📝 Synopsis
Overview
In a grim, overpopulated future where a one-child policy is brutally enforced, What Happened to Monday (titled Seven Sisters in some markets) presents a high-concept sci-fi thriller. Released in 2017, the film blends dystopian world-building with intense action and a compelling family drama at its core. With a standout performance by Noomi Rapace playing multiple roles, the film explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the extremes of governmental control. While it received a mixed critical reception, its gripping premise and relentless pace have secured it a dedicated audience among fans of the genre.
Plot Synopsis (NO SPOILERS)
The year is 2073. Overpopulation and famine have led to a global crisis, prompting a ruthless governmental body, the Child Allocation Bureau, to institute the Child Quota Act. Enforced by the formidable Nicolette Cayman (Glenn Close), the law mandates that each family is allowed only one child. All subsequent siblings are captured and placed in cryogenic sleep until resources improve.
Against this bleak backdrop, a man named Terrence Settman (Willem Dafoe) is left to care for his newborn septuplet granddaughters after their mother dies in childbirth. Defying the law, he names them after the days of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—and raises them in secret within his fortified apartment. He trains them to act as one single person, Karen Settman. Each sister can leave their home only on her assigned day, adopting Karen's appearance, mannerisms, and life. Their existence depends on perfect synchronization and absolute secrecy.
This delicate system of survival is shattered when Monday fails to return home one evening. As the sisters investigate her disappearance from within the confines of their home, they begin to unravel a conspiracy far greater than they imagined. The authorities are closing in, trust among the siblings fractures under immense pressure, and each sister must use her unique personality and skills to find their missing sibling while protecting their collective secret. The film becomes a tense race against time, asking not only "what happened to Monday?" but also whether the bond of sisterhood can withstand the ultimate test.
Cast and Characters
The film's casting is its most notable technical achievement. Noomi Rapace delivers a tour-de-force performance, portraying all seven Settman sisters. She skillfully differentiates each sibling through distinct body language, speech patterns, and personalities—from the disciplined and responsible Monday to the more impulsive and aggressive Thursday. Rapace carries the film's emotional and action-driven weight, making each sister feel like a separate character.
Glenn Close brings a chilling, bureaucratic menace to Nicolette Cayman, the head of the Child Allocation Bureau. Her performance is not one of a cartoonish villain, but of a true believer in her cause, which makes her all the more terrifying. Willem Dafoe provides the emotional anchor as Terrence Settman, the grandfather whose love and rigorous training are the foundation of the sisters' lives. The supporting cast, including Christian Rubeck as a sympathetic colleague and Cameron Jack as a key enforcer for Cayman, solidifies the film's oppressive world.
Director and Style
Directed by Tommy Wirkola (known for Dead Snow and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters), the film showcases a sleek, cold visual aesthetic that perfectly complements its dystopian setting. The cinematography emphasizes sterile government offices, crowded public spaces, and the claustrophobic yet homey sanctuary of the sisters' apartment. Wirkola's background in genre filmmaking is evident in the well-choreographed and often brutal action sequences, which are grounded by the high personal stakes for the characters.
The film's style relies heavily on visual effects and editing to realize its core premise. Seamless split-screen and body-double techniques allow Rapace to interact with herself, creating believable dynamics between the sisters. The pacing is relentless, driving the mystery forward with a series of escalating set pieces and revelations that maintain a high level of tension throughout its runtime.
Themes and Impact
At its heart, What Happened to Monday is a film about identity and individuality within a system designed to erase them. The sisters, forced to share a single identity, struggle with their own desires and the needs of the collective. The film questions what we sacrifice for survival and where the line is between protecting society and committing atrocity in its name, embodied in the debate over the Child Quota Act.
The theme of sisterhood and family is paramount. The bond between the siblings is their greatest strength and their potential weakness. The film explores how shared trauma and secrets can both unite and divide. While not a major box office hit, the film has found a solid audience on streaming platforms, resonating for its inventive premise and Rapace's committed performance. It stands as an entertaining, thought-provoking entry in the dystopian sci-fi canon, often sparking debate about its ethical dilemmas and final act.
Why Watch
Watch What Happened to Monday for a compelling, high-stakes sci-fi thriller built on a brilliantly simple "what if?" premise. It is worth viewing alone for Noomi Rapace's remarkable performance(s), which is a masterclass in creating distinct characters. If you enjoy dystopian narratives like Children of Men or the tense, puzzle-box mystery of films like The Game, this film offers a satisfying blend of both.
The action is gritty and consequential, the world-building is efficiently established, and the central mystery will keep you guessing. While some plot mechanics may require a suspension of disbelief, the film's emotional core—the love and conflict between the sisters—remains powerfully grounded. It's a fast-paced, engaging movie that delivers both spectacle and a poignant story about what it means to be an individual in a world that demands conformity.