What Happened To Monday: Netflix Movie Explained

Hey guys! Ever stumbled upon a movie on Netflix that just grabs you, throws you into a wild ride, and leaves you with a million questions swirling in your head? Well, What Happened to Monday is definitely one of those! This sci-fi thriller, starring Noomi Rapace in an absolutely stunning performance (or should I say performances?), paints a picture of a dystopian future where overpopulation has led to a drastic, and frankly terrifying, solution. Let's dive deep into this movie, unpack its twists and turns, and try to make sense of exactly what happened.

The Dystopian World of Overpopulation

Okay, so picture this: Earth's resources are stretched thin, and the world is bursting at the seams with people. Governments are in panic mode, desperately trying to figure out how to control the population explosion. That's where the Child Allocation Bureau, or CAB, comes in, led by the ruthless Nicolette Cayman (played brilliantly by Glenn Close). Their solution? A strict one-child policy. Any additional siblings are put into cryosleep, with the promise of being revived when the world can sustain them. Sounds idyllic, right? Yeah, not so much.

This sets the stage for our main characters: the Settman sisters. Identical septuplets born into this oppressive world. Their grandfather, Terrence Settman (Willem Dafoe), makes the audacious decision to keep them all alive, hidden away from the prying eyes of the CAB. He names them after the days of the week – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on – and devises a strict routine: each sister can only go out into the world on her designated day, pretending to be one person: Karen Settman. This allows them to live a relatively normal life, sharing information and supporting each other. It’s a fragile existence built on secrecy and constant vigilance.

But, things are far from perfect. Imagine the psychological toll of living under such constraints. Each sister has her own personality, her own desires, and her own frustrations. They're forced to suppress their individuality, sharing experiences and memories to maintain the illusion of one person. This creates internal conflicts and resentment, bubbling beneath the surface of their carefully constructed facade. The stakes are incredibly high. If they're discovered, it's not just one life that's lost, but seven. The tension is palpable, and you can feel the weight of their secret pressing down on them.

The Illusion of Choice and the Price of Survival

The Settman sisters' lives are a constant balancing act. Each day, the sister designated to go out gathers information, experiences, and any relevant news to share with the others upon her return. This shared experience is vital for maintaining their collective identity as Karen Settman. They learn to mimic each other's mannerisms, voices, and even handwriting to avoid detection. It's a remarkable feat of coordination and discipline, but it comes at a steep price. They have to sacrifice their individual identities, their dreams, and their personal relationships for the sake of survival. This raises some profound questions about the nature of identity, the value of individuality, and the lengths we're willing to go to protect those we love. Are they truly living, or merely existing?

Furthermore, the constant fear of being discovered casts a long shadow over their lives. They live in a state of perpetual anxiety, knowing that one slip-up could unravel everything. The CAB is always watching, and Nicolette Cayman is a formidable adversary. She's a true believer in the one-child policy and will stop at nothing to enforce it. This creates a sense of paranoia and distrust, even within the sisters themselves. They have to constantly question each other's motives and actions, wondering if someone might crack under the pressure and betray the others. It’s a high-stakes game of survival where the rules are constantly changing, and the consequences are deadly.

What Actually Happened to Monday?

The movie kicks into high gear when Monday mysteriously disappears. She leaves for work one day, but never returns. Panic sets in among the sisters. What happened to her? Was she caught by the CAB? Did she betray them? The remaining sisters are forced to break their routine and venture out of their apartment to find her, risking exposure and facing the dangers of the outside world. Each sister, using her unique skills and personality, begins to investigate Monday's disappearance, uncovering a web of secrets and conspiracies that reach the highest levels of the CAB.

As the sisters delve deeper into the mystery, they discover that Monday was living a double life. She was secretly working with the CAB, providing them with information about other illegal siblings in exchange for her own freedom. This betrayal shakes the sisters to their core. They had always believed in their bond, in their shared commitment to protecting each other. To learn that one of their own was willing to sacrifice them for personal gain is a devastating blow. It raises questions about the nature of trust, the corrupting influence of power, and the desperation that can drive people to make unthinkable choices. Monday's actions force the sisters to confront their own vulnerabilities and to question everything they thought they knew about each other.

Unraveling the Conspiracy and the Shocking Truth

But here's where it gets really interesting. The sisters soon uncover a much larger and more sinister conspiracy. They discover that the children taken by the CAB aren't actually being put into cryosleep. Instead, they're being killed. Nicolette Cayman is secretly sterilizing women, ensuring that they can't have any more children, while publicly claiming to be preserving the lives of those in cryosleep. This revelation is a game-changer. It exposes the CAB's true agenda: not to save the planet, but to control it through ruthless and inhumane means. The sisters realize that they're not just fighting for their own survival, but for the future of humanity.

This discovery fuels their determination to expose Cayman and her operation. They use their collective skills to infiltrate the CAB headquarters, gather evidence, and broadcast the truth to the world. It's a dangerous mission that requires them to overcome incredible obstacles and confront their own fears. They face armed guards, surveillance systems, and the constant threat of capture. But they're driven by a sense of justice and a desire to avenge the children who have been murdered. They know that if they fail, Cayman's reign of terror will continue, and countless more lives will be lost. The stakes are higher than ever, and the sisters are willing to risk everything to bring Cayman to justice.

The climax of the movie is a heart-pounding showdown between the Settman sisters and Nicolette Cayman. The sisters, working together as a united force, use their intelligence, their combat skills, and their unwavering determination to outsmart Cayman and her forces. They expose Cayman's crimes to the world, revealing the truth about the one-child policy and the fate of the children taken by the CAB. In the end, Cayman is brought to justice, and her operation is shut down. The world is shocked by the revelations, and the future of population control is called into question. It’s a victory, but a costly one. Not all the sisters survive, highlighting the brutal reality of their fight.

The Ending Explained: Hope for the Future?

The film concludes with the surviving sisters working to build a better future. The truth about Cayman's actions has sparked outrage and led to a re-evaluation of population control policies. There's a glimmer of hope that the world can learn from its mistakes and find a more humane way to address the challenges of overpopulation. One of the surviving sisters, pregnant with twins, symbolizes this hope for a new generation and a more compassionate future. The ending suggests that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can endure, and that even the most oppressive systems can be challenged and overthrown. It's a powerful message of resilience, hope, and the importance of fighting for what's right, even when the odds are stacked against you. But, what does it all mean?

Themes and Interpretations

What Happened to Monday is more than just an action-packed thriller. It delves into some pretty profound themes. The movie explores the dangers of totalitarianism, the importance of individuality, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding population control. It also raises questions about the value of human life and the lengths we're willing to go to survive.

The film can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unchecked power and the dangers of sacrificing individual freedoms for the sake of collective security. It suggests that even well-intentioned policies can lead to unintended and devastating consequences. The movie also highlights the importance of diversity and the value of each individual's unique contribution to society. The Settman sisters, each with their own distinct personality and skills, demonstrate the power of collaboration and the strength that comes from embracing differences.

In conclusion, What Happened to Monday is a thought-provoking and gripping film that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It's a story about survival, sacrifice, and the fight for a better future. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend checking it out on Netflix. Just be prepared to be on the edge of your seat! What did you guys think of the movie? Let me know in the comments below!