Ash – Movie Review (2/5)

ASH is a new sci-fi horror movie that I expected a lot more from than it could deliver. Eiza González stars and it certainly isn’t her fault that it didn’t work for me. Instead, it’s the very small story and the wrong focus. Read our full Ash (2025) movie review here!

ASH is a new sci-fi horror movie coming to US theaters and then on Shudder. I’m very sorry to say that I would not recommend watching this in theaters, but rather I would wait until it’s on Shudder.

Well, except for the truly gorgeous practical effects, which do deserve to be seen on the big screen for maximum impact. Also, there are plenty of gorgeous visuals. In fact, the focus seems to be way too much on style over substance and that does not make for a good movie.

Continue reading our Ash (2025) movie review below. Find it in theaters from March 21, 2025 – and on Shudder later!

Space body horror and practical effects

We’re on a mysterious planet being investigated for colonization (on a much smaller scale than in Mickey 17). Here, Riya (Eiza González) wakes up and finds her crew slaughtered and with severe memory loss. A man named Brion (Aaron Paul) arrives to help but something is very wrong.

This is a sci-fi movie with a psychological horror and thriller aspect that I found lacking in most ways. All actors – especially Eiza Gonzalez – try to make this story credible, but it just feels very flat or forced. The practical effects, however, were a nice touch.

Yet while I love it when a body horror movie utilizes practical effects, Ash is a good example that I need a lot more than that to truly enjoy a movie. Mostly, I need a good and strong story to carry the scenes with body horror and practical effects.

Ash does not deliver on that for me. Not even close.

It’s a mash-up of various scenes that are constantly shown out of order via flashbacks and memories popping up in brief moments of clarity. The result is a vast lack of clarity for the viewer, which is a damn shame because there’s a good story in there somewhere. I think.

Crop tops in space

Look, I think many of us can agree that Eiza González is a gorgeous woman. I’ve watched her in many movies and she can be quite the chameleon when the role asks for it. With Ash, the role seems to mostly require her to wear crop tops.

While others (not least the male characters) are wearing more clunky space suits, every outfit on Eiza González (3 Body Problem) looks painted on. It looks like she’s made to audition for a new Tomb Raider movie, and is a classic (and stereotypical) example of the male gaze.

All I could think was that this movie could’ve more appropriately been called “Crop Tops in Space” as it seems a very important part of the story.

Also, maybe this is my indie (and Danish) film-watching experience, but can we dial back on the neon lighting soon?! The constant blue and pink light is getting tired.

Nicholas Winding Refn used it a little for Drive (2011) and a lot for Only God Forgives (2013), and The Neon Demon (2016). In fact, he is still using it (even when he shouldn’t) as do many others. Sometimes it works, but far too often it doesn’t make much sense.

Instead, it’s a hamfisted way of trying to evoke emotion and symbolism. For Ash, it was (sort of) explained as emergency lighting, but then you see lamps and shelves in the background with normal warm white light.

Watch Ash in theaters now or on Shudder later

The director and composer of Ash is Flying Lotus (V/H/S/99), who did not deliver what I hoped and expected from this. Or rather, I didn’t expect too much based on the trailer which did not do much for me.

However, after reading reviews from its festival screenings, I got my hopes up.

Big mistake. Huge.

Whether it’s the screenplay from Jonni Remmler or the directing and execution from Flying Lotus, Ash just did not work for me. The fact that the whole “male gaze” was given a starring role with the Crop Top and practically body-painted outfits did not help.

Instead, it was yet another example that form was put way over substance. The result is a pretty picture with not nearly enough story to keep me engaged or interested for long. One of the producers is even Neill Blomkamp (District 9), but I can’t see his touch in this either.

Eiza González deserves so much better than this. Watch movies like I Care a Lot or Baby Driver to see what she can deliver when given better material. Even Alita: Battle Angel shows her skills better than this.

Ash is in US theaters from March 21, 2025. Find it on Shudder later this Spring.

Details

Director: Flying Lotus
Writer: Jonni Remmler
Cast: Eiza González, Aaron Paul, Iko Uwais, Kate Elliott, Beulah Koale, Flying Lotus