What Happened to Monday

What Happened to Monday, released in 2017, is a riveting dystopian sci-fi thriller that takes you on a misadventure into a not-so-distant future, one filled with uncanny policies and a gripping narrative that unveils annals of human survival in an overpopulated world. Directed by Tommy Wirkola and penned by screenwriters Max Botkin and Kerry Williamson, this gripping film stars Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close, and Willem Dafoe in lead roles.

Set in the year 2073, What Happened to Monday tells the tale of an overpopulated Earth due to a genetic modification experiment gone awry, resulting in an undesirable spike in multiple births. The Citizen Allocation Bureau, led by the exacting Nicolette Cayman (Glenn Close), implements an authoritarian one-child policy globally to curb the population explosion. The enforcement of this stringent law ensures that any additional siblings are cryogenically frozen until a solution to overpopulation is found.

Irrefutable in its thrilling essence, the narrative takes an intriguing turn with the introduction of the Settman septuplets, played by Noomi Rapace—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They, defying the one-child policy, manage to coexist covertly in an overpopulated society with the help of their intelligent grandfather, Terrence Settman (Willem Dafoe). Guiding them through a stern and risky life regime, Settman ensures that they survive under the radar, living a collective existence wherein each sibling is allowed to venture into the outside world only one day a week, under the singular shared identity of Karen Settman.

As the title suggests, the premise of "What Happened to Monday" unfurls with the mystery of the missing Monday. The sisters' meticulously established order is thrown into chaos when Monday vanishes without a trace. Driven by a fierce will to survive and anxiety over the disappearance of their sister, the rest of the siblings strive to decipher the enigma of Monday's disappearance. Their investigation plunges them into a whirlwind of perilous circumstances, pitting them against the ominous one-child policy.

Having seven characters portrayed by a single actor may seem challenging, but Noomi Rapace executes this provocation flawlessly. Each with diverse personalities, they depict an extensive range of characteristics and idiosyncrasies. From the stern Monday, nerdy Thursday, spirited Saturday to the rebellious Sunday, Rapace's portrayal of each septuplet is so distinct that it is easy to forget they are all played by the same actor. She delivers an undeniably remarkable performance in this high-stakes sci-fi thriller, reinforcing the theme of individuality in the face of oppressive homogeneity.

On the other side, Glenn Close as Nicolette Cayman offers an impressive, chilling portrayal of an iron-fisted bureaucrat, showing the moral complexity and unnerving certitude of a woman confident she is doing what's best for humanity. Meanwhile, Willem Dafoe, even in his somewhat limited screen time as Terrence Settman, ensures a strong, memorable presence.

Although enveloped in a somber and tense dystopian milieu, the film does not shy away from exploring the undercurrents of sibling love, bonds, and rivalry. The interaction between the siblings paints vivid portraits of their individual natures while holding a mirroring lens to their collective identity as 'Karen Settman.'

What Happened to Monday brilliantly amalgamates elements of dystopia, family drama, and thriller into one wholesome narrative. Coupled with a crackling script and dazzling turns from its cast, particularly a tour-de-force performance by Noomi Rapace, it is a slickly executed film. It sparks thought-provoking questions about human limits, personal liberty, state control, and the complexities of survival.

In conclusion, What Happened to Monday builds up to be more than just a dystopian sci-fi thriller. With its well-knit screenplay, impressive performances, and an enduring sense of suspense, it presents an enthralling narrative that keeps viewers captivated from the opening scene to the very end. Through its intelligent framing of societal norms and individual liberty, this film promises an exhilarating cinematic experience that resonates deeply aplomb.