Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Familiar but stylish (and gory) sci-fi monster tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ash
What's the Story?
In ASH, Riya (Eiza González) wakes up in a space station on a distant planet to find that the other members of her crew have been violently killed. She has no memory of what happened, save for brief, terrifying flashes. Before long, Brion (Aaron Paul) arrives, having responded to a distress signal. They discover that the station's oxygen is running low, and they must evacuate. But Riya wants to investigate the crew's deaths. With the two at a stand-off, unsure of whether to trust each other, time is running out.
Is It Any Good?
If not exactly original in the story department, this effective, dazzling-looking, single-location, minimal-cast sci-fi tale works due to its economy and its use of standalone visual imagery. Ash is directed by DJ/rapper and producer Flying Lotus—who also crafted a memorable segment for V/H/S/99—and the movie certainly has a music video quality to it. Everything is gloomy and futuristic and slightly alien. Shots of giant, swirling shapes, the inner workings of a character's eye, and other sci-fi stuff feel like they could have been animated separately to save money, but they work beautifully.
As for the humans, both González (in a welcome lead role) and Paul give their all to their characters, ramping up their psychological game of chess and making them as human as possible in the stripped-down circumstances. (Four other actors, including Iko Uwais—star of The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2—and Flying Lotus himself, appear in flashbacks.) As sci-fi, it's pretty old hat, all doom and gloom ("humankind has wasted Earth's natural resources"), monster attacks, and "we're slowly going crazy (or are we)?" (Comparisons to Alien and Event Horizon will be many.) But even an old tale can be new again if the telling is good, and Ash is well told indeed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ash's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What is the essential conflict between Riya and Brion? Which character did you most agree with? What would have been a good compromise?
Is the movie scary? Why are people drawn to horror movies? Why do viewers sometimes enjoy being scared?
What do you think the film is ultimately trying to say about humanity?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 21, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : April 22, 2025
- Cast : Eiza Gonzalez , Aaron Paul , Iko Uwais
- Director : Flying Lotus
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : RLJE Films , Shudder
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy , Robots
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violence, gore and language
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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