Latest news with #FlyingLotus
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This mind-bending sci-fi thriller movie you missed in theaters is now streaming — and it's a dark cosmic nightmare
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Sci-fi horror is the ultimate combo and no one can convince me otherwise. In fact, if you asked me to name my all-time favorite franchise, 'Alien' would be right at the top, no question. It set the gold standard for space terror and nothing will ever take its place. So when I first saw the trailer for the sci-fi flick called 'Ash,' I couldn't help but be curious given my intense passion for the genre. 'Ash,' in a few simple words, is a neon-soaked thrill ride that made me feel a little delirious once it finished. It centers around an astronaut who wakes up alone on a deserted space station with no memory of what happened to her crew. From there, she must try to piece together the mystery. It's a simple premise, really. But this is one to go in with zero expectations, because once you think you've got a grasp on where 'Ash' is headed, it completely derails those thoughts. While its experimental nature may be divisive to some (just look at its Rotten Tomatoes score), I think it's a solid watch, and one worth adding to your watchlist now that it's on Shudder and PVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple. If you're a fan of horror-thrillers set in space or just looking for a wild experience on Shudder, 'Ash' is a perfect pick. Here's why it deserves your time now that it's streaming. 'Ash' follows Riya (Eiza González), an astronaut who awakens alone on a remote space station orbiting a distant planet. She quickly discovers that her entire crew is dead under mysterious circumstances, and her own memory is fragmented, making it difficult to piece together what happened. As Riya explores the eerie, dimly lit station, she encounters Brion (Aaron Paul), a man who claims to have come to rescue her. Together, they attempt to unravel the cause behind the crew's demise. However, Riya's fragmented recollections and growing suspicion about Brion's intentions create a tense and uncertain dynamic between them. The space station itself is filled with malfunctioning systems and unexplained phenomena, increasing the danger at every turn. I'd easily buy the idea that 'Ash' began as a music video for Flying Lotus that was later expanded into a full-length movie. The movie's pacing and vibe have that loose, experimental feel you often see in music videos, as it drifts between moments, sometimes focusing on story, other times just soaking in striking, surreal imagery. Flying Lotus, who wrote and directed the movie, mixes a small-scale sci-fi drama with bursts of intense, sometimes unsettling scenes. The result is less a conventional story and more a mood piece that invites you to experience its world without the usual narrative rules holding it back. González pretty much carries this movie on her shoulders. From the opening moments of waking up on the floor to blaring red lights, then navigating the eerie space station and the brutalized corpses in her path, she holds your attention completely. She portrays fear and confusion so convincingly that you genuinely feel for her being trapped in such a horrific situation. 'Ash' is genuinely so impressive in terms of its mind-bending visuals and soundtrack. Flying Lotus creates a world that feels dreamlike and disorienting, soaked in neon reds, purples, and eerie shadows. It reminded me of 'Prometheus' meets 'Annihilation,' but run through a blender of fever-dream surrealism. There's also gnarly practical gore and textured effects that make the horror feel real. I guarantee that pausing the frame at any second will give you something visually pleasing. Aside from the look of this movie and a strong performance from González, the story is where 'Ash' loses a few points. It plays with some really familiar sci-fi horror ideas (like amnesia, mysterious deaths, and a stranger who may or may not be trustworthy), and doesn't really do much to push them in a new direction. The pacing is painfully slow in the middle section, and I wish González had a stronger script to work with, because it felt as though she was being held back. Basically, if you're going in for the visuals and atmosphere, you'll have a great time. But if you're hoping for a tightly written, emotionally rich story, this one might leave you cold. Either way, it's some intense stuff. 'Ash' had a pretty limited run in theaters, so there's a good chance it slipped under the radar for a lot of people. That makes its arrival on Shudder the perfect opportunity to finally check it out. What Flying Lotus does is take a familiar setup and twist it into something totally his own. The movie plays out like a brutal, cinematic version of a space survival game, where the tension builds alongside the strange, atmospheric score that never lets you get too comfortable. Watching it feels a bit like being pulled into a surreal void. 