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"There are bad movies, there are really bad movies, and then there’s Lumina," writes film critic Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com in his 0-star review, just one of many critiques of what may be the worst film of 2024. The sci-fi movie Lumina ostensibly follows Alex and his friends after flashes of bright lights lead to the disappearance of Alex's girlfriend. The group journeys through the desert and an underground military base, realizing that they're getting closer to a big alien conspiracy. Of course, it's difficult to parse this out from the incoherent filmmaking.

Tallerico continued in his review of Lumina, saying, "[It's] 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...

After the Covid-19 pandemic hampered its rollout of sci-fi thriller Lumina, Goldove Entertainment opted to handle distribution itself instead of working with a sales agent. Plans included creating dozens of life-sized standees to advertise the movie, conducting a sweepstakes with tens of thousands of dollars in prizes and hiring a company that could get the film into theaters. At the end of the day, it spent roughly $4 million on marketing for a title it hoped to make at least $20 million the opening week.

On Monday, Goldove Entertainment sued distribution partner Wild About Movies, which allegedly lied about the number of theaters that would show the movie, for fraud and breach of contract. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, faults the company for the film’s underwhelming box office performance and seeks damages equivalent to its marketing spend.

Wild About Movies chief executive Timothy Nasson denied the accusations and...

In the wake of an alien abduction, a group of friends go out in search of the truth in Lumina, the new sci-fi/horror/romance road flick from Gino McKoy, who writes, directs, produces, and serves as co-composer and VFX Supervisor on the film, among other hats. Shot entirely in Morocco, Lumina makes up for its low budget with its breadth of imagination and willingness to throw caution to the wind and just let the story unfold across as many genres and tonal shifts as it may encompass.

Lumina boasts an ensemble cast anchored by the always-game Eric Roberts. Alex, the lead character, is portrayed by Rupert Lazarus, but he's backed up by a group of friends played by Ken Lawson (Moesha), Andrea Tivadar, and Sidney Nicole Rogers (Maya), each of whom add some variety to the adventure.

Related Nycc 2024: Lumina Director Mixes Sci-Fi, Romance & Horror In A Cinematic...

Genres collide in Lumina, the new science-fiction/romance/horror/comedy hybrid from musician-turned-filmmaker Gino McKoy. The film follows Alex (Rupert Lazarus) and his friends as they search for his missing girlfriend, who was abducted by aliens. Their search takes them around the globe and culminates in a meeting with a mysterious man, played by Eric Roberts, who has answers they need but could never have expected.

Getting Lumina off the ground was no easy feat, and its behind-the-scenes story, of Covid-related delays, cast and crew turnover, and on-location shooting woes, might arguably be more interesting than the film itself. Gino McKoy wrote, directed, and produced Lumina, in addition to co-composing the soundtrack and serving as visual effects supervisor. He also composed and performed several original songs written just for the film.

Related Lumina Review: Brazenly Absurd Science Fiction Thriller Makes For One Of The WIldest Movies Of The Year

At...

The idea that there is life beyond Earth is a commonly held belief. For director Gino McKoy, conversations with friends and family helped spur his willingness to investigate extraterrestrial phenomena. His new feature, Lumina, hit theaters on July 12th, 2024, and hopes to increase conversation about the topic. Lumina stars Eric Roberts, one of Hollywood’s hardest-working actors and a veteran of big and small-budget movies alike. McKoy and Roberts sat down with FandomWire to open up about Lumina and its importance in the discourse.

Suggested“All the stuff I had heard about him was not true”: The Dark Knight Star Was Warned to Stay Away From Heath Ledger While Playing Joker Eric Roberts on His Role in Lumina

Eric Roberts remains one of the hardest-working actors in Hollywood. After breaking through in the mainstream with Bob Fosse’s Star 80, he became a character actor in the years that followed.

There are very few movies that have made me sit in deep reflection after viewing, hands clasped and eyes wide, wondering what in the hell I have just witnessed. For better or worse, some stories stick with you, and this debut feature by Gino McKoy is a truly bizarre film that you have to see to believe. Lumina is marketed as a horror-thriller but is more of a part road trip, part government conspiracy, and part accidentally hilarious space romp, featuring four dim-witted besties on an ill-fated mission to save their friend after an alien abduction. Sure to leave you with burning questions like Are aliens real?, Whose severed head is that?, and Can I get my money back?, if you dare to embark on the journey, Lumina is a viewing experience that will be remembered for light-years to come.

