There is a growing belief in the existence of black magic and its effects on people's lives. Many individuals who feel that they or their loved ones have fallen victim to black magic often seek ways to remove its influence. One popular solution that people turn to is visiting a temple specifically dedicated to eliminating black magic. These temples are believed to have spiritual energy and divine power that can counteract the negative effects of black magic. They are usually situated in rural or remote areas, far away from the chaos of city life. The peaceful surroundings of these temples create an ideal environment for individuals seeking solace and relief.
“I always wanted the creatures to be amplified and heightened and not be too grounded because that’s the tone of the Onyx world. There might be an emotional grounding, but everything else is pretty amplified,” Andrew Bowser explains. “But I really didn’t picture all of those characters being puppets until I reached out to Adam Dougherty, the creature designer, to do the Beefy Bad Boy character. He read the script and said, ‘Well, why aren’t they all puppets?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know, Adam, because I hadn’t had you read the script yet.’ So he’s the one that said, ‘What if they were all puppets?’ And for the most part, they are.”
But I really didn t picture all of those characters being puppets until I reached out to Adam Dougherty, the creature designer, to do the Beefy Bad Boy character. But this film s success boils down to the comedy; extending a YouTube routine into a feature is a daunting feat, and ultimately Bowser s work here grows overlong before the third act.
The peaceful surroundings of these temples create an ideal environment for individuals seeking solace and relief. People visit these temples with the hope of finding help and guidance from the temple priests and holy men, who possess deep knowledge of ancient scriptures and rituals. These priests perform various rituals and prayers to cleanse the affected individuals and their surroundings from the grips of black magic.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a cringe comedy as overlong as its title
Andrew Bowser’s Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is the rare movie that, from the very first scene, lets audiences know that they’re either going to love it or hate it.
Viewers familiar with Onyx, Bowser’s weirdo Satanist YouTube character, will likely fall into the former category; everyone else, flip a coin. Onyx’s misadventures are documented through skits and bits on Bowser’s 10-year-old channel, BowserVids, and you may benefit from browsing the library before tuning in for 100 minutes of the schtick. Then again, you may be feeling bold.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a locus for Bowser’s sense of humor and his fondness for a broad array of 1980s pop cultural ephemera: Saturday morning cartoons, Ghostbusters and The Goonies, Amblin Entertainment, Beetlejuice especially. His influences fall neatly in line with recent haunted house slapstick productions, too, like the Goosebumps films, and Eli Roth’s woefully underloved The House with a Clock in Its Walls – movies that don’t skimp on horror, but have an emphasis on lighthearted fun. But everyone has their own definition of fun. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls might not fit yours.
Andrew Bowser stars as everyone’s favorite — or least favorite — Satanist internet character.
SundanceOnyx, real name Marcus J. Trillbury, dwells in his warlock’s lair, surrounded by an army of action figures, heavy metal posters, and other bric-a-brac to indicate his alignment with devilry. The lair, of course, is his bedroom in his mother Nancy’s (Barbara Crampton) house, and he’s a warlock the way pro gamers are athletes, meaning “not at all.” Marcus is a loser. He works a dead-end job at a burger joint, where he takes as much pride in his employment as possible. He gamely hides his loserdom, though, expressing himself in spectacularly purple language ending on rising intones, so even his loudest declarations of Satanic loyalty sound like he’s asking permission.
But Onyx has high aspirations. He’s entered a contest to meet his idol, Bartok the Great (Jeffrey Combs), a TV personality and elder statesman in the field of dark magics. In no time at all, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls lets the viewer know the contest’s results: For once in his life, Onyx is a winner. Off he goes to Bartok’s mansion with his four fellow winners, Jesminder (Melanie Chandra), Shelley (Arden Myrin), Mr. Duke (Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson), and Mack (Rivkah Reyes), likewise similarly motivated by the pursuit of evil for their own reasons, and each in their own ways.
Bartok has gathered the quintet to aid in a ritual that, if completed, will summon a demon and reward them all with power untold, but it’s made clear upfront that Bartok has a hidden agenda, and also that his succubus assistant Farrah (Olivia Taylor Dudley) doesn’t much care for that agenda. In all of this, Onyx himself is the naif. Bowser’s focus is on him, naturally; the marquee reads “Onyx,” after all. But his one-way fanboy relationship to Bartok renders him blissfully unaware of literally everything going on around him, good and ill, and likewise funnels Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls into a very specific kind of comedy.
