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Andrew Bowser’s Viral Character Hits The Big Screen In A Shockingly Bland Horror-Comedy [Sundance]

January 24, 2023

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Even in case you’re not conversant in Andrew Bowser’s viral comedy skits as delightfully awkward Onyx the Fortuitous, all you want is the opening scene of the brand new movie, “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls,” to essentially perceive precisely the kind of humor the movie goals to seize and why individuals have fallen in love with the character. Conversely, in case you watch the opening scene of ‘Talisman’ and roll your eyes, the practically two-hour movie goes to be a troublesome sit. However, for followers of foolish humor, campy horror, and ‘80s nostalgia, ‘Talisman of Souls’ is a enjoyable, if not flawed movie… idunno.

“Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” follows Marcus J. Trillbury (Bowser), who completely loves his job on the native quick meals joint, and goals of assembly his idol, the evil Bartok the Great. Marcus, who simply needs to be known as Onyx the Fortuitous, is bullied by practically everybody in his life, together with his mother and stepdad, and goals of escape. And after successful a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to fulfill Bartok and take part in a ritual to summon a demon, Onyx believes that is his probability to turn into a brand new man or one thing… idunno.

Really, ‘Talisman’ lives and dies by means of the efficiency of Bowser within the lead position. As if that stress wasn’t sufficient, the actor/comic additionally wrote and directed the movie after a profitable Kickstarter marketing campaign raised greater than $600,000 to deliver it to life. Thankfully, by way of his efficiency, Bowser delivers the products. He clearly has immense love for the character and has carried out in so many skits as Onyx that his efficiency in ‘Talisman’ is effortlessly charming. And in case you’re involved that 110 minutes of the “idunno” strains are going to grate the nerves, you’ll be completely happy to know that Bowser provides extra depth to Onyx over the course of the movie, delivering laughs in a wide range of conditions that stretch nicely previous what he has proven on-line up to now… idunno.

Unfortunately, whenever you get previous Bowser’s efficiency as Onyx, the cracks start to seem on this horror-comedy. While the movie doesn’t look low-cost, per se, there’s a method that the movie is lit that provides the entire characteristic a “sketch comedy” high quality, like what you would possibly see in a spread present. There are solely actually one or two scenes that attempt to invoke a little bit of temper and elegance, and sadly, these don’t present up till the very finish of the movie. Up to then, the whole lot simply seems to be well-lit and shockingly bland… idunno.

When there may be model on display, you’ll be able to’t assist however discover how Bowser wears his inspirations on his black t-shirt sleeve. The ghouls within the movie are fascinating, well-crafted bodily sculpts that might look scary in a sure gentle, however as a substitute, they provide off Tim Burton vibes, significantly in one thing like “Beetlejuice,” as the whole lot is brightly painted and there isn’t a shadow to be seen. In addition, for a movie a couple of demon rising from Hell after his minion stabs individuals within the chest and steals their souls, ‘Talisman’ is noticeably cold. Make no mistake, that is an R-rated movie, because the characters, significantly Onyx, don’t have any downside dropping F-bombs each different line. But with regards to the frights and horror, there’s a distinct lack of gore that simply makes the whole lot really feel prefer it’s a part of some kind of off-kilter, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse”-esque youngsters’s present. There’s one specific scene in the direction of the tip, the place a sword is utilized in a method that remembers a second on the quick meals joint and will have been actually humorous in case you truly noticed the motion happen. Instead, the digital camera avoids the precise gore and, oddly, focuses on the reactions of the characters, neutering the impact of the joke and truly making it slightly troublesome to totally perceive what is occurring… idunno.

The youngsters’s present vibe additionally extends to the appearing in nearly each supporting position. In a movie the place the primary character, who calls himself Onyx the Fortuitous, particularly, is meant to be so ridiculous, it makes you snigger out loud, you might want to have loads of “straight men” to play off of. Unfortunately, everybody on this movie is so over-the-top and campy, it makes Onyx look downright regular by comparability. That isn’t to say the opposite characters are horrible, nevertheless. There is real humor to be discovered within the efficiency of Arden Myrin, particularly. Her golly-gee-whiz midwest mother character is definitely one of many highlights of the movie, significantly when she recites her hilarious, albeit devastatingly unhappy poem on the dinner desk. But when you’ve got each actor going so massive and colourful with their performances, it actually does really feel like a solid preventing for the highlight when it ought to be squarely positioned on Bowser and his Onyx… idunno.

Sadly, it’s exhausting to wholeheartedly immerse your self into the world Bowser and his cohorts have created in “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls.” There are loads of concepts right here that sound nice on paper however simply aren’t executed the best way you hope, which causes a variety of apparent missed alternatives. If ‘Talisman’ needs to be an absurdist, over-the-top horror-comedy cult traditional, then why not embrace the R-rating and go full-tilt with the blood and gore? Or, if you wish to make one thing that might attraction to youthful teenagers, with the intense, colourful ghouls and ridiculously campy performances, tone down the language and make this a PG-13 movie that might flip right into a ‘Pee-wee’-esque franchise. As it stands now, regardless of a pleasant, endearing efficiency from Bowser, “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” is a reliable, if not bland horror-comedy shockingly afraid to essentially take dangers… idunno. [C-]

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Andrew Bowser’s Viral Character Hits The Big Screen In A Shockingly Bland Horror-Comedy [Sundance]

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