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Mayday - What We Know So Far

Written and directed by Karen Cinorre, "Mayday" is an intense action drama that slowly but surely veers into the science fiction and fantasy genres. Cinnore previously directed short films like "Last Date" and "Plume," but "Mayday" marks her official feature film debut (via IMDB).

The film screened earlier this year at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in January and is set to be distributed this fall by Magnolia Pictures. In a statement about the film's acquisition (via Variety), Cinorre expressed her excitement to be working with the distribution company, saying, "They have been film visionaries from the start, and nothing feels more satisfying right now than bringing a bold female ensemble to the screen with them." The film received somewhat mixed reviews from the critics who saw it early at Sundance, but it will be easier to evaluate the movie outside a festival setting once it opens to a greater audience.

If you haven't seen the trailer, it may be easy to feel slightly lost in the dark about the new film. With that in mind, here's everything we know about "Mayday," including its release date, cast, and plot.

When is Mayday's release date?

Although the film was originally shown to Sundance Film Festival attendees in January, Magnolia Pictures is set to release "Mayday" theatrically and on-demand in the United States on October 1, 2021. That means it'll be available to screen in both movie theaters and living rooms across the country almost nine months after its festival premiere earlier this year. The film will, notably, have to compete for viewers with the upcoming "Sopranos" prequel, "The Many Saints of Newark," as well as "The Addams Family 2," as both films are also set to open on October 1 (via Movie Insider).

Fortunately, unlike those two films, "Mayday" isn't a prequel or sequel, but a totally original title that exists free of any pre-existing properties or franchises. That should, therefore, help "Mayday" stand out a bit from its competition when it debuts this fall. Whether or not the film will actually manage to generate enough conversations to be a standout title this year, however, remains to be seen.

Who is in the cast of Mayday?

While the film does feature a number of male actors, "Mayday" boasts a strong ensemble of primarily female performers. For instance, Grace Van Patten ("The Meyerowitz Stories") leads the film as its protagonist, Ana, while Mia Goth ("Suspiria," "High Life") stars as Marsha AKA The Bride, and veteran character actress Juliette Lewis ("The Act," "Camping") appears in it as June AKA The Bathroom Attendant.

Some of the film's other credited actors include singer-songwriter Soko as Gert, Havana Rose Liu as Bea, Theodore Pellerin as Dimitri AKA Radio Man, and Zlatko Buric ("2012") as Max AKA The Cook. Frano Maskovic is also credited in the film as two characters, known simply as Submarine Captain and Head Waiter, while Francesco Piacentini-Smith stars in it as The Pilot and Hyoie O'Grady appears as a character named Airman AKA The Groom.

We'll find out more about the cast and characters of "Mayday" when the film officially opens in theaters and on-demand this October.

What is the plot of Mayday?

"Mayday" focuses on Ana (Grace Van Patten), a hotel worker whose boss regularly abuses and harasses her. However, during a power outage, Ana follows a mysterious female voice into a lit gas oven, only to find herself subsequently transported to a beautiful island.

Once there, Ana meets a militant group of female warriors who mostly live on a submarine, including Marsha (Mia Goth) and June (Juliette Lewis). Gradually, it's revealed that the primary aim of the group is to send any male soldiers who come near the island to their doom. Throughout her time on the island, Ana grows closer to Marsha but also feels herself pulling increasingly away from the murderous intent of the other women. As a result, Ana is forced to decide between staying on the island or returning to her life away from it.

The film promises to be a morally ambiguous action fantasy with strong feminist themes. Fortunately, viewers will get to find out exactly what "Mayday" does with its various themes and dramatic questions in just a few short weeks when it debuts in theaters and on-demand on October 1.