The film was re-released on September 20, 2024, after an initial release in July 2024.[5] The film has garnered a cult following internationally since its release in theaters.
Plot
Alex, a wealthy young man, hosts a party at his mansion to introduce his new girlfriend, Tatiana, to his close friends. Among the guests are Patricia, a free-spirited videographer, and Delilah, Alex's ex-girlfriend who still harbors feelings for him. Tensions rise when Delilah arrives uninvited, leading to awkward interactions. Despite the underlying strain.
As the night unfolds, a sudden and blinding light engulfs the area. In an instant, Tatiana vanishes without a trace, leaving the group in shock. The authorities are unable to provide answers, and Tatiana's disappearance remains a mystery.
Months pass, and Alex becomes consumed by Tatiana's disappearance. He grows increasingly unstable, immersing himself in online conspiracy theories and UFO forums. Convinced that Tatiana was abducted by extraterrestrial beings and is being held in a Deep Underground Military Base (DUMB), Alex becomes determined to rescue her. He reaches out to George, an old acquaintance with similar beliefs, and convinces Patricia and Delilah to join him on a perilous journey to uncover the truth.
The group travels from Los Angeles to the deserts of Morocco, following leads that point to the existence of a secret underground facility. Along the way, they encounter Thom, a self-proclaimed alien abduction expert who claims to have insider knowledge about government conspiracies and extraterrestrial life. Thom reveals that he possesses a spaceship hidden in his shed and has previously worked with secret government agencies.
As they delve deeper into the desert, the group experiences a series of bizarre and terrifying events. They are pursued by mysterious lights in the sky, encounter strange creatures, and face hostile forces determined to keep the secrets of the DUMB hidden. The line between reality and hallucination blurs as they confront their deepest fears.
Within the underground facility, the group uncovers horrifying experiments conducted on humans and aliens alike. They witness grotesque scenes of mutilation and genetic manipulation, revealing the extent of the government's involvement in extraterrestrial research. The facility is filled with eerie hallways, advanced weaponry, and monstrous creatures that defy explanation.
As the group attempts to escape, they are confronted by the full force of the facility's defenses. In a desperate bid for survival, they must navigate treacherous terrain, evade deadly traps, and confront the horrifying truth about Tatiana's fate. The journey tests their sanity and forces them to confront the unimaginable.
In 2020, SAG-AFTRA instructed its members to avoid working on the film Lumina, which allegedly failed to comply with required COVID-19 safety standards as per the union's Global Rule One, making it one of the few movies to proceed without union support.[9][10][11]
Filming
Lumina was filmed in Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Agafay, and the Atlas Mountains areas of Morocco.[12] The sci-fi sets were built at the CLA studios in Ouarzazate.[11] Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the production was able to navigate the obstacles and proceed with filming.[13]
Senior contributor and editor for Forbes, Marc Berman, writes, "In shades of Stranger Things, there are mysterious human and extraterrestrial forces beyond comprehension in the search for Tatiana in Lumina. Blending elements of psychological thrillers, science fiction, and horror, the set designs and special effects enhance the narrative. Lumina is the first science fiction entry to be shot in Morocco, particularly in the mountainous regions of Marrakech and Ouarzazate, providing it with a distinct cinematic appearance."[17]
Writing for US Weekly, Natalie Kabenge describes Lumina as "the modern day cult classic" and calls it "a mind-bending and emotional cinematic experience."[18]
Extra TV, in a review, writes, "Despite quickly building an international cult following after its theatrical debut — with 120 million-plus views — the film's journey to the big screen was nearly cut short, with only 102 screens — far fewer than the contracted 1,000-plus." They further write: "Defying all odds and overcoming the gauntlet of bad luck, it's a story so out of this world that some fans are asking for a spin-off based on the controversial events."[19]
Kecia Gayle of Hollywood Unlocked praised the movie and wrote "this is the movie many critics claim is the new cult classic on the block. There's no exaggeration there because it really punches way above its weight".[20]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film zero out of four stars and wrote, "There are bad movies, there are really bad movies, and then there's Lumina, 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 like it was either produced by A.I. or Google Translate of a script written in another language?"[21]
Michael Nordine of Variety also gave the film a negative review, writing, "Its ambitions are lofty, but they're also undermined at nearly every turn by chintzy visual effects that prove more distracting than immersive and uniformly wooden performances. It wants to be a space opera but is closer to a soap opera, albeit one that would air on Syfy rather than CBS."[22]
Controversy and lawsuit
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Goldove claims it invested over $4 million in marketing Lumina after being assured by Wild About Movies that the film would be shown in over a thousand prime-location theaters with favorable show times. The spending covered social media ads, billboards, metro station promotions in major cities, special events, and a sweepstakes featuring a $50,000 space rover from the film.[23][24]
The lawsuit states that Goldove was promised Lumina would screen on at least 300 AMC screens and 500 Regal and Cinemark screens.[23]
The complaint claims the film was shown in far fewer theaters than promised, often in remote locations, at off-peak times, and only for brief runs.[23]
Under the agreement, Wild About Movies would earn $275,000 if Lumina opened on 1,500 screens, with no payment due for fewer than 750; however, Nasson says he still received $50,000 despite the threshold not being met.[23]
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