Amazon Prime has subtly added a ‘phenomenal’ sci-fi horror film to its catalogue, which is being hailed as a cross between The Thing and Alien.
The movie, titled Ash, has recently been included in the retail behemoth’s ever-evolving streaming library. This comes just a month after its debut at the renowned SXSW festival.
Set on a remote planet, the story follows an astronaut named Riya (portrayed by Elza Gonzalez), who awakens to discover that her entire space station crew has been murdered and she is suffering from amnesia.
Haunted by fragmented memories of her colleagues and their mission, and plagued by paranoia, she is unsure whether to trust a man (played by Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul), who insists he knows her and was dispatched to save her.
Ash was directed by Flying Lotus, whose real name is Steven Ellison and is also known as FlyLo. He is an American record producer, DJ, filmmaker, and rapper.
This is his second directorial venture, following a segment of V/H/S/99 in 2022 and the horror comedy anthology Kuso in 2017. He also appears in the film and composed its soundtrack, reports Surrey Live.
Unsurprisingly, the film has drawn comparisons with Alien and The Thing, with special thanks given to John Carpenter in the credits. It has garnered a respectable 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics have not overlooked the similarities.
One reviewer remarked: “Ash is obviously influenced by the Alien movie franchise. This sci-fi horror flick (about two astronauts trying to solve the mystery of a massacre on their spaceship) has some pacing that’s too slow, but this low-budget film is watchable overall.”
Another conceded that while the film doesn’t reach the heights of the iconic space monster series, the lead performance remains commendable, noting: “Not Aliens or any of the other films referenced. But Eiza Gonzalez carries this sci-fi freakout on her own shoulders, impressive.”
Conversely, numerous cinephiles have heaped accolades on the movie, urging fellow enthusiasts of the genre to give it a go. One succinctly put it: “One Word: Phenomenal. Nobody should be disappointed by it.”
An additional viewer extolled: “Really interesting, thought provoking sci-fi thriller. Had me guessing the entire time what was going on. Immerses you into the environment; one of uncertainty, isolation, fear, and paranoia. The lighting, cinematography, and direction was very good for the budget of the film. I recommend to any sci-fi or thriller fan.”
One fan was so impressed by the film that they couldn’t help but indulge in an immediate second viewing. Gushing with praise, they said: “Loved this movie, I watched it twice back to back. It was a visual and aural treat. Every shot was good to look at and the multi-genre soundtrack was pure quality, whether it was synthwave or electronic. I’ve never heard of Flying Lotus before, but he seems very talented not just for his creative vision for this movie, but the impressive music score also which creates a mood and atmosphere for the movie throughout.”
Already anticipating more, they added eagerly: “I really hope he expands this universe, there are more stories to tell here. I wish there was a release in HDR or DV because it’s visually impressive. It has elements of Event Horizon, Alien, even a bit of Pitch Black. Some people just didn’t get it, I guess, the same way I personally don’t get a Wes Anderson movie. If you do get it, then you know this is the coolest movie released this year so far.”
Ash is streaming on Amazon Prime.