And then there are times where it just clicks.
He had a moment when he met Eiza Gonzalez.
She said, You know, the script reminds me ofSilent Hill.'
The smile practically bursts from the directors face when the memory comes back.
I was like shes perfect!
When you see the finished film, the influences are apt.
It reminded me ofSilent Hill 2, Gonzalez specifies about the whole film.
I used to playSilent Hillavidly and [Ash] really reminded me of that vibe.
It just gives you a sense of being in it, and also creates so much anxiety.
I thought that was dope.
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The connection betweenAshand iconic video game imagery isnt entirely an accident either.
The script [written by Jonni Remmler] came like a jigsaw puzzle, Flying Lotus observes.
I dont want to spoil too much, but it corresponds to what shes dealing with emotionally.
Its purposeful, Gonzalez agrees.
That became a roadmap for us to dive into the performance.
Shes sort of like a newborn baby, Gonzalez says.
Hes been on a solo journey in his spaceship by himself doing God knows what.
Much of the appeal aboutAsh, though, is about mystery and tone, the unknown and dread.
The original thing I wanted to do just wasnt working.
I had to try a bunch of different stuff.
Independent filmmaking is challenging, Gonzalez points out.
And withAsh, she says here comes someone with a vision and an exciting story.
Thats how you bring a fresh take into filmmaking.
Genre films are the movies you want to go see on Friday night.
Ash premiered at SXSW on March 11 and opens in theaters on March 21.