Netflix continues to deliver compelling and thought-provoking content, and among its impressive catalog is the science fiction film, What Happened to Monday. Released on August 18th, alongside Marvel’s The Defenders, this movie, directed by Tommy Wirkola, the mind behind Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, offers a unique and thrilling cinematic experience. Starring the incredibly talented Noomi Rapace, alongside veteran actors Willem Dafoe and Glenn Close, What Happened to Monday plunges viewers into a dystopian future grappling with the severe consequences of overpopulation.
The film immediately captivates with a stark portrayal of our world teetering on the brink of crisis. Visually arresting montages of overcrowded beaches, withered crops, and starving children paint a grim picture, underscored by somber voice-overs, including excerpts from speeches about climate change. This sets the stage for the film’s central conflict: a world ravaged by environmental changes and overpopulation, leading to critical food shortages. The desperate solution? Genetically modified crops, intended to boost yields, ironically exacerbate the problem by causing a surge in multiple births. This unintended consequence pushes humanity to the edge, forcing the implementation of a draconian “One Child Policy.” Dr. Nicolette Cayman, played with chilling conviction by Glenn Close, spearheads this policy, establishing the Child Allocation Bureau. This organization is tasked with enforcing the policy, collecting second-born and subsequent children to be placed in cryosleep, a supposed temporary measure until the planet can sustain a larger population.
The narrative pivots to a clandestine birth within this oppressive regime. A mother, defying the one-child policy, gives birth to septuplets in secrecy, tragically losing her life in the process. The seven identical daughters are left under the care of their grandfather, Terrance Settman, portrayed by Willem Dafoe. He names them after the days of the week and raises them in complete isolation within a spacious apartment. To survive in a world where their existence is illegal, Terrance devises an ingenious plan. As they reach school age, he trains them to share a single identity: Karen Settman. Each sister assumes this persona on their designated day of the week, venturing into the outside world while remaining confined to their apartment on other days. For thirty years, this elaborate deception works, fraught with tension and near misses. However, their carefully constructed world begins to crumble when Monday mysteriously vanishes after her day out. This disappearance throws the remaining sisters into a desperate and dangerous quest to uncover What Happened To Monday, all while evading the ever-watchful Child Allocation Bureau. The film unfolds as a gripping mystery, packed with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.
Noomi Rapace in What Happened to Monday as Monday, looking determined and focused, against a blurred background.
Noomi Rapace’s performance in What Happened to Monday is nothing short of phenomenal. She masterfully embodies seven distinct personalities, each subtly differentiated yet convincingly part of a unified whole when portraying Karen Settman. The sheer complexity of this role is amplified by the film’s remarkably short 94-day shooting schedule. The technical challenges of filming scenes with one actor playing multiple characters, interacting seamlessly with herself, are immense, making Rapace’s achievement even more impressive. While comparisons to Tatiana Maslany’s acclaimed work in Orphan Black are inevitable, it’s crucial to recognize the distinct premise of What Happened to Monday. The Settman sisters are raised to meticulously maintain a consistent persona as Karen Settman to ensure their survival. This contrasts with the clones in Orphan Black, who, even when impersonating each other, retain their individualistic traits. Rapace’s performance excels within the film’s specific context, delivering a compelling and nuanced portrayal, not just once, but seven times over.
While What Happened to Monday is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining film, it does present a few minor inconsistencies. Questions arise, such as the longevity of a cryosleep commercial and the societal structure of this future world, including the concept of weekends. However, these minor plot holes are easily overlooked in the face of the film’s overall strengths: its fast-paced action, thrilling plot twists, and the compelling emotional core of the sisters’ bond.
In conclusion, What Happened to Monday is a highly recommended watch, especially for fans of dystopian thrillers and those seeking a film with both action and substance. Available on Netflix, it’s a movie that will not only entertain but also prompt reflection on relevant themes of overpopulation and governmental control. Tune into Netflix today and discover what happened to monday for yourself!
