‘Lumina’ Is the Worst Reviewed Film of 2024 by Metacritic

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As someone who has sat through countless bad movies in my lifetime, I can confidently say that Lumina stands out as one of the most incompetently made films I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, with each passing moment more baffling than the last.

I remember the days when I would eagerly anticipate Eric Roberts’ performances, but his brief appearance in this film was a cruel reminder that even talented actors can make questionable choices. The rest of the cast seemed to be struggling to keep up with a script that veered wildly between genres and made little sense.

The legal problems surrounding Lumina are as intriguing as they are disheartening. It’s ironic that a film so poorly received would cause such a stir off-screen. I can only imagine the conversations that took place when someone said, “Hey, let’s sue our distribution partner for lying about the number of theaters that would show our movie!”

And yet, despite its countless flaws, I found myself drawn to Lumina. It’s a train wreck you can’t look away from. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder of what not to do when making a film. And on that note, if anyone needs me, I’ll be in the corner laughing at the thought of Eric Roberts making more than 10 minutes of screen time.

In his scathing review for RogerEbert.com, film critic Brian Tallerico labels “Lumina” as one of the worst movies ever made in 2024. Despite stiff competition from other critically panned films like “Armor,” this sci-fi flick seems to be a strong contender for the title of the year’s worst movie. In “Lumina,” Alex and his companions embark on a confusing journey through the desert and an underground military base, seeking answers after mysterious lights cause Alex’s girlfriend to vanish. Along their quest, they gradually uncover evidence of a massive extraterrestrial conspiracy. However, the chaotic filmmaking style makes it challenging to discern this plot from the confusion.

In my analysis of Lumina, I found myself remarking, “[It’s] a movie so stunningly inept that it leaves you questioning whether its incompetence is deliberate, perhaps aiming to emulate the legendary status of films like The Room or Birdemic. After all, how else can we account for some of the absurd camera angles, character inconsistencies, illogical plot twists, and dialogue that seems more fitting for an A.I.-generated script or a translation from another language?

In my opinion, I was initially drawn to “Lumina” due to the presence of Eric Roberts, a versatile actor known for his prolific work. However, to my surprise, Roberts’ screen time in this film is minimal, clocking in at less than 10 minutes. The main cast consists of Rupert Lazarus, Emily Hall, Eleanor Williams, Andrea Tivadar, Sidney Nicole Rogers, and Ken Lawson. Gino J.H. McKoy took on the roles of writer, director, and co-producer for this production, which has garnered attention not just for its artistic merit, but also for its legal troubles and unsafe production environment (more details on that soon). Metacritic placed “Lumina” at the summit of their list of the worst films of 2024, stating in their review:

2021 saw the release of the film “Lumina,” which stands out not so much for its cinematic merit but for legal issues surrounding its problematic theater debut. However, it’s challenging to imagine this kind of movie earning more than $23,000 in its initial week, even under optimal conditions.

As a movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on the perplexing genre blend titled “Lumina,” directed by Gino McKoy. This production, with Eric Roberts making a fleeting appearance (remember him from “A Talking Cat!?!”), is an intriguing yet chaotic mix of sci-fi, action, horror, thriller, and comedy elements that leaves you questioning the genre labels.

The story follows a group of friends on a mission to rescue their abducted companion, leading them down a rabbit hole involving alien, government, and military conspiracies. You might find yourself chuckling at moments in “Lumina,” as I did – though it seems the humor was unintentionally inserted, as critics have pointed out.

However, with a nearly two-hour runtime, this film may stretch your patience to its limits, leaving you wondering if it’s worth watching for the irony alone.

The ‘Lumina’ Lawsuit & COVID Violations

The combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Hollywood strikes significantly disrupted the filming, editing, and distribution process of Lumina. To add further complications, issues arose with the management of its release. By December 2024, Goldove Entertainment filed a lawsuit against their distribution partner, Wild About Movies, accusing them of deceit over the number of cinemas screening the movie and breach of contract, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Timothy Nasson, CEO of Wild About Movies, dismissed the allegations and announced his intention to file a lawsuit in response for charges including fraud, harassment, and libel. He further stated, “The movie earned $23,000 on 200 screens during its first week. They’re attempting to pin the failure of the film on someone else.

Additionally, it was reported that the production disregarded COVID-19 safety guidelines in 2020. This non-compliance led SAG-AFTRA to issue an uncommon “Do Not Work” directive, cautioning the industry about the production’s failure to adhere to the required COVID-19 safety standards and protocols for a safe work environment as set by SAG-AFTRA. Consequently, participating in the film project might potentially violate union regulations. At that time, SAG-AFTRA further stated:

Working for or providing services at Lumina could potentially breach Global Rule One, and such infringement might lead to appropriate disciplinary measures as outlined within the SAG-AFTRA Constitution.

So it seems like Lumina was just as awful on-screen as it was behind the camera.

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2025-01-03 08:02