28 Beauty Products Boasting 'Whoa'-Worthy Before And Afters That'll You Convince You To Click 'Add To Cart'

A Gold Bond firming neck and chest cream containing salicylic acid, glycerin, and aloe that hydrates, exfoliates, and helps keep delicate skin looking its best. Your skincare routine shouldn't stop at your jawline —your neck and chest deserve a little love, too!
A tube of Essence Lash Princess mascara to give you lashes so dramatic, no one will believe you when you tell them you bought it for less than $5 on Amazon. No need to spend hours wrestling with falsies to get the long lashes of your dreams. Reviewers also rave that this lasts all day. Thank goodness! You have better things to do than reapply throughout the day.
A biotin shampoo that could help hair look thicker by strengthening strands to prevent breakage. It's made with a blend of botanical extracts to help nourish and cleanse your scalp. If your shower had a VIP section, this bottle would definitely be on the list.
Bio-Oil, a cult-favorite skincare oil to help reduce the appearance of scars left behind by acne, pregnancy, injuries, or surgeries thanks to a powerful (but gentle) combo of vitamin A, vitamin E, sunflower, lavender, and chamomile oils. Your skin will thank you.
A highly rated Nyx matte setting spray for spritzing on after your makeup routine so your stunning lewk stays put no matter what the day may throw your way. Plus! It happens to be a great (and of course, cheaper) swap for Mac and Urban Decay's setting sprays.
A Revlon hot air brush you can use to dry and style your hair at the same time! If you're someone who is often pressed for time when getting ready, this wonderful gadget is a true game-changer.
An under-eye brightener that's gone super viral super quick and FOR GOOD REASON! This awesome stuff contains hyaluronic acid and shea butter to nourish and brighten the area under your eyes. Your new holy grail for concealing dark circles hath arrived!
A L'Oreal Paris rinse-out lamellar water treatment with a cult following that'll leave your locks looking shiny and silky in just eight seconds. It boasts the same ingredients found in Redken's lamellar treatment for a fraction of the price.
A tea tree oil and body wash that can help mitigate a plethora of common skin troubles like athlete's foot, acne, ringworm, and dry skin — just to name a few. Side effects include wondering where the heck this little miracle worker has been your whole life?!
A Maybelline concealer because reviewers love its excellent price point, smooth sponge applicator, and the fact that it provides great under-eye coverage on those mornings when you wake after broken sleep. It helps brighten up the area and brings a lovely glow to your gorg eyes. ✨
A dry shampoo powder you simply tap onto your roots, shake the excess powder out with your fingertips, style, and be on your merry way. SO easy! Not to mention, thanks to the fact that it's small and a powder (vs. an aerosol), it's easy to pack on trips and bring through TSA or toss in your bag to keep on hand for daytime excursions.
A fan-favorite Sol de Janeiro body cream made with guarana and cupuacu butter to bring smoothness and hydration to your skin. Best of all, it has a delish pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla scent and is gonna have everyone you talk to commenting on how darn good you smell.
A wondrously cool lip stain masque that might just make you want to launch your very own beauty influencer career, and here's why: When you first apply it to your lips, it starts off blue (and a quite beautiful blue, at that). After letting it set for 10–30 seconds, you simply wipe it away with a damp tissue or towel to reveal a BEAUTIFUL natural lip stain. How can you NOT want to document that process and share with your followers?!
A rosemary mint scalp and hair-strengthening oil formulated with a combination of over 30 essential oils and nutrients to help nourish your locks, increase circulation, and potentially provide relief to an itchy scalp. Plus, it's great for all hair types and boasts working particularly well on types 3a–4c hair.
