Eiza González and Aaron Paul Light Up the SXSW Party Scene
It was impossible not to notice Eiza González on the red carpet at the Shudder SXSW party in Texas. Her choice—a crisp, fitted white top paired with a sleek leather skirt—had flashes popping from every photographer as she arrived arm in arm with Aaron Paul. The duo weren’t just there to mingle. They came to rally excitement for their new sci-fi horror flick, Ash.
Forget stiff, awkward celebrity appearances. Eiza and Aaron brought serious energy, joking and snapping candid shots together that made it obvious they've clicked well off-screen too. This playful vibe bled into interviews, and the pair seemed genuinely fired up about sharing their project with festival-goers and press hungry for festival buzz.
Eiza González has been gaining traction in Hollywood for bold style and major movie roles. This time, her look and charisma drew crowds before she even mentioned the movie. Standing side by side with Aaron Paul—who’s still got a massive fanbase from Breaking Bad—the actor pairing was PR gold for Shudder’s SXSW party as they hyped up Ash’s upcoming release.
‘Ash’ Divides Critics Ahead of Its Release
The movie itself hasn’t had the smoothest start out of the gate. Ash, directed by the musician-turned-filmmaker Flying Lotus, is packed with talented names including action veteran Iko Uwais and rising star Kate Elliott. So when it premiered at SXSW 2025, expectations were sky-high. The story centers on a woman investigating the slaughter of a crew on a remote planet, splicing together jump-scares, gruesome sci-fi drama, and a taste of interstellar mystery.
But reviews from the festival painted a mixed picture. Some film critics weren’t exactly blown away, calling the movie a “huge letdown” and wondering why actors like González and Paul weren’t given more to work with in terms of character depth. There was excitement over the film’s slick visuals and unique premise, but plenty of people felt the two stars didn’t get enough time to dig into meatier roles.
Still, the team behind Ash looked unfazed at the SXSW bash. The party made it clear—they're betting that between eye-catching style, genre thrills, and a leading cast with serious chemistry, there’s plenty to draw fans into theaters when the film lands in the US on March 21. Early reviews might be split, but once Ash hits wide release, there’s every chance curious audiences will want to see if the hype (or the criticism) holds up on the big screen.