In many sci-fi thrillers, the existence of aliens functions as a reliable plot device. Need an apt metaphor for living in fear of wide-sweeping ideologies? Tune into The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Looking for a film centered on domestic tensions that only heighten once an unplanned visitor arrives? Watch Color Out of Space. Now and again, however, a movie like Cosmic Dawn comes along and genuinely asks, If we learn that aliens exist, would that change how we live on Earth? Written and directed by Jefferson Moneo, Cosmic Dawn brings wonder back to science-fiction with plenty of neon, upbeat techno, and an intriguing mystery.
Cosmic Dawn centers its sci-fi mystery on Aurora (Camille Rowe), a young woman who believes she witnessed her mother's alien abduction when she was a child. For most of her life, her aunt Caroline (Vickie Papavs) tried to convince Aurora this event was all in her head -- even committing her to a psychiatric hospital when she was younger. After a run-in with Elyse's (Antonia Zegers) UFO cult, though, Aurora joins their commune. She believes she is one step closer to reuniting with her mother, even if she's not sure how this will happen.
Hands down, the best part about Cosmic Dawn is how much the production commits to visually building its world. Production designer Danielle Sahota crafts an intricately nuanced setting for The Cosmic Dawn cult that toes the line between a cozy Doctor Who episode and a rave in the uncanny valley. The film's unique tone is amplified by Alan Howarth's (Halloween III, Big Trouble in Little China) musical score that injects equal amounts of tension and serotonin into the sci-fi thriller. Whether or not you believe in Aurora's quest, it'll be hard to look away from its glittery neon rays or not fall into step with the film's catchy beats -- with added and equally hypnotizing techno-pop tracks from the Grammy-winning MGMT.
As for the movie's mystery, Moneo takes a storytelling risk by unraveling Aurora's story from two timelines. We see a world-weary Aurora four years into the future almost as much we see a listless and desperate Aurora four years into the past. As the two storyline threads come together, the audience sees just how far The Cosmic Dawn cult will go to reunite with aliens. While Cosmic Dawn eventually lands on a definite answer about whether or not aliens exist in this world, the film carefully ensures its outcome isn't obvious. Likely, audiences will come to expect something else entirely from Moneo and might be taken aback at its refreshing ending.
Although Camille Rowe's Aurora easily captures a wide range of nail-biting emotions, it's Emmanuelle Chriqui (Superman and Lois) that steals the show as Natalie. Once Aurora meets Natalie, a firm believer in The Cosmic Dawn, she's equally transfixed by Natalie's devout devotion and air of mystery. Viewers too will easily find themselves following Natalie's explanations surrounding the cult's lore and craving more screen-time from her.
At the center of the film is a pretty hard question to answer, In what light does belief look different from madness? Thankfully, the film doesn't attempt to lean too much into the use of mental illness to define the divine cosmos. Some audiences, however, might find the film's use of things like hallucinations and psychotic symptoms to be in poor taste. Alien interference and psychotic episodes are not the same thing; however, the film mostly connects them as a way to discuss the frustration of other people not believing your experiences and feelings. In that light, Cosmic Dawn succeeds in creating a world that truly believes someone else is listening in the universe and explores how this fact could forever alter our lives.
Enter the dazzling neon world of Cosmic Dawn, debuting in theaters and on VOD on Feb. 11.