Ashes (IX) (2018) User Reviews

Remember When She Used To Pat Us On The Head Like A Dog???

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 3/10 · 18 October 2020]

So Aunt Marian dies, and the family has her ashes sent to their home. Some flashback scenes showing how the family, especially the kids, used to torment poor Aunt Marian when she was alive.

And then the family debates on what to do wiht Poor Aunt Marian's ashes.

And while that's going on,, strange things start happening to the family.

I do love how scenes from Night Of The Living Dead are playing on the TV on more than one occasion. Really should have spent the time I spent watching this movie watching Night of The Living Dead again. A true classic!!!

When the daughter has boyfriend problems, they start talking about How Marian's ashes were the cause of it!!! So they make a SPIRIT BOARD out of a cutting board and egg slicer at home. And boy do they start having all kinds of fun with that!!!

But then they decide that they have to get rid of the BOARD. They bury that thing according to the instructions on GOOGLE!!! And then they call CHIP AND RONNY!! THE POLTER-GUYS!!! For some paranormal investigating!!!! When they hypnotize grandma, AUNT MARIAN'S SPIRIT SHOWS UP AND STARTS STRANGLING HER!!! OMG AUNT MARIAN'S SPIRIT STRANGLED HER TO DEATH.

-1 STAR FOR CHIP AND RONNY NOT BEING ABLE TO PREVENT THE STRANGLING OF GRANDMA!!!

So the conversation with Chip and Ronny goes on pretty much like nothing happened to Grandma after this strangling event. They're like oh grandma is dead, oh well. That's a pretty lame story moment. So they decide to have another seance, to contact Marian again, before she can kill MOM/ELLEN.

And of course the finale is pretty much a hot mess, as AUNT MARIAN manifests into ELLEN and starts going berzerk on the family and CHIP AND RONNY. Then UNCLE JAY gets possessed also but DAD COMES HOME JUST IN TIME TO SAVE THE DAY....BUT OF COURSE NOT BEFORE MARIAN HAS KILLED ELLEN AND UNCLE JAY!!

-1 Star for the whole family dying really and it's like...no biggie...

And that's pretty much where it ends. The film was actually shot pretty well. But the story was pretty bad, especially in the latter half. 3/10

terrible

[ferdmalenfant · 1/10 · 10 July 2019]

Just another piece of trash that someone spent a maximum of $10,000.00 total budget to make. Even worse, the story is as bad as the acting and everything else about this "film".

Couldn't get past the first 10 minutes

[alainsomerlinck · 1/10 · 12 July 2019]

What a waste of time, some money and resources. I couldn't even watch past the first 15minutes.

someone had some cash and time to waste ...

[arnabis · 1/10 · 19 August 2019]

So this travesty happened!

only good things i would struggle to accept are the makeup fx and moderately ok-ish cinematograph! and that's about it!

Utter garbage

[omendata · 2/10 · 9 August 2019]

I virtually never turn any movie off regardless of how bad it is but I turned this one off.

Terrible acting, directing , awful story and not a single thing of merit in this - pease pay attention to the real reviews and not the shills bigging this awful effort up and they actually spent $200,000 making this - wow where did the money go?

I gave it 1 because there is not a zero option

[cirisortiz · 1/10 · 13 February 2022]

You read what it's about, you think "some what stupid", then you find out this is a "documentary" style mess. A bunch of idiots with the intelligence of an ameba, trying to be amusing. Were I the aunt, you can bet I would be getting even with those fools.

Don't pay attention to the 1 star naysayers.

[stevecraig-28064 · 6/10 · 28 July 2019]

Fun mix of horror with dashes of comedy. And yes, fairly spooky at times...Proof once more that small budget Indy movies that are well written, acted, and given a new or novel storyline can be very entertaining.

Great mix of horror and comedy!

[viclord12 · 10/10 · 19 July 2019]

It's tough to get the horror/comedy angle right in a film. Too far one direction and there aren't really scary parts. Too far the other, and the funny parts seem like an afterthought. Ashes has a great vibe.

Surprisingly well-done

[queeroid · 7/10 · 13 July 2019]

A surprisingly well-done horror. It's half mockumentary, featuring interviews with the characters about their haunted experiences, which make up the rest of the film. It does admittedly have a bit of a languid ending, but the proper creepy moments and even a few good laughs throughout make up for it, in my humble opinion. It seems to me to be a commentary on matriarchy, which others might have picked up on if they gave it more than 10-15 minutes. But, hey, I guess female-led horror films aren't for ever fanboy with a keyboard. Anyhow, it definitely doesn't deserve 1 star, by a long shot.