'Ash' has a respectable 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's critic consensus reading: 'Flying Lotus' Ash delivers the phantasmagorical goods with vivid visuals and a throbbing soundscape, elevating a predictable sci-fi story into a memorably stylish head-trip.' Audiences rated it lower at 55% for its pacing issues and weak plot, which are points I can't really disagree with. So, if you're in the mood for something that looks incredible, plays with your expectations, and isn't quite like anything else streaming right now, 'Ash' is worth the watch on Shudder. For more streaming recommendations, see the top new movies to stream this week. Netflix drops first look and release date for new political thriller series This survival thriller with Daniel Radcliffe is streaming free on Prime Video 5 new to Paramount Plus movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes
Digital Trends
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 underrated movies you need to watch in June 2025
It's been a strong few weeks at the box office. Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning powered a record-breaking Memorial Day box office. While Ballerina stumbled the week after, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon got off to a fantastic start with an $84 million opening. June still has several high-profile releases coming, including 28 Years Later, Elio, and F1. Many of these movies are sequels and IP-based projects, which tend to release during the summer blockbuster season. However, there are several underrated movies to watch this month. Some of these projects, like Ash, can be streamed at home. Recommended Videos When you're done here, check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Max, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, and the best movies on Disney+. Ash (2025) Ash is exactly what a B-movie should be. Directed by Flying Lotus, Ash follows Riya Ortiz (Eiza González), an astronaut who wakes up in a space station on a foreign planet with no memories. As Riya explores the station, she finds several crew members have been brutally slaughtered. The key to Riya's questions lies with Brion (Aaron Paul), a fellow astronaut who comes to the station after receiving a distress call. At first, Riya cannot comprehend what happened to the crew. As she experiences flashbacks, Riya starts to consider that perhaps she had something to do with her team's demise. Ash doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it packs a punch thanks to starry visuals, gory action, and a standout performance from González. Stream Ash on Shudder. Echo Valley (2025) Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney star in Echo Valley, Apple TV+'s thriller ripped directly from the '90s. Written by Mare of Easttown's Brad Ingelsby, Echo Valley introduces Kate Garrett (Moore), a horse trainer on her farm in Pennsylvania. Kate's life is in shambles after the loss of her wife, which affects her ability to pay the bills and keep the farm running. Kate's daughter, Claire (Sydney Sweeney), mistakenly throws a heroin stash in the river, leading to an explosive confrontation with the drug dealer on the farm. A few nights later, Claire shows up covered in the blood of her boyfriend. Kate now tackles the question faced by many parents: How far are you willing to go to protect your child? Stream Echo Valley on Apple TV+. Dangerous Animals (2025) It's fitting that a new shark movie comes in the same month that Jaws celebrates its 50th anniversary. While a great white shark plays the villain in Jaws, a serial killer becomes the primary antagonist in Dangerous Animals. Tucker (Jai Courtney) runs a cage diving business, recruiting tourists to swim with sharks. Yet Tucker has a dark secret — he feeds his passengers to the sharks and films their deaths. For his next victim, Tucker kidnaps the rebellious surfer Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) and shackles her on his boat. Zephyr won't go down without a fight, which surprisingly excites the eccentric Tucker. Courtney lets it all go to play this flamboyant serial killer, while Harrison's star-making performance shines in this effective summer thriller. Dangerous Animals is now in theaters.
Tom's Guide
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
This mind-bending sci-fi thriller movie you missed in theaters is now streaming — and it's a dark cosmic nightmare
