Lumina is a 2024 American science fiction horror film written and directed by Gino J.H. McKoy.[1][2][3] The film was re-released on September 20, 2024, after an initial release in July 2024.[4]
| Lumina | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Gino J.H. McKoy |
| Screenplay by | Gino J.H. McKoy |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Thom Noble |
| Music by | Gino J.H. McKoy Matthew Sargent |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Goldove |
Release date |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
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The film is produced by Gino J.H. McKoy, Lynda McKoy, David Seychell, and Hudson McKoy.[5] The production's editor is Thom Noble.[5]
Plot
editThis section needs an improved plot summary. (July 2024) |
Lumina narrates the story of Alex, whose girlfriend Tatiana disappears suddenly in a flash of a blinding light. Completely traumatized by the situation, Alex, along with his friends and a conspiracy theorist, embarks on a journey through a desert, during which they encounter unexpected challenges that compel them to fight for their lives and discover the truth that will change their lives.
Cast
edit- Eric Roberts as Thom[5]
- Ken Lawson as George[6]
- Emily Hall as Cher[7]
- Rupert Lazarus as Alex[5]
- Eleanor Williams as Tatiana[5]
- Andrea Tivada as Deliah[8]
- Sidney Nicole Rogers as Patricia
Production
editPreproduction
editIn 2020, SAG-AFTRA instructed its members to avoid working on the film Lumina, which allegedly failed to comply with required COVID-19 safety standards as per the union's Global Rule One, making it one of the few movies to proceed without union support.[9][10][11]
Filming
editLumina was filmed in Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Agafay, and the Atlas Mountains areas of Morocco.[12] The sci-fi sets were built at the CLA studios in Ouarzazate.[11] Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the production was able to navigate the obstacles and proceed with filming.[13]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 0% of 18 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 2.2/10.[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 6 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[15]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film zero out of four stars and wrote, "There are bad movies, there are really bad movies, and then there's Lumina, a film so breathtaking in its overall incompetence that one starts to wonder if it's not intentionally so in the hope of being the next The Room or Birdemic. How else to explain some of the laughable shot choices, inconsistent characters, nonsensical plotting, and dialogue that sounds like it was either produced by A.I. or Google Translate of a script written in another language?"[16]
Michael Nordine of Variety also gave the film a negative review, writing, "Its ambitions are lofty, but they're also undermined at nearly every turn by chintzy visual effects that prove more distracting than immersive and uniformly wooden performances. It wants to be a space opera but is closer to a soap opera, albeit one that would air on Syfy rather than CBS."[17]
Kecia Gayle of Hollywood Unlocked praised the movie and wrote "this is the movie many critics claim is the new cult classic on the block. There's no exaggeration there because it really punches way above its weight".[18]
References
edit- ^ Bukszpan, Daniel (May 19, 2019). "Game of Thrones fans are angry about the final season – and the franchise could suffer for it". CNBC.
- ^ McNary, Dave (June 14, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Paramount Taps Tyler Perry, Michael Bay to Produce Thriller 'I Am Yours'". Variety.
- ^ "Lumina Brazilian cinema under the spotlight after a four-year break from Cannes". Le Film Francais.
- ^ Armstrong, Vanessa (May 1, 2024). "Trailer for Sci-Fi Horror Film Lumina Brings Us a DUMB, Not-Nice Aliens, and Feelings of Dread".
- ^ a b c d e Flam, Charna (March 15, 2023). "Porter+Craig Film and Media to Release 'Lumina' Starring Eric Roberts This Summer". Variety.
- ^ Ngo, Sheiresa (July 8, 2021). "Gino McKoy Tells Us About His New Movie 'Lumina'".
- ^ Grobar, Matt (April 13, 2023). "Emily Hall, David Kelsey To Star In Duane Edwards' Indie Drama 'Wrong Numbers'". Deadline.
- ^ "JVV | ANDREA TIVADAR" (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ Robb, David (December 12, 2020). "SAG-AFTRA Puts Kibosh On 'Lumina' For Failing To Comply With Covid-19 Safety Protocols". Deadline.
- ^ "Over the Weekend 12/14/20: SAG-AFTRA Shuts Down Lumina and More News | Below the Line". December 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "Maroc/Cinéma : L'histoire du tournage du film Lumina tourné à Ourzazate, est en lui même un épisode relevant de la fiction". Maghreb Observateur. June 23, 2023.
- ^ "Une exclusivité : "Lumina ", premier film de science-fiction tourné au Maroc". La Quotidienne.
- ^ "Cinéma: Les productions étrangères reprennent à Marrakech". L'Économiste. February 28, 2021.
- ^ "Lumina". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "Lumina". Metacritic. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (July 12, 2024). "Lumina". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ Nordine, Michael (July 12, 2024). "'Lumina' Review: A Soap Opera That Thinks It's a Space Opera". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ Gayle, Kecia (June 17, 2024). ""LUMINA" The Sci Fi Thrill Ride of the Year "ONLY IN THEATERS JULY 12"".
