Cineverse and Fathom Events announced Monday that horror-comedy “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” will be released exclusively in theaters for a one-night event on October 19. The film will show at 7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. (local times) in theaters throughout the country, and fans will be treated to a special introduction from writer/director/star Andrew Bowser ahead of the film.
Since its Sundance premiere, the energy surrounding the film has steadily grown, with Bloody Disgusting praising the “endearing quirkiness, endless’ 80s/’90s influences, and horror whimsy” and RogerEbert.com calling it “a handmade horror gem.”
Based on Bowser’s viral internet character of the same name and in the spirit of films such as “Beetlejuice,” “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” and “Ernest Scared Stupid,” Onyx tells the story of an amateur occultist who learns that sometimes, when you raise Hell…you get a little burned.
Misunderstood by all who know him, Marcus J. Trillbury (Bowser), aka Onyx the Fortuitous, is struggling to find purpose in his soul-devouring side gig. But just when it seems he’s ready to throw in the towel, he receives a coveted invitation to the mansion of his idol Bartok the Great (Jeffrey Combs; “Re-Animator”) for a ritual to raise the spirit of an ancient demon. Ecstatic, he joins Bartok, his mysterious delegate Farrah (Olivia Taylor Dudley; “The Magicians”), and a collection of fellow devotees as they prepare for the ceremony, but quickly it becomes apparent things are not what they seem. As Onyx and his new friends fight to keep their souls, he must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in order to meet his destiny.
The film also stars Barbara Crampton (“You’re Next”), Ralph Ineson (“The Witch”), Rivkah Reyes (“School of Rock”), TC Carson (“Final Destination 2”), Arden Myrin (“Insatiable”), and Melanie Chandra (“Code Black”). Bowser also produced the film along with Clark Baker, Michael Mobley, and Olivia Taylor Dudley.
I was fortunate enough to see a special screening of “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” at this year’s Midsummer Scream, and I loved every minute of it. Admittedly, I am a long-time fan of Bowser and his work, but even if you aren’t familiar with the Onyx character, there is plenty about this film to love. Filled to the brim with 80s pop culture nods and packed with just as much heart as it has horror, this film will feel really relatable if you grew up in the 80s or 90s and will have you rooting for Onyx the entire movie. And Jeffrey Combs’ Bartok is a can’t-miss.
The popular viral character Onyx the Fortuitous has garnered over 300M views online and has over 1M followers on TikTok, catapulting him to fame and cementing his status as a pop culture icon. Onyx fearlessly blends spine-chilling monsters with side-splitting humor, infusing the dark arts with a playful and lighthearted energy.
“Onyx started out as a quirky digital character that I hoped would find some sort of audience, even a tiny one,” said Bowser. “To see the growth in popularity over the last few years has been incredible, and now we’re preparing for a major theatrical event. It just shows that if you’re willing to put your art or yourself out there, amazing things can happen.”
Onyx premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 Midnight Section to rave reviews, played at Fright Fest at the Glasgow Film Festival, the Calgary Underground Film Festival, Chattanooga Film Festival, the Dark Bridges Film Festival, and Fantasia International.
Cineverse and Fathom Events will release “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” in movie theaters nationwide on Thursday, October 19, at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. local time. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website.
