What Happened to Monday? (2017)

What Happened to Monday? (2017)

7/10

Starring

Noomi Rapace

Willem Dafoe

Glenn Close

Directed by Tommy Wirkola

When a movie is named in the form of a question, you’re left to watch and answer that question: What Happened to Monday? All I knew about this movie was what I saw on the poster—seven sisters—so I assumed something apocalyptic happened on a Monday (the day of the week). Well, that’s not what happened in this movie, I can tell you that with ease.

The movie is playfully exciting, and although seeing a family being killed or torn apart can be very moving, get ready for a ride that will leave you biting your nails from the very moment the question comes to your mind: What happened to Monday?

Here’s a dystopian science fiction thriller, with its dystopian focus on overpopulation, famine, and a forced political law of a one-child policy. The movie dives into its tale head-on. In this future, the world has adopted the one-child policy, and many technological advances have been put in place to ensure every family adheres to it. If a woman becomes pregnant, the child is taken from her and "processed," meaning the child is cared for until a certain age, when they are then placed into cryosleep. Cryosleep is a process people know little to nothing about, except what they’re told.

Unfortunately, a man named Terrence Settman, who hasn’t seen his daughter, Karen Settman, for years, is called to accept his grandchildren. His lost daughter has given birth to seven children—septuplets—and died in the process. He arranges for their identities to be kept secret and decides to name them after the days of the week, with the first being Monday.

He raises the children all by himself, creating a system where each child only gets to leave the house on the day of the week that matches their name. He uses their strengths to pick a career for them in the banking sector, and they continue that process, going to work on their designated day. They all use the single identity of Karen Settman, and while each sibling is unique in their style at home, on their day to go out, everyone dresses and acts like Monday.

To make it easier, they record important aspects of their days to share with the others.

As their lives continue, things become more complex, and many forces begin to threaten the safety of their little nest. If they’re caught, they’ll be placed in cryosleep—or worse—as they’ve evaded detection for thirty years. One Monday, however, Monday doesn’t return from work, causing the others to panic and worry.

Not knowing what has happened to Monday, Tuesday decides to go out on her day to trace Monday’s footsteps. That doesn’t go well, as she’s arrested and taken away, and the others witness it happen via the live feed from her.

Soon, their home is attacked, and the whole family is thrown into chaos. Their secret is out, their lives are in danger, and they still don’t know: What happened to Monday?

The movie is filled with visual effects from the very beginning to the end—effects that are well-executed. I found the cinematography to be a welcome addition to the good scriptwriting, and I can guarantee you’ll enjoy this movie as long as you don’t overthink how plausible it is or focus on the plot holes.