. In its weird, stunted middle ground, it’s almost like a parody of how saturated our pop culture has become by the idea that recognizing something is the same thing as a joke. References to The Flintstones and Lite-Brite abound, then give way to riffs on Meat Loaf music videos and the ending of Beetlejuice.

But the stealing is actually preferable to when the movie thinks for itself. It all contributes to an interminable experience typifying a particular self-effacing brand of Content Creator that only became more mercenary as comic cons transformed into corporate marketing summits. Exploiting the idea of an underdog has never been more lucrative, and never more insulting than when it focuses on a nostalgia-obsessed white guy. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a one-joke movie, and that terrible joke feels as carefully and cynically constructed as an influencer’s daily confessionals.

Director: Andrew Bowser
Writer: Andrew Bowser
Starring: Andrew Bowser, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Jeffrey Combs, Ralph Ineson, Rivkah Reyes, T.C. Carson
Release Date: January 23, 2023 (Sundance)

Jacob Oller is Movies Editor at Paste Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at @jacoboller.

For all the latest movie news, reviews, lists and features, follow @PasteMovies.

Onyx the Fortuitous & the Talisman of Souls Review

Before we go any further, I must admit to not having been familiar with Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls’ titular character before watching the film. From what I can tell, director and star Andrew Bowser has been portraying Onyx on his YouTube channel for years and has amassed a pretty sizable following in that time. After having seen the film, it’s easy to see why the character has gained popularity, as it taps into a very specific brand of humour that, for better or for worse, feels like it’s been ripped straight from the weirdest corners of sites like Reddit, delivered with a remarkable amount of confidence and commitment that makes even the worst joke strangely charming.

Onyx himself feels like the ultimate caricature of what one would assume a stereotypical Reddit user to be like. He proudly wears a fedora, his voice sounds like he’s constantly trying to impress every person who hears him, and once it’s established, his virginity is the subject of essentially every other joke. Almost everybody hates due to just how odd he is, and yet, his spirit seemingly never dies. It’s a solid premise for a comedic persona, but I do think it suffers from not feeling particularly fresh. Social media has beaten this kind of stereotype of death, so there’s just nothing that is comedically inventive anymore about seeing a socially inept nerd try to make his way through a strange situation.

This brings me to what I think the main issue of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is, and that’s the fact that its story just isn’t very interesting. Essentially, Onyx is invited to attend a mysterious ritual that’s taking place at the mansion of his idol, Bartok the Great (Jeffrey Combs). There, he meets a variety of strange personalities and finds himself embroiled in a supernatural conflict, one which involves demons, prophecies and plenty of brilliant practical effects. There’s plenty here I do like, namely the absurdity of it all, but I think my biggest issue is the fact it’s just not big and wacky enough. It mostly takes place inside the same mansion, which just feels like it’s constantly limiting the potential of the gags.

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls (Cineverse)

A character like Onyx the Fortuitous feels like one made for an adventure, and the practical effects on display here show that the crew behind the film were more than capable of making something even bigger, so it’s a shame that it constantly feels a bit too safe. As it is, there are plenty of individual scenes that are great, with some genuinely hilarious gags, but when it comes to the story as a whole, I’m just not overly bothered. I was never wondering what was going to happen next, I was never particularly invested in the other characters; all I wanted was to see what demon design they would surprise me with next, or what the next gag would be.

What helps the film massively is the obvious commitment from everyone involved. Whether it’s Re-Animator (1985) star Jeffery Combs hamming it up as the maniacal Bartok, or the constant brilliant costume design on display in every frame, it’s a film that never once feels half-arsed. I admittedly do wish it was that bit shorter, as after a while, it does feel like it’s fully revealed its hand. It’s very much at its best when it’s not having to heavily lean on its overarching story, so once it gets to the third act, it can definitely start to feel like it’s losing steam.

Finalmente L’Alba: Venice Film Review

With that being said, from start to finish, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls really does feel like a project made with love. The brilliantly named Andrew Bowser obviously loves this character to death, and it’s evident in almost every single scene. This is truly his film, and I have to take a second to applaud him for his effort. After it finished, I decided to take a proper look at his YouTube channel and I saw a variety of short parody videos that he made promoting the film – all in character as Onyx. It’s things like this that make me so happy that Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls exists. Whilst its brand of comedy might not be for everyone, Andrew Bowser obviously made this for himself first and foremost, and I think that’s glorious.