Cringe humor is a broad style. You can start with The Office, either British or American, and arrive at, for instance, the work of Gregg Turkington and Tim Heidecker. Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls lies somewhere toward the Office end of that spectrum on account of Onyx’s painful obliviousness, but with the added effect of his manchild background. Nerdery is in, and has been for close to a decade, as comic books and Dungeons & Dragons have been reclaimed as mainstream-acceptable pastimes. But that doesn’t make Onyx himself, or the jokes Bowser sets up, widely palatable, and if the jokes don’t land for you, nothing else here will.
If the humor doesn’t land for you, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is not your movie.
SundanceBowser contents himself with Onyx being Onyx for about the first hour, and then pivots on an emotional axis with a tender moment between him and Mack, where the character’s squirrelly accent drops and he lets the real Marcus come out; it’s sweet, and honest, and frankly feels like Bowser speaking for a generation of men like Onyx (and possibly Bowser himself) who grew up lonely because their interests didn’t mesh with others’ interests. The moment lingers for the rest of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls’ running time and, if you make it that far, even recasts the story preceding it. Friendship is a treasure.
Another treasure: The monsters and puppets and animatronics that pepper the film’s plot. What a joy to see physical critters on screen when it’s so damn easy to turn to CGI instead; a demon in a box, a growing army of ghouls, Farrah in her true form, Onyx as a cross between a Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers character and Meat Loaf in the video for “I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That),” recreated by Bowers and Dudley, all add tactile pleasure to Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, an element worth savoring whether or not the gags tickle you. They have mass. They have presence. You feel like you can reach through the screen and touch them.
The sensation is delightful, and one of the best achievements horror cinema can strive for regardless of their secondary genre. Horror has to involve its audience on a primal level. The FX work in Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls hits that goal, and it’d be a waste if Bowser chose not to try his hand at making more monster movies in the future. But this film’s success boils down to the comedy; extending a YouTube routine into a feature is a daunting feat, and ultimately Bowser’s work here grows overlong before the third act. At 70 or so minutes, the foray into cinema might have landed better. At 148, it’s too much.
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls premiered at Sundance on January 23.
- Movies
- Internet Culture
Who is Onyx the Fortuitous? You may know him as “Weird Gamer Guy,” “Weird Satanist Guy” or “Weird Arby’s Guy.” This week, the viral sensation officially becomes a movie star.
The rituals often involve chanting mantras, offering prayers and sacrifices, and performing intricate rituals using sacred items and symbols. Visitors to these temples often bring offerings of fruits, flowers, and other symbolic items to appease the deities believed to reside in the temple. Some temples even have specialized chambers or rooms designed specifically for the purpose of removing black magic. These chambers are said to have heightened spiritual energy, which aids in the removal of negative forces. The belief in the power of these temples stems from the faith and devotion of the people who visit. They firmly believe that the temple rituals and prayers have the capability to break the spells of black magic and restore their lives to normalcy. It is this unwavering faith that brings people from all walks of life to these sacred destinations in search of relief and peace. In conclusion, the concept of a temple for removing black magic offers hope and solace to individuals affected by the negative influence of black magic. These temples are seen as a sanctuary, a place where people can connect with a higher power and find help in dispelling the darkness that surrounds them. Ultimately, it is the belief and faith of the visitors that gives these temples their power and purpose..
Reviews for "Explore the Ancient Rituals of this Temple for Eradicating Black Magic"
1. John - 1 star - I visited the Temple for removing black magic nearby and let me tell you, it was a complete waste of time and money. The so-called "priests" there claimed to have special powers to remove black magic, but it was all just a scam. They asked for exorbitant amounts of money for their services and promised guaranteed results, but nothing happened. I left feeling conned and duped. I would not recommend this temple to anyone seeking genuine help with removing black magic.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - My experience at the Temple for removing black magic nearby was disappointing. The temple itself was quite rundown and lacked cleanliness. The priests seemed more interested in making money than genuinely helping people. I went there with a desperate hope of finding a solution to my problems but left feeling even more disheartened. The rituals performed seemed half-hearted and lacked authenticity. I would suggest looking for alternative options if you're looking to remove black magic.
3. Robert - 1 star - This temple for removing black magic nearby is nothing but a gimmick. I saw through their facade immediately. The priests there claimed to possess supernatural powers to rid people of black magic, but it was all just smoke and mirrors. They used psychological tricks and vague predictions to fool vulnerable individuals. I urge people to be cautious and avoid wasting their time and money at this temple.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes when I visited the Temple for removing black magic nearby, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The priests there seemed more interested in commercializing their services rather than providing genuine help. The atmosphere in the temple felt chaotic and disorganized. The rituals performed lacked authenticity and sincerity. I left feeling unsatisfied and with no real resolution to my black magic concerns. I would advise seeking out more reputable and credible sources for assistance in dealing with black magic.