Aaron Paul's "mind-bending" new sci-fi horror Ash has debuted to a 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film, which co-stars Alita: Battle Angel's Eiza González, comes from director and musician Flying Lotus, and focuses on a woman who wakes on a distant planet to find her crew murdered.
With no memory of what happened, a man comes to rescue her, though she must decide if he can be trusted or not.
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The movie has just premiered at the SXSW Festival, and has strongly impressed critics so far, earning a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Many have praised the "mind-blowing" nature of the film, with acclaim for a cinematic quality and atmosphere that "demands to be experienced on the big screen".
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Here's what reviewers have been saying:
Discussing Film
"Director Flying Lotus has taken a relatively simple screenplay and elevated it into something that demands to be experienced on the big screen. It’s a triumph of style and atmosphere, a mind-bending sensory overload that pulls from the genre’s greatest while forging its own path."
Variety
"People tend to overuse the term 'mind-blowing' when hyping sci-fi movies, but in the case of Flying Lotus’ visually audacious Ash, the word feels apt."
IndieWire
"A pummeling psychedelic sci-fi freakout that one doesn’t watch so much as experience."
Black Girl Nerds
"Ash is for fans of psychological sci-fi horror. With gripping performances, a relentless atmosphere, and a story that permeates, this film is a triumphant blend of fear, memory, identity, and survival."
Inverse
"Ash can sometimes feel small due to its limited locations and its standard script. But its breathtakingly otherworldly visuals and smattering of Lovecraftian dread makes it an intriguing new entry into the cosmic horror genre – and one that you won’t forget anytime soon."
RogerEbert.com
"Ash may not reinvent the sci-fi horror genre, but Flying Lotus knows when to subvert tropes and when to lean into them. When it’s all executed with as controlled a precision as we see here, it’s nothing less than thrilling."
Ash will be released in US cinemas on March 21, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