A pack of exfoliating pads aimed at helping reduce the appearance of pores. I know, I know — it sounds too good to be true, but gimme a second to tell you how these work. One side of the pad (the ~exfoliation side~) cleans out pores and dead skin cells, while the other side of the pad (the ~embossed side~) smooths and tones for a silky finish. Don't believe me? See for yourself!
A styling mousse that's especially great for folks with curly or textured hair. It's made with coconut and shea oils to help give locks some volume, definition, shine, and hold without unwanted stiffness. Say adios crunchy hair!
A Briotech spray reviewers say is a GREAT alternative to the pricier Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray — both are formulated with hypochlorous acid, an ingredient that helps calm inflammation and redness. Just give your skin a little spritz and bask in the relief!
An eye primer because you didn't spend time perfecting your smoky shadow look just for it to *poof* disappear come lunchtime. Not to mention, you don't wanna have to lug your cosmetics bag to work and redo your entire eye makeup look in the office bathroom before heading off to that Hinge date.
A collagen hair protein treatment to help repair damage from things like heat, sun, and dye, just to name a few, because we want you to be able to do all the cool, experimental things with your hair. Go ahead — dye it, fry it, do whatever makes your heart happy. This stuff has your back.
A pack of dark spot remover soap bars formulated with a combo of *takes a deep breath* vitamins C and E, turmeric, retinol, hyaluronic acid, kojic acid, olive oil, and shea butter to help improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of dark skin spots and acne marks, and even skin tone.
An eyebrow soap designed to help give sparse brows a more volumized look. It comes with an easy-to-use spoolie, and the soap is made of mild ingredients, so you can achieve that ~on fleek~ style quickly, easily, and for less money than the name brands — buh-bye, Anastasia Beverly Hills.
A pack of curly wave clip-on extensions if you've dabbled with the idea of growing out your hair or getting extensions, but you a) can't seem to grow it that long without collecting a million dead ends along the way, and b) don't want to commit time and $$ to get them at the salon. Now, you can easily clip them on yourself at home at an affordable price!
A lightweight snail essence (no snails are harmed in the making of this product, promise) that'll deliver seriously good hydration and can help brighten your skin and reduce/prevent acne. Plus, it sinks in fast without any sticky residue, so your face feels refreshed and bouncy instead of a glazed donut left out too long.
A nongreasy Dior lip glow oil infused with cherry oil that'll feel oh-so-nice on dry lips. It comes in an array of natural tone colors and will provide a gorg glossy look.
An air-dry curl cream designed to help define your oh-so-stunning natural curls and hopefully prevent some frizz in the process! Bouncy, bodacious ringlets, here you come!
A lightweight CeraVe retinol serum made with encapsulated retinol — that's when traditional retinol is shelled and, therefore, is absorbed at a slower rate over time, which may prevent the irritation or redness of non-encapsulated retinol. Plus, you still get to reap similar benefits like brighter skin and a reduction of post-acne marks!
A spray-application foundation that's super buildable for customizing your own level of coverage. Not to mention, it's v lightweight — and thank goodness for that, because foundation that leaves your skin feeling oily and weighed down is just NOT the vibe anymore! When you want an airbrushed look, you also want an ~airy~ feel.
A hair wax stick formulated with beeswax, vitamin E, avocado oil, and more plant-based ingredients to provide a nongreasy, nonhardening solution to smoothing frizzy hairs and stray strands. This is especially great for fans of the slicked-back ponytail look.

