Happy Monday, horror fans! We're kicking off the week with a dive into a recent sci-fi horror that, while visually ambitious, didn't quite land for me: Ash (2025). Directed and scored by the visionary musician Flying Lotus, this film certainly aims for a unique experience, but unfortunately, it left me more frustrated than terrified.
From the outset, Ash throws you into a disorienting nightmare. Astronaut Riya (Eiza González) awakens on a remote space station, her crew brutally murdered, and her memory shattered. The premise is intriguing, but as she tries to piece together the chaos with the help of a new arrival, Brion (Aaron Paul), the film quickly devolves into a labyrinth of fragmented memories and surreal, often confusing, visuals.
There's no denying Flying Lotus's artistic vision. The film boasts a striking aesthetic, with bold colours and an immersive, often oppressive, electronic score that certainly creates a mood. The creature designs are grotesque and effectively unsettling in their brief appearances, and the practical effects are commendable. For a time, the sheer style and the commitment to a disorienting atmosphere are enough to carry the experience.
However, where Ash falters for me is in its narrative execution and character development. The plot, while conceptually interesting, becomes increasingly muddled and difficult to follow. The constant shifts between reality, hallucination, and fragmented flashbacks, combined with often jarring editing, made it hard to truly grasp what was happening, or why I should care. The characters, despite strong efforts from Eiza González and Aaron Paul, are given little depth to work with. Riya spends most of the film in a state of confused reaction, and it's hard to emotionally connect with her plight when the story keeps pulling the rug out from under you without a clear anchor.
Comparisons to sci-fi horror classics like Alien or The Thing are inevitable, but Ash often feels like it prioritizes replicating their vibe and visual flair over building a cohesive, engaging story or investing in truly suspenseful pacing. It's loud, it's chaotic, and while some might find that exhilarating, I found it mostly exhausting. The moments of genuine horror are present, but they often get lost in the overwhelming sensory bombardment.
Overall, while "Ash" is undoubtedly ambitious and visually distinctive, it ultimately felt like a triumph of style over substance for me. It's a film that leans heavily on its atmosphere and abstract storytelling, but in doing so, it sacrifices clarity and emotional resonance. If you're a hardcore fan of experimental, highly visual sci-fi where plot takes a backseat, you might find something to love. But for me, it was a frustrating watch that promised more than it delivered.
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