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls will be released in US theaters on October 19, 2023.

Onyx The Fortuitous and The Talisman Of Souls Review

“Viral Internet Character” are words that I all understand, but as I settled in to watch Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls, I can honestly say I’ve never heard of this character or the internet star behind him before in my life. So I’m sure that’s on me; I’m just out of touch. I do watch a lot of YouTube, but it’s clearly not the same material that the kids these days are watching.

For instance, I’ve been checking out a lot of CollegeHumor / Dropout.TV videos the last month or so. They are funny and entertaining — I have been loving the Dimension 20 Dungeons & Dragons style RPG playthroughs — but I guess they aren’t skits or shorts about actors taking on a character or what-have-you. So what I’m watching just isn’t what is hip.

Onyx The Fortuitous is a character created and played by Andrew Bowser. He has a very pronounced inflection to his voice, and based on this movie, I assume he is just a loser dude working as a burger flipper but dreaming of a bigger, more fantastical life for himself. I went to Wikipedia hoping to get some more information on the character, but Bowser’s page doesn’t really have any details, so all of my knowledge for Onyx comes from this movie I just watched!

Although here is something of note that I have found: Bowser has worked with CollegeHumor before, back in 2010! So look at that; I’m only thirteen-ish years behind where this guy was in his career at one point. I have not seen him in any of the videos or segments I’ve enjoyed yet.

Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls tells the story of Onyx–actual name Marcus; he wants people to call him by his much cooler adopted identity of Onyx The Fortuitous, but few do–winning a contest with four others to meet their idol, Bartok, at the latter’s mansion. Under Bartok, they all plan to study the path of demons and gain immortality.

To the shock of no viewers, it turns out the master who claims to be a student of a dark lord can not be trusted, as Bartok has gathered these five individuals for his own sinister purposes. Using emerald peridot charms to control his pupils, Bartok plans to seal their souls into an ancient Talisman (conveniently long buried on his own property!) and then summon the demon Abaddon to conquer the world.

Marcus accidentally spies Bartok and his minion, Farrah, enact the beginning of his plan and kill one of the five guests, and from there it’s up to him and his new friends–his first ever friends–to stop the would-be overlord from finalizing his plan and bringing about hell on Earth.

TWO UPS AND TWO DOWNS

+ This movie was funded by a Kickstarter campaign that netted between $600,000 and $700,000. Aside from that, I could not find any additional budget information. Regardless, this was clearly not a big-budget flick. And yet, it certainly looks and sounds like it! The camerawork and quality are unimpeachable, and the audio is right there with it. The movies doesn’t have too many different settings, but the sets they have look realistic. The puppets brought into play as various demons or undead are distinctive and well-made.

Bowser absolutely got his money’s worth making this project, and it shows. I’ve seen movies with budgets much more than what this raised, and they don’t look half as good.

+ Andrew Bowser put everything he had into this film. He wrote it. He directed it. He is the star. I’m sure a fair bit of that was to save money (especially in direction), but poured himself into the movie, and you can feel his love and passion through the screen. His performance is going at 150 miles per hour last all times, and the story is certainly not lazy (though it may be overlong… more on that in a moment). He does great work being the sun around which everything here revolved.

– Aren’t viral video sensations known for their brevity? Get in, get your yucks, and get out. It’s a pretty simple idea; you just don’t overstay your welcome. Not here, as Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls has a runtime almost as long as its title. The movie stretches itself out to 110 minutes with lingering shots and a whole lot of Marcus and his friends finding clues around the manor and deciphering their meanings. There’s simply no reason for this movie to be as long as it is.

Andrew Bowser is also credited as the editor of the flick, and I get it. I do. It’s hard to cut apart your own work. He wrote it, he directed it, and I’m sure he felt like everything included was necessary. But it would definitely have helped to bring another editor on board to trim this down about twenty minutes to get a much more manageable watch out of this extended length viral video.