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Buzz Feed

4 hours ago

• Buzz Feed

37 Reviewer-Beloved "Glow Up" Beauty Products

Lumify Eye Drops, a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes, with visible differences within a minute of use. Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream your skin will be SO happy to soak up — this is formulated with aloe, salicylic acid, and jojoba oil to help hydrate, tighten, and gently exfoliate your skin so effectively that you should be able to see early results in two weeks. (For some reviewers, it only took a few days!) Laneige's Neo Blurring Powder absorbs oil and blurs pores so effectively that you'll be like, "Oh ... witchcraft??" Might be the only explanation for how this can matte-ify your complexion while still keeping it radiant and glowy. ✨ La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 Tinted Sunscreen, aka the "holy grail" of tinted sunscreens — reviewers love this lightweight, buildable formula so much that a lot of them replaced their foundation with it altogether. If you're in the market for some subtle but effective coverage that won't get goopy or settle in pores, this is your sunscreen match made in heaven. A tinted lip balm that's eerily close to the same magic as "Black Honey," TikTok's beloved $25 ~universal shade~ from Clinique, that it will genuinely startle you — especially when you see the price. This is a perfect, non-sticky "go-to" lippie that's just a step above the "no makeup makeup" look, giving the perfect subtly polished effect. Moroccanoil's Mini Must-Haves Sampler, which is so affordable that I'm not not pinching myself to make sure I'm awake. Reviewers especially love these teensy versions for traveling in ~luxury~ on the cheap, and for trying these beloved splurge-worthy products without committing to the whole price first! Black Girl Sunscreen's Make It Pop Sungloss with SPF 50 (!!) that reviewers *adore* both as a glossy shine on bare lips, or to make their signature lippies pop. Who knew sun protection could look so chic? A delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray for anyone ready to go full YEEHAW!! on a pedicure, without the big salon price tag. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck. L'Oreal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist so darn phenomenal at its job that one reviewer calls it "hairspray for your face," and several compare it to the $34 One/Size setting spray at triple the price. This ultra-fine formula sprays on lightly and leaves a natural finish, but just one spray is designed to LOCK IN your look for 36 hours. Lottabody's Coconut Oil Foaming Curl Mousse designed for all hair types to give you satisfyingly hydrated, volumized, frizz-free curls at a FRACTION of the price of its competitors. A TikTok-beloved "Soft" perfume rollerball that honestly has no right smelling so delectable and layering so well considering it's only five cash dollars. Reviewers are obsessed with the scent's warm sweetness with a hint of citrusy zest, comparing it to waffle cones, lemon pound cake, and warm vanilla scones ... and this $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀. Billion Dollar Brows Eyebrow Powder fills in your brows so naturally and realistically that you'll be like, "Wait, are these mine??" Reviewers are stunned by how effective it is and how long it lasts, especially at such a low price point. Olay Super Serum Body Wash makes anyone with dry summer skin REJOICE — this is packed with niacinamide, shea butter, and collagen peptides for 24-hour hydration that will make you feel as ~luminous~ as the sunshine. (Psst — this is the body wash version of their TikTok-famous, super effective facial Super Serum, so you KNOW they mean business.) Monday Haircare Dry Shampoo with all the oil-absorbing, refreshing power of its competitors, *plus* added keratin for protection against frizz and breakage. The subtle gardenia scent is just extra extra credit after all that. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener, which became the internet's holy grail — now in four shades! — for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes so fast that everyone's old concealers are doing double takes. This lightweight color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference. Plus Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel, a cult-fave product for your beauty arsenal that will quickly help minimize eye puffiness and swelling thanks to its winning combo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid. It's basically an alarm clock for your eyeballs, because boy howdy are they awake now!! Kitsch's flat claw clip with some modern meets retro vibes that will give your hair a chic little ~pop~ of volume and hold. Reviewers are especially impressed by how strong these little clips are, and how much hair they can hold! Reviewers also note that these make it more comfortable to lean back on chairs, since the claw won't dig into your head. The Ordinary's Multi-Depth Hydration Serum to achieve that "glassy," plumped effect *without* breaking the whole bank. This delightfully affordable, super effective serum helps hydrate and protect your skin barrier so you wake up with firm, refreshed skin. Eos' Cashmere Skin Collection Shave Oil — yes, that's right, the astronomically TikTok-famous Eos "cashmere" body lotion now comes in shave oil form, so you can lock in that ridiculously compelling whipped vanilla, musk, and soft caramel scent *and* protect your skin from razor burn. Reviewers are notably impressed by how close of a shave they can get with this, particularly in sensitive areas! A "flossing toothbrush" with two layers of bristles — regular firm bristles, and longer ones that are 10 times thinner to clean deep in between your teeth and gums to mimic flossing. Reviewers love how deep the clean feels, and also how soft it is on sensitive teeth! Mielle's Rosemary Mint strengthening oil, a reviewer-beloved, TikTok-famous beauty prod that lives up to the hype — this is infused with biotin so it doesn't just strengthen hair, but helps encourage growth. Reviewers who use this consistently swear by it for thinning hairlines, sparse hair at their part, bald patches, and even their eyebrows! First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads helps prevent the infection of ingrown hairs, so you don't have to spend hours psyching yourself up to shave, knowing that you're gonna be dodging a bazillion sensitive spots on your skin. