Amazon Prime has discreetly added a 'phenomenal' sci-fi horror to its roster, which is being hailed as a cross between The Thing and Alien.
The film, titled Ash, has just been introduced to the retail giant's ever-evolving streaming library. Its streaming debut comes hot on the heels of its premiere at the popular SXSW festival just a month ago.
Set on a far-off planet, the story follows an astronaut named Riya (portrayed by Elza Gonzalez), who wakes up to discover that her entire space station crew has been murdered and she's suffering from amnesia. With only fragmented memories of her colleagues and their mission, and plagued by paranoia, she's unsure whether to trust a man (played by Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul), who insists he knows her and was sent to save her.
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Ash was directed by Flying Lotus, whose real name is Steven Ellison and also goes by FlyLo. He's an American record producer, DJ, filmmaker, and rapper. This is his second directorial venture after directing 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 .
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 shied away from acknowledging the similarities.
One reviewer shared their thoughts, saying: "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, there's still something to enjoy: "Not Aliens or any of the other films referenced. But Eiza Gonzalez carries this sci-fi freakout on her own shoulders, impressive."
Meanwhile, several cinema buffs were effusive in their praise for the movie, urging fellow fans to give it a go. One succinctly enthused: "One Word: Phenomenal. Nobody should be disappointed by it."
And another was captivated by the film's suspenseful nature: "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."
Another viewer couldn't get enough of the film, raving immediately after their first watch: "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 looking forward to more, they added: "I really hope he expands this universe, there are more stories to tell here. 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.
