MOVIE NEWS – Aaron Paul, best known for his role in Breaking Bad, is taking the sci-fi horror world by storm with his latest film, Ash. The movie premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, and critics are raving about it, awarding it a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring alongside Paul is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare actress Eiza González.

Ash is directed by Steven D. Bingley-Ellison, better known as Flying Lotus. The first trailer dropped a month ago, hinting at a mind-bending experience, and according to critics, the full movie delivers just that. Described as a surreal horror masterpiece, this is a film that horror and sci-fi fans won’t want to miss.

The perfect Rotten Tomatoes score speaks volumes, with critics praising Ash for its unique blend of science fiction and horror, while also subverting genre conventions. Jamie Broadnax of Black Girl Nerds wrote: “Ash is a must-watch for fans of psychological sci-fi horror. With gripping performances, an unrelenting atmosphere, and a story that lingers in your mind, this film is a triumphant mix of fear, identity, and survival.”

Nicolás Delgadillo of Discussing Film shared a similar sentiment: “Flying Lotus’ Ash is a mind-bending cosmic horror film, visually stunning and led by a career-best performance from Eiza González.”

Zachary Lee from RogerEbert.com gave the film a solid 3/4 rating, acknowledging that while not flawless, “it knows when to defy genre tropes and when to embrace them.” Meanwhile, EJ Moreno of Flickering Myth emphasized González’s outstanding performance: “A surreal and thought-provoking sci-fi horror, Flying Lotus brings a fresh vision to the genre. Fortunately, all of the weirdness is grounded by a breathtaking performance from Eiza González.”

What Is ‘Ash’ About?

Ash puts a unique spin on the classic “final girl in space” trope made famous by Alien. The story follows Riya (González), who wakes up on a spaceship to discover her entire crew has been murdered in horrific fashion. When Brion (Paul) arrives to rescue her, they must unravel the mystery together—but can she really be trusted?

The official synopsis reads: “When a woman wakes up on a distant planet to find the crew of her space station brutally slaughtered, she must decide whether to trust the man sent to rescue her. However, as their investigation unfolds, a terrifying series of events is set in motion, leading him to question how innocent she truly is…”

Though a few lucky critics saw the film early at SXSW, the rest of us won’t have to wait much longer—Ash is set for a limited theatrical release on March 21.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Black Girl Nerds, Discussing Film, RogerEbert.com, Flickering Myth, Deadline