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Face Moisturizer with SPF 50 (!!) designed to deeply hydrate your skin, help repair its moisture barrier, *and* protect it from UV rays all at once. Reviewers also love that it's truly ~~invisible~~ and acts as a lovely primer for makeup (and is easy to reapply on top of it!). It's also sensitive-skin friendly, with reviewers on tretinoin swearing by it for extra protection. Did someone say ... HOLY GRAIL?? Color Wow's "Raise The Root" thickening and lifting spray gives your hair some instant ~~VAVOOM~~, no teasing or heat styling gymnastics required. Medicube Deep Vitamin C Golden Capsule Face Moisturizer, a K-beauty staple that's almost a little *too* fun to use — it comes with liposome capsules you can pop on your skin, helping oxidize, brighten, and smooth your complexion with the added burst of concentrated vitamin C and niacinamide. This is designed to have both instant *and* lasting results, with many reviewers noting an immediate difference in skin's radiance after the first use! A set of super affordable hydrocolloid nose pore patches (compare to the $16 Mighty Patch equivalent) that will make you go "boy HOWDY" when you see how much gunk collects on them overnight. Reviewers swear by these for gently lifting out sebum from pores and pimples and minimizing their appearance! Londontown "Nail Veil" Protectant, which is designed not only to protect your nails, but to act as a sheer tint to enhance their natural look. It's basically "no makeup makeup," but for your fingernails. E.l.f's Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara, a GODSEND for anyone with thin or fragile lashes. This uses lightweight ~tubing~ technology to wrap around lashes and give them a natural-looking, smudge-proof extension so good it almost looks fake. The real boon, though, is how easily the "tubes" slide off in clean, easy swipes at the end of the day when you're washing your face — absolutely no smudging, over-scrubbing, or special eye makeup removal products required. Medicube Turmeric Overnight Wrapping Peel Off Mask, which has already made itself a TikTok sensation — unsurprising, since the K-Beauty brand Medicube knocks it out of the park again and again. This mask goes on before bed and uses hydrolyzed collagen, vitamin C, and turmeric to help even out skin tone and improve elasticity. MagicMinerals AirBrush Foundation, which lives up to its name and THEN some — one quick spray of the foundation on the included brush, and it glides so smoothly and subtly over your skin texture that you'll feel like a makeup artist did it for you. Reviewers in their thirties, forties, and up especially swear by this lightweight but effective formula, and love that it's ridiculously easy to use. First Aid Beauty's Facial Radiance Pads, a set of compostable (!!) beauty prep pads you can use before putting on makeup to gently tone and exfoliate your skin, making it the ultimate primer for getting the most out of your foundation. Bonus — unlike a lot of toning products, these are super gentle and sensitive skin–friendly! Essence Loose Setting Powder Trio for three handy products for less than $5 — it's sectioned into different powders for brightening, color-correcting, and mattifying, so you can mix and match the shades to personalize your coverage based on your skin's needs. Jergens Natural Glow Firming Self Tanner Body Lotion gives you a gradually-building, vacation-worthy ~sunkissed glow~ over the course of just a few days. Not only is this easy peasy to apply compared to other finickier, streaking lotions, but it's formulated with collagen and elastin to help your skin appear firmer *and* glowier. Dae's Hair Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream & Taming Wand, which is basically the brand's "holy grail," TikTok-famous styling cream in the form of a mascara wand. This versatile lil' tool helps you carefully target flyaways, style edges, and smooth frizz. The Face Shop's Rice Water Bright Foaming Facial Cleanser, a gentle, cult-fave Korean beauty product reviewers swear by as an alternative to the pricey Tatcha Rice Wash. This hydrating cleanser removes waterproof makeup and sunscreen with ease, has an ohhhh-so-satisfying lather, and leaves skin moisturized after use. A pack of cult-favorite Clean Skin Club Clean Towels — these ultra-soft, chemical-free disposable towels are ideal for drying your face or pairing with a makeup remover or face wash to gently remove makeup at the end of the day. A lot of folks with sensitive skin *swear* by these, particularly because it helps prevent exposing their skin to bacteria that may collect in ordinary reusable towels. E.l.f. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm for all the ultra fans of Summer Fridays, Rhode, and Laneige whose bank accounts are begging them to put a stop to the lippie madness. These new deliciously tinted, moisturizing, buildable glosses are just as buttery and decadent as the balms that inspired them, for a fraction of the price. (Brb, drowning myself in the "Strawberry Shortcake" and "Vanilla Toffee" flavors.)