Sci-fi horror is the ultimate combo and no one can convince me otherwise. In fact, if you asked me to name my all-time favorite franchise, 'Alien' would be right at the top, no question. It set the gold standard for space terror and nothing will ever take its place. So when I first saw the trailer for the sci-fi flick called 'Ash,' I couldn't help but be curious given my intense passion for the genre. 'Ash,' in a few simple words, is a neon-soaked thrill ride that made me feel a little delirious once it finished. It centers around an astronaut who wakes up alone on a deserted space station with no memory of what happened to her crew. From there, she must try to piece together the mystery. It's a simple premise, really. But this is one to go in with zero expectations, because once you think you've got a grasp on where 'Ash' is headed, it completely derails those thoughts. While its experimental nature may be divisive to some (just look at its Rotten Tomatoes score), I think it's a solid watch, and one worth adding to your watchlist now that it's on Shudder and PVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple. If you're a fan of horror-thrillers set in space or just looking for a wild experience on Shudder, 'Ash' is a perfect pick. Here's why it deserves your time now that it's streaming. 'Ash' follows Riya (Eiza González), an astronaut who awakens alone on a remote space station orbiting a distant planet. She quickly discovers that her entire crew is dead under mysterious circumstances, and her own memory is fragmented, making it difficult to piece together what happened. As Riya explores the eerie, dimly lit station, she encounters Brion (Aaron Paul), a man who claims to have come to rescue her. Together, they attempt to unravel the cause behind the crew's demise. However, Riya's fragmented recollections and growing suspicion about Brion's intentions create a tense and uncertain dynamic between them. The space station itself is filled with malfunctioning systems and unexplained phenomena, increasing the danger at every turn. I'd easily buy the idea that 'Ash' began as a music video for Flying Lotus that was later expanded into a full-length movie. The movie's pacing and vibe have that loose, experimental feel you often see in music videos, as it drifts between moments, sometimes focusing on story, other times just soaking in striking, surreal imagery. Flying Lotus, who wrote and directed the movie, mixes a small-scale sci-fi drama with bursts of intense, sometimes unsettling scenes. The result is less a conventional story and more a mood piece that invites you to experience its world without the usual narrative rules holding it back. González pretty much carries this movie on her shoulders. From the opening moments of waking up on the floor to blaring red lights, then navigating the eerie space station and the brutalized corpses in her path, she holds your attention completely. She portrays fear and confusion so convincingly that you genuinely feel for her being trapped in such a horrific situation. 'Ash' is genuinely so impressive in terms of its mind-bending visuals and soundtrack. Flying Lotus creates a world that feels dreamlike and disorienting, soaked in neon reds, purples, and eerie shadows. It reminded me of 'Prometheus' meets 'Annihilation,' but run through a blender of fever-dream surrealism. There's also gnarly practical gore and textured effects that make the horror feel real. I guarantee that pausing the frame at any second will give you something visually pleasing. Aside from the look of this movie and a strong performance from González, the story is where 'Ash' loses a few points. It plays with some really familiar sci-fi horror ideas (like amnesia, mysterious deaths, and a stranger who may or may not be trustworthy), and doesn't really do much to push them in a new direction. The pacing is painfully slow in the middle section, and I wish González had a stronger script to work with, because it felt as though she was being held back. Basically, if you're going in for the visuals and atmosphere, you'll have a great time. But if you're hoping for a tightly written, emotionally rich story, this one might leave you cold. Either way, it's some intense stuff. 'Ash' had a pretty limited run in theaters, so there's a good chance it slipped under the radar for a lot of people. That makes its arrival on Shudder the perfect opportunity to finally check it out. What Flying Lotus does is take a familiar setup and twist it into something totally his own. The movie plays out like a brutal, cinematic version of a space survival game, where the tension builds alongside the strange, atmospheric score that never lets you get too comfortable. Watching it feels a bit like being pulled into a surreal void. 'Ash' has a respectable 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's critic consensus reading: 'Flying Lotus' Ash delivers the phantasmagorical goods with vivid visuals and a throbbing soundscape, elevating a predictable sci-fi story into a memorably stylish head-trip.' Audiences rated it lower at 55% for its pacing issues and weak plot, which are points I can't really disagree with. So, if you're in the mood for something that looks incredible, plays with your expectations, and isn't quite like anything else streaming right now, 'Ash' is worth the watch on Shudder. For more streaming recommendations, see the top new movies to stream this week.
