When the sudden appearance of lights from the sky causes his girlfriend to disappear, Alex and his friends embark on a quest to find her. Their journey soon leads them to a deep underground military base where they encounter government agents and an alien menace that threatens their lives.
“Lumina” begins with an intriguing premise but unfortunately descends into absurdity. The film opens with a group of friends – Alex (Rupert Lazarus), Tatiana (Eleanor Williams), Delilah (Andrea Tivadar), and Patricia (Sidney Nicole Rogers) – gathering at Alex’s home for a pool party. As the night concludes, a mysterious event occurs: a blinding white light envelops Tatiana as she swims, and she vanishes into thin air. The subsequent months see Alex grieving Tatiana’s disappearance until he seeks the help of George (Ken Lawson), a conspiracy theorist and old friend, who suggests that Alex’s loss may be connected to alien abductions. Along with Delilah and Patricia, who are apprehensive but join the investigation, Alex and George embark on a journey that takes them across the globe, through alternate dimensions, and into the vastness of space, challenging their perceptions of reality and pushing the boundaries of human understanding.
The cinematography by Raquel Gallego and Larry Smith is a highlight, capturing the film’s events in beautiful widescreen, immersing the viewer in the world of the film and enhancing the sense of realism. However, this technical merit is not enough to redeem the production’s other shortcomings. While some performances, such as that of Sidney Nicole Rogers, show potential, the cast is largely comprised of actors whose presence seems based more on physical appearance than acting ability. This is particularly disappointing when the script is as flawed as it is here, making the film a chore to watch. The misleading inclusion of Eric Roberts, who appears briefly and contributes little, further adds to the frustration.
Writer-director Gino McKoy’s script for “Lumina” raises numerous questions that are left unanswered, leading to a narrative that becomes increasingly disjointed and nonsensical as the film progresses. McKoy clearly aims to craft a thought-provoking sci-fi drama akin to Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar,” exploring complex themes and mind-bending concepts that challenge viewers and leave a lasting impact. Sadly, “Lumina” ultimately falls short of this ambitious goal due to its convoluted plot and lack of resolution. Unlike more successful films in the genre, such as Robert Zemeckis’ “Contact,” “Lumina” fails to provide a coherent or meaningful conclusion, frustrating audiences seeking an intellectually stimulating cinematic experience. The film’s characters are given profound mysteries to unravel, but the audience is denied the catharsis of watching those mysteries solved. I hope he will strive for a more focused, grounded approach to storytelling in his future work, whether in the sci-fi genre or other realms he chooses to explore. With greater attention to narrative clarity and resolution, McKoy could create a film that not only dazzles with its premise but also satisfies with its execution.
In Theaters Friday, July 12th
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