Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls made it’s Pacific Northwest premiere at this year’s Portland Horror Film Festival. This was one of my most anticipated horror films of the year and I’m thrilled to say it did not disappoint. The character of Onyx comes from the mind of writer, director, and star Andrew Bowser. After his character garnered a cult status through several viral videos online, Bowser put together a Kickstarter campaign, which had over 7,000 backers, to finally bring Onyx to the big screen.

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls follows Onyx, a nerdy loner and amateur occultist, as he enters a contest to be one of 5 lucky winners who get to perform a once-in-a-lifetime ritual with his idol, Bartok the Great. Once the lucky winners arrive at Bartok the Great’s secluded mansion, they begin to unravel a sinister mystery. While the film is mostly a horror comedy, there’s a healthy mix of fantasy and adventure as well. Even though he is a very exaggerated character, Onyx is still someone many horror fans can relate to. He’s an outsider trying to find friends with a mutual interest in things that most consider dark and scary. Seeing a character like that thrown into one hilarious situation after the next, with plenty of magic, demons, and ghouls to contend with, makes for an outrageously good time.

One aspect of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls that makes the film especially enjoyable is the healthy dose of nostalgia. As audiences watch the film, they will no doubt recognize references to other hit horror films, and even kids’ TV shows, of the 80’s and 90’s. Some of these nods are quick, subtle references, while others are as blatant as turning a character into a certain cartoon mouse pilot and mechanic from a greatly underrated TV show. Even without the Easter eggs, the film would still have a wonderfully nostalgic feel. It is as if Bowser took a kid’s adventure fantasy film of the 80’s, like Little Monsters, and gave it an update that appeals to adults while still making us feel like kids again.

We all know Bowser is a great performer who fully commits to the character of Onyx, and that’s no different in Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls. His endearing yet over-the-top performance is grounded by a fantastic cast of actors who all have their quirks, but are a bit more understated. Two specific performances stand out alongside Bowser. The first is Rivkah Reyes (School of Rock, Bad Animal) as Mack. Mack seems the most “normal” of the group of winners and Reyes exudes an effortless cool in the role. They are the first to befriend Onyx and accept him as he is, making it hard not to love Mack and Reyes’s portrayal of the character. Another standout is Olivia Taylor Dudley (The Magicians, The Vatican Tapes) as Bartok the Great’s mysterious assistant, Farrah. Dudley excels at playing characters with a sinister edge. She perfectly demonstrates this as Farrah, toying with the audience and hiding the character’s true intentions. There are too many great performances in this film to go into details for everyone, but honorable mention goes to Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), Melanie Chandra (Code Black), Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson (Final Destination 2), Arden Myrin (Satanic Panic), and Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife).

As if the fun plot and the delightful performances weren’t enough to make Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls worth watching, it also has out-of-this-world visuals. The set is a real mansion that Bowser stated in a pre-screening video is actually haunted, with many cast and crew members having supernatural experiences. It’s a gorgeous location that adds to the eerie feel of the film. What is probably the most impressive and memorable visual aspect of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is the bewitching puppets created by Adam Dougherty (Creepshow, The Predator), who also operates many of the puppets in the film. The decision to go with puppets not only allowed for some truly memorable creature design, but it also adds some playfulness to the horror.

Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a whimsical, nostalgic horror comedy that feels like watching your favorite 80’s kid fantasy adventure all grown up. Bowser clearly had a blast bringing this film to life. The entire cast is a joy to watch, the grand mansion setting is beautiful, and the puppets are gorgeous works of art. While the humor will likely divide audiences, and occasionally a joke doesn’t quite stick the landing, one cannot deny that watching this film is a memorable experience.

OVERALL RATING: 8/10