Geek Tyrant
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Ghost Rider Rumored to Lead Marvel's MIDNIGHT SONS Movie as BLADE Faces More Delays — GeekTyrant
A new rumor is lighting up the supernatural corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to trusted insider Daniel Richtman, Ghost Rider may be taking the lead in Marvel's Midnight Sons movie, stepping into a spotlight many assumed belonged to Blade. But given Blade's long-troubled production history, it looks like Marvel may be ready to pass the torch… or flaming skull. Richtman reports that Ghost Rider will now lead the team in the Midnight Sons project, which he also claims is back in active development after a lengthy stall. It's a big pivot, but not entirely shocking considering the state of the Blade movie, which was originally announced at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2019 with Mahershala Ali set to star. Since that announcement, Blade has gone through multiple writers and directors, was removed from Disney's release calendar, and continues to exist in a frustrating limbo. Grammy-winning artist Flying Lotus shared that he was once attached to write music for the film but noted, 'I guess we are so far from it even being a possibility now, but, yeah I was signed on to write music for the new BLADE movie before it fell through.' Actor Delroy Lindo, who had been cast in an undisclosed role, said that while his early experience was promising, 'it just went off the rails.' Add to that the recent casting of Mia Goth in a Star Wars project after reportedly being locked for Blade , and you can see why fans are skeptical the movie will ever happen. Kevin Feige remains optimistic, though. 'We love the character, we love the version that Mahershala has of him … I can say that the character will reach the MCU,' he said, though with no specific timeline in sight. Meanwhile, Midnight Sons appears to be gaining traction again. Richtman claims the project is actively moving forward, though screenwriter Michael Green is reportedly no longer attached. Marvel is now said to be searching for a new writer to take the reins. Another piece of the puzzle is Moon Knight. Marvel Studios has confirmed that Oscar Isaac's character will return in a movie, rather than in a second season of his Disney+ series. Since Moon Knight is a core member of the Midnight Sons in the comics, his return adds more weight to the possibility that Marvel is actively assembling its supernatural squad. Plus, the Disney+ series Agatha All Along introduced Jennifer Kale (played by Sasheer Zamata), a deep-cut character from Marvel Comics who happens to be a cousin to Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, two versions of Ghost Rider. In the comics, Jennifer Kale has ties to Doctor Strange, Man-Thing, and even the Midnight Sons themselves. While nothing's confirmed, all signs point to Marvel steering its mystical universe in a fiery new direction, with Ghost Rider blazing the trail.
ABC News
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Kamasi Washington on composing for Lazarus anime, Fearless Movement, and his Australian tour
Is there anybody who's done more to make jazz hip again in the past decade than Kamasi Washington? A virtuoso saxophonist, composer and band leader, the Grammy-nominated musician splices jazz with elements of hip-hop, soul and funk. His sprawling excursions resonate with modern audiences and jazz purists alike. It certainly helps he counts Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill and Brainfeeder record label boss Flying Lotus among his many collaborators. He also got a shout-out on Kendrick Lamar's GNX album (on recent US #1 hit 'squabble up'), after first linking up for the rapper's To Pimp A Butterfly — one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 2010s. Since the crossover success of his 2015 triple album The Epic, Washington has continued expanding his repertoire — from scoring the 2020 Michelle Obama documentary, Becoming, to an electrifying live show that gets prime position on festival bills worldwide. That includes Australia. Ever since his debut on our shores (as part of Bluesfest 2016), Washington has regularly toured here, playing bigger shows on each visit. This month, he plays Vivid Sydney and headlines concerts in Melbourne and Brisbane. Backing him will be his ensemble of crack instrumentalists, some whom he's played with since his days as a 19-year-old UCLA music student. "I'm bringing an eight-piece band: three horns, a vocalist, keys, bass, drums," he tells Andrew Ford on The Music Show. But there are a few added twists, including vocalist Patrice Quinn and LA hip hop producer DJ Battlecat. "He's going to do some work on the turntables, percussion, and some talk box. So, it's a pretty interesting band." Rickey Washington, Kamasi's father, will also be breaking out the passport. Washington Sr has regularly played flute and soprano saxophone with his son since the mid-2000s, when Kamasi was in The Young Jazz Giants — a UCLA-bred group that featured a who's who of California's current jazz scene. Namely, saxophonist-rapper-producer Terrace Martin, drummer Ronald Bruner and his younger brother, Stephen Bruner, better known as bass virtuoso Thundercat (all of whom also featured on To Pimp A Butterfly). Joined by his father and live band, Washington's current Australian shows are in support of his 2024 album, Fearless Movement, which adds a new name to the muso's star-studded CV: his daughter, Asha. "She's four, almost five [years old] now," Washington remarks. But she was "around two" when her tinkling on the keys inspired the melody for the track 'Asha The First', earning the toddler