Aliens and otherworldly beings are a cinematic staple. They perfectly lend themselves to the screen, with endless possibilities for their design and motivations. The question about whether or not we are alone in the universe is one that draws both contemplation and fear. If aliens are in fact real, what would their interaction with humans be like? Filmmaker Gino J.H. McKoy clearly has an interest in the unanswerable questions lurking in the darkness of outer space; however, he fails to translate that interest into a cohesive or memorable narrative with Lumina.
A flawed and unconvincing story in Lumina
The story follows Alex as he searches for Tatiana, his missing girlfriend. Tatiana seemingly vanishes into thin air following a small party at Alex’s luxurious mansion home. This party sets the tone for the entire story, revealing all of the cinematic red flags and signaling the fumbled attempt at a narrative that would follow.
The cast pretend to have fun, delivering fake laughter and unnatural dialogue as extras dance blandly in the background. It never feels like a genuine social gathering, which immediately begs the question: if Lumina can’t convincingly portray something as simple as a party, how will they possibly portray something as extravagant as an alien abduction?
The main cast, all of whom are meant to be old friends, share no chemistry. The extent of their relationships remains unclear because there is no time devoted to exploring them. This is among the film’s largest flaws. The audience is meant to believe that Alex is heartbroken and devastated over the disappearance of Tatiana. The plot hinges on his depression fueling his obsession to find her; however, that initial love and attachment is never shown or portrayed prior to launching into the search for her.
Joining Alex and his friends is George, a conspiracy theorist who is meant to act as the film’s comedic relief and deliverer of exposition. It’s a standard rule of filmmaking that you should show and not tell, meaning the story should unfold naturally to reveal necessary plot points to the audience rather than explaining them through dialogue. Lumina does not subscribe to this rule, and instead relies on George to explain every aspect of the story as it unfolds. It’s a common trope that is overused even in major blockbusters. Moonfall, for example, had John Bradley (Game of Thrones) to narrate the absurdity of the Moon’s collapse towards Earth.
Eric Roberts has a disappointing and minor role
Much of the film’s promotion focused on its inclusion of veteran character actor Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight). I will admit, as a fan of Eric Roberts myself, his inclusion in the cast piqued my interest and is one of the reasons I sought to watch Lumina.
Unfortunately, his appearance is a minor one that is somehow the film’s worst scene. Upon the scene’s conclusion, I made a declaration, free of hyperbole, that it was the worst movie scene I had ever watched. I won’t spoil the details of the scene here, but it reminded me of something a highschool sophomore would produce for his video production class and receive a D+ if the teacher was feeling charitable.
Final thoughts on Gino J.H. McKoy’s Lumina
The film drags on for two-hours. It’s an astonishing runtime, considering absolutely nothing of relevance or interest occurs until Lumina’s final act. We watch these characters meander from one location to the next, while occasionally encountering others who serve no purpose to the film’s story. By the time we’re given anything entertaining, it’s too late. The film doesn’t earn the payoff it shoots for. It hopes that the mere concept of alien abductions is interesting enough to hold our attention, and puts no effort into elevating the concept to anything beyond that idea.
Lumina is a film with an identity crisis. It purports to be science fiction horror; however, there isn’t a single horror element in its bloated runtime. It strives to be a compelling sci-fi mystery, but it does so lazily and without an original thought or idea in the script. Furthermore, it is a film that makes all the wrong choices, and ultimately fails on every conceivable level. Is Lumina the worst film of 2024? I can’t say for certain yet, but it’s certainly the worst film of 2024 so far.
Lumina, from Goldove Pictures, is now in theaters. Are you planning to see it? Let us know what you think on social media @mycosmiccircus.
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