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Ash (2025)

Directed by: Flying Lotus

Starring: Eisa González and Aaron Paul

Flying Lotus conjures a hybrid of The Thing and Alien, laced with his signature psychedelic, mind-bending visuals, to deliver a stunning and terrifying tale of recollection and paranoia. While it shares a setting and motifs with those sci-fi horror staples, Ash quickly proves itself to be wholly unique—at the very least in its visual aesthetic, and arguably in its emotional impact, character dynamics, and tone.

Eiza González delivers a captivating performance as Riya—aloof and watchful at first, but with flickers of warmth and compassion shown in memories of her now-dead crew. Aaron Paul’s Brion is skeptical and intense, toeing the line between trustworthy and suspect. His ambiguity is central to the film’s tension, keeping us unsure of who—or what—he truly is.

The film’s nonlinear structure works in its favor. While seasoned genre fans may anticipate some beats, the withholding of key information until the end builds tension effectively. The fragmented storytelling also amplifies the unease between Riya and Brion, and helps the mystery unfold with emotional weight.

The supporting crew—Kevin (Beulah Koale), Adhi (Iko Uwais), Davis (Flying Lotus), and Clarke (Kate Elliott)—bring notable depth to their characters, even in limited screen time. Before each meets their fate, we get enough to feel the stakes. The emotional threads they leave behind deepen our understanding of Riya’s grief and the value of connection in the isolating vacuum of space. The film doesn’t linger long on sentimentality, but it doesn’t need to; the relationships resonate through their absence.

Despite the comparisons to sci-fi horror classics, Ash stands confidently beside them. Its use of space—as both a literal and psychological environment—is handled with style and intention. The surreal beauty of the cosmos is contrasted with truly unnerving horror. Dialogue is spare, but not lacking. The cast communicates volumes through silence, movement, and reaction. The blocking and choreography—especially during action and fight sequences—are sleek, physical extensions of the story’s rising urgency.

At its core, Ash is a murder mystery set in space, but it’s also an elegy for lost connections and a descent into distorted memory. With one-of-a-kind visuals, tight pacing, standout performances, and hauntingly creative direction, Flying Lotus has crafted a film that deserves a place among the space horror greats.