Geek Tyrant

5 hours ago

• Geek Tyrant

Russell Crowe Joins Henry Cavill in Chad Stahelski's HIGHLANDER Reboot — GeekTyrant

Russell Crowe is officially suiting up for sword-swinging immortality. The Oscar-winning actor has joined the cast of Chad Stahelski's Highlander reboot, taking on the iconic Ramirez mentor role originally played by Sean Connery in the 1986 cult classic. He'll star opposite Henry Cavill, who's already been set as the film's lead. Crowe and Cavil previously appeared in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, so this project is a little reunion for the duo. This new Highlander is coming from Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists for a full theatrical release, with John Wick mastermind Stahelski behind the camera. The script is written by Michael Finch, and the team is aiming for a a fresh, full-throttle experience. For those new to the mythology, the original Highlander , directed by Russell Mulcahy, followed a centuries-spanning battle between immortal warriors, blending historical flashbacks with gritty present-day sword duels. It became a fan-fueled franchise with multiple sequels, a long-running TV series, and more than a few legendary lines. Yes, there can be only one, but clearly, there can also be reboots. Stahelski seems to be playing the long game. United Artists has secured full rights to the 1986 original, previously developed by Lionsgate, and there's already talk of expanding into a new series down the road. Crowe is next appearing in Nuremberg , alongside Rami Malek and Michael Shannon, dropping November 7. He's also wrapped up a Netflix thriller called Unabom , Walden Media's Cold War drama Billion Dollar Spy , and the Derrick Borte-directed action flick Bear Country . The director also previously teased the action in the film and explained that it will be inspired by the action in the John Wick films. "I'll keep it to the core. Most audiences, I'll use the gun analogy, most of what you know about gunfights or car chases because most of us don't get involved in gun fights, or car chases, or sword fights, we learn through movies.' "And what those movies show you is about 95% bullshit. You don't fight 50 guys with your bare hands and then walk away, but it's fun. It's wish fulfillment. 'So John Wick, we know it's a cartoon – I know it's not – but we also have fun with it. But we do tactical reloads, we try to do fire manipulations, stuff like the professionals do, the military do. But then we have fun with it, you know? Sword work is very much the same."' Cavill previously shared how big of a fan his is of the franchise and then said that the script for the film is 'extraordinary' and that the movie will take some 'big swings.' He said: "I am a Highlander fan, they're great fun movies. Obviously I watched them when I was a lot younger and have since rewatched, but also the TV show. 'I really enjoyed the lore behind it, that sense of a tragic warrior with more of a story to tell than a cool guy with a sword, doing cool things, and this goes even deeper into that. "What they've done so far and we're doing with the development of the script is extraordinary, I think people are going to be really, really pleased. 'Big swings are important, you play it safe, you're going to just go, 'Eh, I suppose it's fine?" but if you take a big swing, people love it or they hate it." Stahelski also previously talked about the movie, saying it will include both familiar characters and "elements" taken from the '90s TV series. "We're looking to do our story [and it] engages a lot of the same characters and stuff like that. But we've also brought in elements of all the TV shows. We're trying to do a bit of a prequel setup to The Gathering.' 'We have ideas for days about how to make the coolest characters and to make that an epic TV show. I just think that's a rich, rich mythology." Stahelski also explained that they are taking the best story elements from across the franchise and implementing it all into one story that will be spread out across a trilogy of films: "I think the TV series hit on a lot of great stuff wasn't in the feature, between the watchers and all the different types of immortals. How do we get this into a feature mode before we dribble it into the TV world? 'Well, let's restructure it in parts, let's look at it like it was a TV show, let's look at it like it was a high-end trilogy. How to we tell the story of The Gathering, The Quickenings, The Immortals and how do we really build this world out even more so than the original project? 'That's what we're restructuring right now. It's taking all the good stuff that we had before I was involved in the project from the script; redeveloping the script to give us really good chapters one, two and three; and expanding the world." He also talked about his vision for the film, saying: " The vision we're trying to get across and what we're trying to develop, I equate very close to Star Wars. The first one is a very satisfying ending but it does leave the door open and that's kind of how I see this. 'I would really like to expand it over three. I see The Gathering happening over three. It's tricky, don't get me wrong, that's why we're still developing it. We want to be able to tell three complete stories that all kind of fit. 'I think the Star Wars trilogy, at least up to The Empire Strikes Back, is a good example of how we want to process it." I very excited about this Highlander reboot and I hope that it delivers something awesome. Source: Deadline

Tom's Guide

12 hours ago

• 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.