The story in Lumina is bizarre and incoherent, with missing scenes and poor CGI. The editing is terrible, with excessive Adr and a disappointing quality overall. Despite catchy music, Lumina falls short with unpolished visuals and unresolved plot points.

There's a character in Gino McKoy's second feature film, Lumina (2024) , who is meant to serve as comic relief, as indicated by his bucket hat, square glasses, and Alice-like love of descending internet rabbit holes. Unfortunately, George (Ken Lawson) is not funny, and yet I found myself laughing often throughout the first two-thirds of this science fiction horror film. About every 20 minutes in this overlong film, something so absurd and garbled occurs that it snatches an honest belly laugh.

Lumina (2024)

Director Gino McKoyRelease Date July 12, 2024Writers Gino McKoyCast Hami Belal, Emily Hall, Andrea Tivadar, Ken Lawson, Sidney Nicole Rogers, Rupert Lazarus, Eleanor Williams, Eric RobertsRuntime 120 MinutesGenres Sci-Fi, HorrorMain Genre Sci-Fi

Lumina is an impressively incoherent film.

Talking Strange host Aaron Sagers visited the premiere of the alien abduction inspired Lumina to talk to the creatives behind the sci-fi film, which releases widely in theaters today.

“Lumina just had its premiere at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Los Angeles, California. The sci-fi flick by writer/director Gino McKoy explores what would happen to the loved ones of individuals who were abducted by aliens. Joining McKoy are actor Ken Lawson and producer David Seychell, who spoke to Aaron about the project!”

Listen on Spotify

Fans of Outlander can finally have a glimpse at the back half of season 7, and an announced spinoff series isn’t far behind.

“[Starz] has announced a bunch of new TV shows and premiere dates at the 2024 Television Critics Association (TCA) summer press tour. But let’s be real, nothing screams Starz more than its claim-to-fame in recent years: the sexy period drama Outlander.

One of this year’s most hotly anticipated horror movies finally arrives in theaters this weekend, and it’s joined by seven other brand new horrors being unleashed in theaters and at home.

Here’s all the new horror releasing July 8, 2024 – July 14, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

Russell Crowe (The Pope’s Exorcist) stars in the new possession horror movie The Exorcism, which Vertical brought to Digital at home this week. You can rent the film for $19.99.

Joshua John Miller, who wrote 2015’s The Final Girls and also starred in films including Near Dark and And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird, directed The Exorcism.

Joshua John Miller also wrote the script with M.A. Fortin (The Final Girls). This one is personal for Miller, as his late father was the star of the best possession movie ever made.

“The Exorcism follows Anthony Miller (Crowe...

"Would you risk everything for the one you love?" That question is at the center of Lumina, a new sci-fi thriller from writer / director Gino McKoy. Ahead of the films theatircal release on Friday, we have an exclusive clip you can watch right now!

"A terrifying sci-fi thrill ride, Lumina follows four friends desperately searching for their abductee friend in a Dumb - Deep Underground Military Base. Whether they find their friend or not, what they find in the desert of the US to the sands of the Sahara, will change their lives forever.

Patricia, a free-spirited Nubian hippie and amateur videographer, is staying at the house of her rich friend, Alex, who decides to throw a party that reunites old friends and introduces them to his new girl, Tatiana. The night seems destined for drama when he invites Delilah, an old girlfriend who doesn’t hide her feelings for him.

As has been the case most of the year, any weekend with a big movie tends to be followed by a lighter weekend with a bunch of odds and ends, and that’s the case this weekend as well. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

As “Despicable Me 4” and “Inside Out 2” continue to dominate, we get a number of smaller movies, even though one of them has two major A-list stars working together in a genre that hasn’t been particularly well represented in theaters this summer … the comedy.

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in the historic rom-com “Fly Me to the Moon” with Johansson playing marketing expert Kelly Jones, who is called upon by the government – specifically by Woody Harrelson – to help get the country excited about the USA putting a man on the moon. Tatum plays launch director Cole Davis, who is...

Director Gino McKoy describes the upcoming Lumina as a film that explores “the psychological effect of losing someone to an alien abduction,” and it’s coming to theaters this summer.

You’ll be able to experience the abduction for yourself in theaters July 12, 2024.

“A terrifying sci-fi thrill ride, Lumina follows four friends desperately searching for their abductee friend in a Deep Underground Military Base. Whether they find their friend or not, what they find in the desert of the US to the sands of the Sahara, will change their lives forever.”

In his feature directing debut, Gino McKoy leads a cast that includes Eric Roberts, Rupert Lazarus, Eleanor Williams, Andrea Tivadar, Sidney Nicole Rogers, Ken Lawson, and Emily Hall.