– Aren’t viral video sensations also known for their humor? Because, and I hate knocking something that maybe I just don’t “get” since I’m not familiar with the source material, nothing here was particularly funny. It tries to be funny! It wants to be funny, and it by its own admission references films like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and Ernest Scared Stupidas inspiration. But outside of a particular dream sequence, very little here is going to get you to laugh audibly.

It feels like the one big joke is in the way Bowser’s Marcus delivers lines, and you’re either someone who thinks that is uproariously funny, or you are not. I was in the latter. There were a plethora of jokes about Marcus’ virginity, also, which again: you either love them, or you are wading through dozens of bits that don’t land.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

It outstays its welcome with its runtime, and the humor seems very targeted to its built-in audience and not the viewer at-large, but as far as Kickstarted passion projects go, it looks amazingly professional. Bowser clearly has the talent and the ability to make feature length films, but it would probably do to bring in some other talent to help with some of the behind-the-scenes aspects.

• 0 - 0.9 Torture
• 1 - 1.9 Extremely Horrendous
• 2 - 2.9 Very Bad
• 3 - 3.9 Bad
• 4 - 4.9 Poor
• 5 - 5.9 Not So Good
• 6 - 6.9 Average
• 7 - 7.9 Good
• 8 - 8.9 Very Good
• 9 - 9.9 Amazing
• 10 Virtually Perfect

According to this viewpoint, there is no actual supernatural power involved in magic. On the other hand, believers argue that magic is a real and potent force. They argue that magic taps into the mystical energies of the universe and can produce tangible results.

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These individuals often cite personal experiences or historical evidence of magic to support their beliefs. In some cultures, magic is deeply ingrained in their traditions and beliefs. Practices such as witchcraft, voodoo, or shamanism are still followed by many people around the world. These practices involve rituals, spells, and invoking spirits to harness supernatural powers. While these practices may be dismissed by skeptics, they continue to be a significant part of many people's lives. In recent times, there has been a growing interest in the field of parapsychology and the study of paranormal phenomena. Researchers have attempted to scientifically investigate claims of magic and the supernatural. However, conclusive evidence has been elusive, and many of these claims remain unproven. In conclusion, the question of whether magic is possible remains unanswered. While skeptics argue that it is merely an illusion created by human ingenuity, believers hold firm to the belief in the existence of supernatural powers. Ultimately, the perception of magic is a deeply personal one, shaped by cultural, religious, and individual beliefs. Whether magic is real or not may forever remain a mystery, leaving it to be the subject of ongoing fascination and debate..

Reviews for "The Secrets of Sleight of Hand: How Magicians Master Misdirection"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Is Magic Possible". I was expecting a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the possibility of magic, but instead, I found a shallow and superficial analysis. The author's arguments lacked depth and evidence, and it felt like they were just trying to make a quick buck by capitalizing on the popularity of magic. Overall, I found the book underwhelming and would not recommend it to anyone genuinely interested in the subject.

2. Emily - 1 star - I couldn't even finish reading "Is Magic Possible". The writing style was unbearable, and it felt like the author was trying too hard to sound intelligent and profound. The book was full of unnecessary jargon and convoluted explanations that only served to confuse the reader. Additionally, the author's dismissive attitude towards skeptics and critical thinking was off-putting. I regret wasting my time and money on this poorly written and poorly researched book.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Is Magic Possible" had the potential to be an intriguing exploration of a fascinating topic. However, the execution fell flat. The book lacked structure and coherence, with the author jumping from one idea to another without properly connecting them. It felt more like a collection of random musings rather than a well-crafted argument. Additionally, the writing was dry and lacked any sense of enthusiasm or engagement with the subject matter. Overall, this book failed to capture my interest or provide any meaningful insights into the possibility of magic.

4. Michael - 2 stars - I found "Is Magic Possible" to be a disappointing read. While the topic itself is interesting, the book failed to deliver on its promises. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their own knowledge and intellect rather than providing a balanced and objective analysis of the subject. Furthermore, the arguments presented were weak and unconvincing, often relying on anecdotes and personal beliefs rather than scientific evidence. Overall, I felt like I learned very little from this book, and it left me wanting more substantial and rigorous exploration of the topic.

The Real-Life Merlin: Myths and Legends of Magic Users