Flying Lotus’ sci-fi horror ‘Ash’ receives mixed reviews: “Too derivative to be effective”

Flying Lotus’ new sci-fi horror movie Ash has received some mixed reviews from critics, with many appreciating its visual style but finding the narrative lacking.

Directed by the producer, DJ and rapper, Ash follows Riya Ortiz (Ambulance and 3 Body Problem star Eiza González), who wakes up on a distant planet’s space station to find her crew brutally murdered, and no memory of how it happened. She investigates, meeting a man named Brion (Aaron Paul), setting off a terrifying chain of events.

It’s already received mixed feedback from critics. In a three-star review of the film, Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting commended Ash for its “vibrant imagery, visual worldbuilding, and visceral horror,” calling it a “gnarly sci-fi freakout movie that could double as a visual survival horror concept album thanks to Flying Lotus’ immersive earworm score.”

Collider gave the film a rating of 6 out of 10, with Nate Richard writing: “Ash feels too familiar, which is disappointing coming from such an idiosyncratic filmmaker like Flying Lotus. This material feels like it’s too derivative to be effective, but the video game-like atmosphere, bonkers direction, and reliable cast make it far more watchable.”

Robert Kojder of Flickering Myth was more critical, with his two-star review stating that Ash is “ultimately sluggish and dull.” He wrote: “It needed something beyond a slow-burning, lifeless investigation into the ship or vague details about their mission and the planet her team was setting out to colonize. Even the nonviolent flashbacks have nothing interesting to explain about these characters, their relationship dynamics, or the mission.”

Several reviews referenced Ash’s clear Alien influences, with IndieWire’s Katie Rife writing: “The “Alien” series is a prominent influence on “Ash,” showing up everywhere from a scene of working-class astronauts cracking jokes over dinner to the tank tops and tight white T-shirts that make up González’s wardrobe.”

Flying Lotus — real name Steven D. Bingley-Ellison — is best known for his work in electronic music, blending jazz, hip-hop, and experimental sounds across critically acclaimed albums like Cosmogramma and You’re Dead!. He has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Thom Yorke and more, and is the co-founder of the pioneering record label Brainfeeder.

Ash isn’t FlyLo’s first foray into filmmaking – he directed the surrealist horror-comedy anthology Kuso in 2017, and a segment of 2022 horror V/H/S/99. Ash will be released in US cinemas on March 21, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.

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