For many who determined that studio flicks like “Madame Internet” or “Insurgent Moon” had been among the many worst movie of 2024, do I’ve some excellent news for you: they weren’t even shut. Some courageous critics, and even braver explorers of the deep trenches of 2024’s cinematic choices might have far more dire tales for you, telling tales of Neil Marshall’s dumb actioner “The Duchess,” or Sean McNamara’s embarrassing deification of Ronald Reagan in “Reagan.” Have you ever even heard of the Nick Frost horror sitcom spoof “Krazy Home,” or the Netflix Biblical drama “Mary”?
The above-mentioned movies all have one factor in frequent: they had been voted among the many ten worst movies of the 12 months, as gauged by Metacritic. Metacritic, for many who do not go to the web site, is a movie evaluate aggregator. The positioning gathers collectively a number of professionally written critiques and boils every one all the way down to a rating of 1 to 100. It then calculates the typical rating throughout all its collected critiques, getting a basic sense of whether or not or not a movie was reviewed positively or negatively. Like Rotten Tomatoes, it is hardly scientific — movie opinions will not be a science — nevertheless it’s a great way to get a really extensive concept of how the important group is responding to one thing.
On the subject of the worst-reviewed movies of the 12 months, nevertheless, one stands out under all the remaining. Gino J.H. McKoy’s sci-fi thriller “Lumina” starring Eric Roberts. Metacritic’s aggregator discovered that “Lumina” racked up a mean rating of six out of 100 (based mostly on solely 4 critiques). As a result of its critiques had been all deemed destructive, “Lumina” additionally has an unenviable 0% approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Lumina” is being supplied at no cost from Amazon, in the event you join a free trial. It nonetheless is probably not definitely worth the cash.
What the heck is Lumina?
Not solely was “Lumina” poorly reviewed, nevertheless it was made below sketchy circumstances. The filmmakers shot it in 2020, and did not abide by COVID-19 security protocols. SAG and different unions warned actors and different filmmakers to keep away from “Lumina.” In consequence, the movie was made with out SAG, WGA, or DGA assist.
The movie wasn’t extensively marketed, and opened on 200 screens in the course of July 2024. When it bombed with solely $23,000, its manufacturing firm Goldove sued distributor Wild About Motion pictures (and its CEO Timothy Nasson) for mishandling the movie. The promoting price range for “Lumina” was about $4 million unto itself. The lawsuit, in keeping with the Hollywood Reporter, alleged that “Lumina” was promised 300 screens at AMC Theaters and 500 extra at Regal Cinemas. It fell in need of that promise, and Goldove took Nasson to courtroom.
“Lumina” is a sci-fi thriller a few character named Alex (Rupert Lazarus) who finds himself swept up in a romantic drama involving his girlfriend Tatiana (Eleanor Williams) and his ex Deliah (Andrea Tivada). When Tatiana is seemingly kidnapped by aliens, Alex, despondent, gathers Deliah, in addition to his buddies Patricia (Sidney Nicole Rogers) and George (Ken Lawson) to research her disappearance. Eric Roberts performs the conspiracy theorist who gives the movie with a short exposition dump.
In accordance with Brian Tallerico’s zero-star evaluate on RogerEbert.com, “Lumina” is a particular sort of unhealthy. It is so totally horrible, so incompetently made, so illogically informed, that it deserves to be talked about with infamous stinkers like “The Room,” or “Birdemic: Shock and Terror.” Michael Nordine, writing for Selection, was barely extra beneficiant, saying that “Lumina” truly had honorable intentions, however that its terrible script and wood performances undermined any potential drama.
Who’s Gino J.H. McKoy?
“Lumina” was a ardour undertaking from filmmaker Gino J.H. McKoy. He’s credited because the director, author, producer, and musician. Nordine’s evaluate factors out that McKoy additionally authored a number of songs on the soundtrack. This was really the work of a mad auteur, a passionate filmmaker who is not going to be stymied by an absence of assets or, because the critics would describe it, an absence of expertise. “Lumina” ends with an intertitle describing how many individuals are kidnapped by aliens yearly, giving the movie a docu-drama undercurrent that, by its descriptions, it hasn’t earned. McKoy at the least had the great sense to not solid himself within the lead position.
McKoy began his profession writing music, and penned a number of notable FIFA World Cup and Cricket World Cup anthems in 2006 and 2007. He hails from Trinidad, and his first album, “West Indies Without end” was launched in 2004. He moved into characteristic movies in 2015, having written and directed a virtually unknown film referred to as “Little Mizz Harmless,” starring Olga Kurylenko. In accordance with the web site SpyCulture, nevertheless, the movie nonetheless hadn’t secured distribution 4 years later. It appears the FBI had learn the script, though simply to examine its veracity, not as a result of there was something untoward afoot.
McKoy’s second characteristic is “Lumina,” and its standing because the worst movie of 2024 (in keeping with Metacritic, anyway) might catch the attention of unhealthy film lovers the world over. Nobody desires to see a nasty film, however there’s a sure breed of courageous soul who likes to see the Worst Motion pictures of All Time. It is free on Amazon, and anybody who loves digging within the grime might wish to give it a attempt. These on the lookout for a genuinely good sci-fi movie … properly, the critics have warned you.
