“May you reach The Dawn.”

Consider The X-Files. Now strip away it’s iconic score and replace it with a masterfully done synth concoction. Then, add just a dash of 70’s cheese. Congratulations, you’ve just made Jefferson Moneo’s Cosmic Dawn.

Telling the story of a young girl who witnesses an… “event” at a young age, Cosmic Dawn is both fun, tense, strange, and obvious all in the right amounts. The plot of the film almost certainly won’t stun audiences or leave you guessing, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t great. Dawn’s own awareness at what it’s creating saves it from being a kitschy chore and makes it a very enjoyable ride.

Cosmic Dawn is definitely what I would call a “developmental” film in the sense that you can see all of the cast and crew working and growing throughout. Some of the audio mixing is off, some performances are more convincing than others, certain shots are brilliant while others miss small opportunities, and the whole thing has a very “indie” air to it. These are not digs by any means; I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Cosmic Dawn and can’t wait to see what writer/ director, Jefferson Moneo, and his crew do next. If anything, it makes it more interesting to watch for where the film shines and celebrate it for those strengths rather than mourn it for its weaknesses.

Similar to 2018’s Prospect and 2021’s Censor, Dawn taps into an element of the genre that has been relegated to the bargain bin, but manages to create something engaging and meaningful by piecing it together with more care and love than others in recent history. For fans of genre fare, Cosmic Dawn is a sure hit.

This one won’t be for everyone, but the people it will be for will enjoy it immensely as a kind of “comfort food” film; some great, retro sci-fi. Personally, I could have done with it being a little weirder with less hand holding, but I still think this is a very strong show from a very new creative mind. I rate Dawn a 7.3 against film in general: nothing particularly mind blowing, certainly nothing delinquent, and a few things that were better than average. As a science fiction piece from a budding director though? This is an easy 8 or 9.

If you liked Vivarium or Midnight Special, Dawn will be right up your alley. If you didn’t like those or you need your science fiction to be more Terminator and less Arrival, skip it. Whatever you choose though; know that they’re out there, they’re watching, and that...

“I love you this 🤏 much.”