a co-writing credit. "She's pretty musical. She would get up every morning and just play the piano. She was pretty random," Washington explains. "Then one day it was like she discovered she could control the piano. She played this little melody and just kept playing it over and over and over. "And so, I recorded it and then added some harmony and some words, then we made it into a song. It's beautiful." Fatherhood often changes people and, for Washington, parenting Asha became "like a restart of my journey in music, because I'm playing her all my favourite albums. Going back and introducing her to music in a way that reintroduces it to myself as well". "Right now, she's into James Brown," he notes. Understandably, jazz was one of her formative favourites. "It was actually Eric Doplhy's Out To Lunch! — that album [and] song. I was like, 'What kind of baby do I have!?' Washington has described Fearless Movement as a "dance album", a tribute to the art of movement where he reconnects with the roots of rhythm. "I've always been drawn to rhythm [but] definitely, for this record, it felt like it was even more there than normal." The result? Washington's penchant for sprawling, cosmic soundscapes gets hot-wired by funked-up rhythms, fiery rapping and compelling collaborations. Parliament-Funkadelic's George Clinton and Inglewood rapper D Smoke guest on the strutting 'Get Lit', and rapper-turned-flute wizard André 3000 appears on the fittingly titled 'Dream State'. Meanwhile, twin brothers and MCs Taj and Ras Austin liven up 'Asha The First', where Washington instructed his band to play as if they were supporting a horn solo. "Normally when we hear rap, it's always over a loop. So, instead … I wanted it to be over music that was moving, growing and expanding. "Ras and Taj Austin — they're so musical that I knew they would really get it. And they nailed it. The meter's shifting, the chords, the feel — there's so much going on. It was fun to hear." Fearless Movement also features an earnest re-imagining of 'Computer Love' by 80s electro-funksters Zapp (which is where DJ Battlecat's aforementioned talk box comes in), while 'Prologue' interpolates Argentinian tango composer Astor Piazzolla. "I've been a fan for a long time. I always refer to him as the meanest of Argentina," Washington laughs. "I just love his work. I love his melodies, they're so powerful." "That melody has always been one of my favourite melodies ever since I heard it, years and years ago." Washington and pianist Cameron Graves were "messing around" with Piazzolla's 'Prologue (Tango Apasionado)' when fellow band mate Brandon Coleman walked in, "listening to some drum-and-bass music. And we all were like 'Oh, let's do it like that!" Earlier this year, Washington released a swift follow-up to Fearless Movement: an album that reaches audiences in the wildly popular medium of Japanese animation, courtesy of a bucket-list collaboration with anime master Shinichirō Watanabe. Washington grew up a teenage anime fan in the 90s, seeking out DVD copies of legendary titles like Dragon Ball Z, Ghost In The Shell, and Cowboy Bebop. Watanabe-san's most famous and influential work, Cowboy Bebop, used a fusion of big band jazz, blues and beyond to underscore action, melancholy and dystopian sci-fi themes. Washington has said it deeply informed him as an artist. Music continued to play an integral role in Watanabe-san's anime. Samurai Champloo blended hip-hop with traditional Japanese music, while Carole & Tuesday concerned a female duo trying to make it in the music industry… on a colonised Mars dominated by AI-produced pop. Lazarus, Watanabe-san's much-anticipated new series, saw the director tapping Washington, as well as electronic producers Bonobo and Floating Points to each compose the show's soundtrack. Once again, Lazarus employs evocative music to amplify Watanabe-san's unique sci-fi setting and storytelling, concerning a rogue team of misfits tasked with saving humanity from a ubiquitous, cure-all drug that's revealed to be a deadly toxin. Washington, however, knew none of this when he was initially brought on board the project. "It wasn't finished," he notes. "[Watanabe] didn't really have me write the music to picture. He had me write it to prompts. Like, he gave me an idea… a story or plot line, and he asked me to write something that felt like that emotion, which is a very different way for me than I've worked on films in the past." "For example: 'There's a group of people, they're searching for this guy, but keep running into road blocks.' It was like creating music from written word rather than from a visual." Instructed to create an original album, rather than a soundtrack, Washington gave Watanabe-san the individual, isolated audio elements of each recording and "he took the music and made it fit". "There's some editing that he did — it's pretty seamless. I think it was a two-way street, he was adjusting the music and adjusting the picture at the same time." For instance, Washington intended the track 'Lazarus', with its wild flurries of brass and grand choir, to be the show's theme song. Instead, Watanabe-san used the piece for a chase sequence and ultimately selected an edit of the thrilling 'Vortex' to become the main theme. Washington only learned of the decision after the show's completion. Kamasi Washington plays the following dates on his Fearless Movement Australian tour, with support from Micah Heathwood. Tickets available now. Sunday, June 8 — Carriageworks: Gadigal Land, SydneyWednesday, June 11 — Palais Theatre: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Land, Melbourne Thursday, June 12 — QPAC Concert Hall: Turrbal Jagera Land, Brisbane
