Lumina
By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Truly inept alien abduction movie has violence, language.
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Lumina
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Paid Critics are lying about this movie to prop up Longlegs and other studio films..
What's the Story?
In LUMINA, wealthy Alex (Rupert Lazarus) throws a party for his friends. His girlfriend, Tatiana (Eleanor Williams), reluctantly plays hostess. Old friend Delilah (Andrea Tivadar), who's in love with Alex, keeps hoping for a chance with him, while their friend Patricia (Sidney Nicole Rogers) tries to keep the peace. Suddenly, there's a flash and some noise. A window is blasted out, the lawn catches on fire, and Tatiana is gone without a trace. Some time later, conspiracy theorist George (Ken Lawson) tries to convince Alex to go out and find Tatiana. But it's a dangerous mission, as the friends may be going up against powerful secret agents, malevolent aliens, or worse.
Is It Any Good?
A possible contender to join the list of The Worst Movies of All Time, this sci-fi thriller seems to be earnest but is actually inept and laughable due to bad writing, acting, effects, and more. As in The Room, the characters in Lumina seem to be trying to be honest and open with one another, and they're all supposed to be best pals, helping one another out on this adventure. But their behavior is erratic and even rude, and they all wind up being unpleasant. Alex is arguably the most painful, spending at least 30 minutes of the movie's running time yowling in agony (and growing a big, bushy beard) over the loss of his girlfriend, rather than getting the story going.
But Delilah is a close second, ready to backstab anyone for a chance at her rich dream boy. And George is a third-rate Chris Tucker knock-off, a squeaky-voiced comic sidekick who seems entirely out of place. The dialogue is right out of an Ed Wood movie, with lines like "going on a wild witch hunt" or "they got in there and they put stuff in there that wasn't there before." And, like Battlefield Earth, Lumina cluelessly tries to wow us with ridiculous monsters and monotone sets. The best thing about Lumina is that it's unintentionally funny (and weird in a bad way), and, like Showgirls, Sharknado, and others, it could pivot its awfulness toward becoming a cult classic to viewers who understand it for what it is.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lumina's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are vaping and drinking depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Why are many people so interested in the idea of alien abductions? Do you believe that they're real? Why or why not?
Is this movie "so bad it's good"? What are the qualifications for a movie to qualify in that category?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 12, 2024
- Cast: Rupert Lazarus , Sidney Nicole Rogers , Andrea Tivadar
- Director: Gino McKoy
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Female actors
- Studio: Goldove
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Space and Aliens
- Run time: 112 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some language and violent content
- Last updated: July 11, 2024
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