Here’s the full plot synopsis for the upcoming Lumina…

“Patricia, a free-spirited Nubian hippie and amateur videographer, is staying at the house of her rich friend, Alex, who decides to...

"Embrace the darkness. Fear the light." Goldove has revealed an official trailer for Lumina, an indie sci-fi horror thriller from filmmaker Gino McKoy. Set for release in July this summer, this looks like an ambitious indie film. A terrifying sci-fi thrill ride, Lumina follows four friends desperately searching for their abductee friend in a Dumb - Deep Underground Military Base. Whether they find their friend or not, what they find in the desert of the US to the sands of the Sahara, will change their lives forever. Lumina also incorporates elements of action and comedy, aiming to add more emotional depth into the science fiction genre. Starring Ken Lawson, Eric Roberts, Emily Hall, Rupert Lazarus, Eleanor Williams, Andrea Tivadar, and Sidney Nicole Rogers. There's so much going on in here, so many different ideas and visuals and twists, it almost seems like they've bit off more than they could chew.

Alongside the premiere of the sci-fi film Lumina (hosted by Aaron Sagers of Talking Strange) is your chance to win your very own space rover Atv from the movie!

Lumina is a heartfelt journey filled with suspense and dangers as four friends desperately search everywhere for their abducted companion, from the deserts of the US to the sands of the Sahara. Directed and written by Gino McKoy, the film stars Eric Roberts, Emily Hall, Andrea Tivadar, Ken Lawson, and others.

To enter the giveaway, either purchase an advance ticket code or share the film trailer on your social media with the hashtags #sweepstakesentry #embracethedarkness and #fearthelight, tagging @luminathemovie. Mail-in entry also available; more details at the website below. Win a space rover Atv or one of five $10,000 prizes!

Read more at Lumina.film

Resvlts is proud to announce a brand new selection of stylish clothing inspired by One Piece. Anime fans rejoice!

Monsters and other unspeakable terrors typically hide in the darkness, but in writer-director Gino McKoy's new sci-fi horror Lumina, the scariest things make their home in the light. Collider is excited to exclusively share the trailer for the upcoming film that offers a peek into the accursed trip of a group of friends and conspiracy theorists into the desert to find the infamous Area 51 and get some much-needed answers. All that awaits them, however, is a dark rabbit hole full of disturbing revelations and interstellar encounters that leave them forever changed. Starring Requiem's Rupert Lazarus as the heartbroken and determined Alex, the film is set to arrive in over 1,000 theaters across the U.S. on July 12.

Exclusive: Emily Hall (Lumina) and David Kelsey (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) are set to star in Wrong Numbers, an indie drama marking the feature directorial debut of Duane Edwards, which will head into production in Chicago in early May.

The film’s events are set in motion by a disastrous blind date on the part of Emma (Hall) at an upscale Chicago restaurant. The beautiful twenty-something subsequently strikes up an essential conversation with Jack (Kelsey), a happily married, middle-aged and very successful businessman who is seated at another table, having just finished up a business dinner. Emma and Jack thereafter stumble into an intense one-night stand that turns into something more complicated and destructive than either of them could have expected.

Edwards will direct from a script by Frederick Mensch (HBO Films’ Nightingale), also co-producing along with producers Phil Lee, Darryl Manuel and David Kelsey and Heather Sederquist’s Big Wheel Entertainment.

Goldove Entertainment’s latest sci-fi thriller, “Lumina” has been acquired by Porter+Craig Film and Media, and is set to premiere with a wide-release theatrical campaign this summer.

Gino McKoy wrote and directed the film the filmmaker and shot it entirely in Morocco.

“Lumina” follows Alex, whose relationship with his dream girl Tatiana ends in a flash of a blinding light. Completely traumatized by the situation, Alex desperately sets off with his friends and conspiracy theorists to discover what really happened to his girlfriend. While traveling through the desert, Alex and his friends are faced with the unexpected, pushing the group to fight for their lives.

“Lumina” stars Eric Roberts, Rupert Lazarus as Alex and Eleanor Williams as Tatiana, with additional cast members hailing from Hollywood to London. The film is produced by David Seychell, Gino, Lynda and Hudson McKoy. Academy Award-winning editor Thom Nobel serves as the production’s editor.

In today’s film news roundup, Paramount puts Tyler Perry and Michael Bay on “I Am Yours,” sci-fi thriller “Lumina” gets distribution and Matthew Rauch and Zina Wilde join “Chase the Ace.”