Mostly enjoyable film, nice callbacks.

[bsw03 · 7/10 · 19 May 2021]

This was a decent B horror flick. I enjoyed the Evil Dead camera snakes to zoom in and close ups. I enjoyed the special effects (there is some gore), script, and characters. And the multi-racial aspect was a great bonus. And there were some nice thrill/subtle scares. This is actually a comedy and does well in weaving comedic elements in at moments.

The characters are mostly interesting.

I felt the film barreled into a lesser version of itself at the end, the last 30 mins of so. And if you actually consider the story it is a bid sad and tragic.

I say give this a whirl if you are a fan of paranormal horror, some gore, or comedic elements (not laugh out loud). It's not going to frighten you, and hit you with forced surprises or startles but you might enjoy it. I'd recommend it as a light horror movie, and enjoyed watching this mockumentary horror film.

Riveted to my seat

[csjewell-25167 · 8/10 · 21 July 2019]

First of all the, the lead actress was GREAT and I loved the mother character. They did a really good job on the flow of terror and periods of needed rest in between those truly creepy scenes. I became riveted as the movie progressed and couldn't turn away. It wasn't cookie-cutter, it had unexpected turns and at times grueling suspense. I thought they handled the subject of ashes in a way I've never encountered in horror flicks--it actually made me think more about the topic. Anyway, I don't think I'll sleep alone tonight with those images in my head!

My Review Of "Ashes"

[ASouthernHorrorFan · 7/10 · 5 September 2019]

"Ashes" is a unique take on paranormal activity horror. I found the style and point of view curious but intriguing. To be honest I didn't want to like this one. The back and forth between docu style and third person kept throwing me out of a very mesmerizing and macabre vibe. That being said it was clear that there was more going on in this movie. So I found myself hooked to the concept and invested in this family.

The story isn't all that original, but it is, by no means, mundane. The clever choices Jay takes keeps things fresh. The characters are likable, fully developed and conflicted, much like the real world. I did find myself cursing them and rooting for Auntie to get them, based on some really crappy personality querks- mainly how they treated an elder and the whole complaining about keeping the ashes. Still in the end I empathized with the fam.

For the most part the movie hits the mark on most of the things Barry Jay attempts, and"Ashes" delivers. Horror and special effects included. This film captured a lot of the haunting, spooky atmosphere that "Insidious" used. The jump scares work, and got me good a few times, the paranormal tricks are controlled, and the practical effects rock. Even the dark humor retains a smart, mature approach. A lot of it reminded me of the humor and atmosphere used in the 'Ash vs the Evil Dead' series.

Overall "Ashes" is a fun, well-made paranormal horror movie. The beginning may through a question mark out there, but within 30 minutes the story smooths out, and the whole energy sets in. It never steps into 'spoof' territory, as much is serious and pointed in "Ashes" as the funny. The acting is quality, the scares are fun and the creepy is turnt up. Definitely check it out.

Amazing

[dgonzalez-40797 · 10/10 · 29 September 2022]

First of all, The director of this movie deserves an award.

It's literally the perfect blend of comedy and horror. And then the mockumentary feel was such a good touch.. it starts all cute and innocent in the beginning.. then all of a sudden it's a full on scary as movie. Then it continues to have its funny moments at just the right times to let u take a break from being scared. Actors were awesome. Don't listen to the haters giving it bad reviews. The relationship between then grandmother and mother was hilarious. I would've loved to work on this set because you could tell they had a lotta fun shooting the movie.

A good movie

[sandy-95646 · 8/10 · 31 October 2020]

I enjoyed the tone on this movie, it's self-aware and funny in a way that isn't going for laugh out loud but more of a, delight in the absurdly mundane. I don't like a lot of comedy in my horror, I liked this. I liked the pace and I liked the characters. Some surprisingly good special affects and scares too.

Really amusing

[grannywolf25 · 8/10 · 29 October 2020]

It was really funny! I thought that the actors were really good for the fact that most had little experience! It had some really funny scenes! Not so much for the scare factor but I really enjoyed the play between the family members!

Really Enjoyed This

[ladymidath · 10/10 · 13 May 2021]

Ashes is a quirky horror movie with real humour and great characters. The story is your usual vengeful spirit plaguing a family that laughed at her. Now she is dead and wants revenge. The mother and father wonderful characters, as are the grandmother and daughters, but it's the poulter- guys that really steal the movie. Its a great little horror that has some really funny and heart warming moments as a loving family that is being torn apart by a spirit who is relentless in her rage.

I would recommend this film if you like a solid horror with it being a gore fest. Having said that, there is some blood and violence but it's not too heavy.