Ash - A Horror Space Odyssey
Film
Ash had its World Premiere at SXSW 2025
If you think you're having a bad day, just imagine waking up on a remote space station with no recollection of who you are or why you're there. Oh, and the bodies of your dead crew members are violently strewn about. Sounds like a worse time if you ask me. But that's exactly what's happening to Riya (Eiza González) in the sci-fi horror film, Ash. Shortly after waking up, Riya is joined by Brion (Aaron Paul) another crew member who was on their orbiting station, safe from whatever events transpired, giving Riya some much needed assistance in figuring out what's happened and finding a way off this strange planet.
If this premise sounds familiar, it's because it is. One way or another, piecing together the violent demise of a "crew" in space has been folded in every which way. Pandorum, being the most direct comparison to Ash, sees a pair of astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) awake from hypersleep with no memories of self or mission along with some sort of violent episode occurring in their ship. But the variations on this are limitless, Event Horizon, Passengers, most of the Alien franchise, and more, the plot line of "something weird is going on in space let's investigate" can be a bit tired. Where Ash makes strides in being a fresh take in the sci-fi horror landscape is with Flying Lotus' visually striking language. Utilizing stellar color design and exceedingly trippy visuals Flying Lotus crafts an experiential feel for the bulk of Ash. Blending neo-noir with sci-fi horror gives the film a striking exterior, even if its core substance isn’t as compelling.
The biggest problem, or problems, with Ash is the half-baked narrative that tries to combine aspects of the sci-fi horror films before it, without any of their fluidity or coherence. Unfortunately Jonni Remmler's screenplay doesn't deliver on any of the big twists it foreshadows, nor is the lead up fulfilling. Pacing issues plague the first half of Ash as Riya works to piece together her memory, and save for a couple of jumps that deliver an ephemeral scare there's limited development. Even when the third act explodes into chaotic, monster-driven action, it feels more like a last-minute spectacle than a meaningful resolution to Riya’s journey.
However lackluster the story might be, bogging down Ash with its empty development, it's clear that Flying Lotus has grown in his command of the camera and ability to construct an exciting atmosphere. Half of that is his actual direction while the other half is his wild, synth-laden score that sets the mysterious tone of Ash better than the story itself. Flying Lotus' years as a producer give him ample experience to craft a thorough soundscape that accents the visuals of Ash, carrying us along the shifting landscapes and emotional distress of Riya and Brion with surefire execution.
But, all things considered, Flying Lotus' technical prowess isn't enough to save Ash from itself. While González does the best with what she's given, the film as whole is too discombobulated and flat to deliver the anticipated thrills.
Froth
There's no better way to enjoy a space themed film (even if I didn't enjoy the film) than with a brew from Outer Planet Brewing! Talk about motif, right? Outer Planet Brewing boasts a solid selection of European style brews that all have delightfully space-centric names. For Ash I opted for something that accented the dark horror tones of the film, and yes that's me referring to a dark beer. The 10th Orbit is Outer Planet's 10th anniversary beer that was brewed with a black forest cake in mind, providing some decadent cherry flavors under the cover of roasted darkness. Ending with a slight sweetness to carry you home and you've got yourself one hell of a drinkable dessert! Even though it is an imperial stout, hoisting an ABV of 8.9%, it's incredibly smooth and not nearly as boozy as one would anticipate with the tart cherry and sweeter finish masking its strength. Making for one smooth, well-rounded trip out into space.