Project Launched

Paramount Pictures is launching development on the thriller “I Am Yours” and has set the project up with Tyler Perry and Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller.

The studio acquired the spec script from the writing team of Ryan Belenzon and Jeffrey Gelber. The logline is under wraps besides that it involves a stalking element in the vein of “Fatal Attraction.”

Perry, best known for the Madea movies, is in post-production on “Nobody’s Fool,” starring Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter, with Paramount planning a Nov. 2 release. Platinum Dunes produced “A Quiet Place” for Paramount and “The First Purge,” which Universal opens July 4.

Belenzon and Gelbers wrote Roger Clemens biopic “The Rocket,...

The producers behind the upcoming $45-55m action thriller to star Olga Kurylenko are in discussions with sales agents and North American distributors.

The film currently does not have a sales agent. Last month Screendaily reported Hong Kong-based All Rights Entertainment was on board, however producer Lynda McKoy said that was not the case and no agreement had been signed. Screendaily is happy to set the record straight.

Little Mizz Innocent is set to begin pre-production in early 2016 in Canada, Austria, South Africa and China in time for a 2017 release.

Co-producers are Chris Roland of South Africa-based Zen-hq and European partner Raphael Benoliel of France’s First Step.

Christopher Plummer, Carrie Anne Moss and Tyrese Gibson will also star and Xavier Gens is attached to direct from a screenplay by Gino McKoy about a seemingly innocent Un interpreter caught in a war between the FBI and a criminal dynasty.

Lynda McKoy of Toronto and Los Angeles-based Goldove...

Hong Kong-based All Rights Entertainment will kick off sales on the $45-55m Goldove Entertainment action thriller also starring Christopher Plummer, Carrie Anne Moss and Tyrese Gibson.

Xavier Gens is attached to direct from a screenplay by Gino McKoy that will see Kurylenko play a seemingly innocent Un interpreter caught in a war between the FBI and a criminal dynasty.

Production is scheduled to begin in early 2016 on the project, described by the producers as Canada’s most expensive independent feature.

The shoot will take place in Canada, Austria, South Africa and China in time for a 2016 release. Goldove launched in Toronto in 2004 and has offices in Los Angeles.

Little Mizz Innocent

Olga Kurylenko ("Quantum of Solace," "To the Wonder") has signed on to star in Marc Forby's upcoming action-thriller "Little Mizz Innocent".

Gino McKoy penned the script in which Kurylenko plays a U.N. interpreter who gets caught in a power struggle between the FBI and a ruthless criminal dynasty. [Source: Deadline]

Miles Ahead

Keith Stanfield ("Short Term 12") will join Don Cheadle and Ewan McGregor in the Miles Davis movie "Miles Ahead" which will be Cheadle's feature directorial debut. Shooting begins next month in Cincinnati.

The story chronicles a few dangerous days in Davis’ life as the jazz icon (Cheadle) teams with a Rolling Stone journalist (McGregor) to hunt down a stolen recording intended to reignite his career. Stanfield will play Junior, an edgy but impressionable trumpet player involved in the theft. [Source: The Wrap]

Spectral

Bruce Greenwood ("Star Trek," "Thirteen Days") and Clayne Crawford ("24," "Justified") have locked in roles in...

Olga Kurylenko has signed on to star in the upcoming indie thriller Little Mizz Innocent.

The former Bond girl will play a Un interpreter who gets involved with the FBI's investigation of a crime family, according to Deadline.

Princess Kaiulani director Marc Forby is set to helm the movie, based on a script by Gino McKoy.

The film begins shooting this summer in the UK, Toronto, and China.

Kurylenko is best known for her roles in To the Wonder, Oblivion, and Vampire Academy.

She will soon be seen opposite Pierce Brosnan in November Man.

Watch a teaser for The November Man below:...

Olga Kurylenko has signed on to star in the upcoming action-thriller Little Mizz Innocent.

The story centers on a United Nations interpreter (Olga Kurylenko) who gets caught in a power struggle between the FBI and a ruthless criminal dynasty.

Marc Forby (Princess Kaiulani) is directing from a screenplay by Gino McKoy. The project is the first feature film for the new company Goldlove Entertainment, a film and music company founded by former banking professionals Hudson McKoy and Lynda McKoy, the parents of screenwriter Gino McKoy, who will all serve as producers on the project.

Olga Kurylenko most recently starred in Vampire Academy, and she will next be seen in The November Man and The Water Diviner.

Little Mizz Innocent is in development and stars Olga Kurylenko. The film is directed by Marc Forby.