Cinedigm has announced it has acquired the North American rights to the buzzed-about horror-comedy “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” and plans to release the film in theaters this fall, followed by an exclusive launch on the horror streaming service Screambox.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 Midnight Section to rave reviews, with Bloody Disgusting praising the “endearing quirkiness, endless ’80s/’90s influences, and horror whimsy” and RogerEbert.com calling it “a handmade horror gem.” The film has since played at Fright Fest at the Glasgow Film Festival and the Calgary Underground Film Festival. It will continue its festival run at the Chattanooga Film Festival, the Dark Bridges Film Festival, and Fantasia International.
Based on writer, director, and star Andrew Bowser’s viral internet character of the same name, “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls” 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 will sacrifice 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.
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.
“Get ready to be transported back in time with this hilarious throwback to 80s horror that will have you laughing and screaming in equal measure,” said Brad Miska, Managing Director of Bloody Disgusting/Cinedigm. “It’s Elvira: Mistress of the Dark meets Fright Night, Beetlejuice, and even Ernest Scared Stupid with practical effects that will leave you speechless. If you’re a fan of the viral sensation that is Onyx, you won’t want to miss this uproariously fun adventure on the big screen this fall.”
When asked about the distribution news and his vault to stardom, Onyx the Fortuitous had this to say:
“I cannot wait to partner with Cinedigm and step into my destiny as the next horror icon! I’m a lot like Art the Clown from “Terrifier 2″ in ways. We both wear silly hats, and we both carry around large black trash bags. Except his bag is filled with murder tools, and mine is filled with mommy issues and social anxiety.”
