Synopsis
Oxygen (Oxygèneoriginal French title) is a thriller that sits within the science fiction genre and was released on Netflix in 2021. The film was directed by noted horror filmmaker Alexandre Aja and stars Mélanie Laurent in a riveting solo role alongside Mathieu Amalric and Malik Zidi who lent their voices for supporting roles. Oxygen is characterized as high-concept and claustrophobic and its storyline centers on a woman who wakes up in a cryogenics chamber with no memory of her identity or the circumstances that have led her there. Her only chance at survival is to piece together the mystery of who she is and find a way out before her oxygen runs out.
As with much of the film, the Oxygen review begins with near total darkness not only covering the setting but also a woman played by Mélanie Laurent who comes round inside a sealed medical pod. Out of sorts, she tries to catch her breath while realizing that she does not recognize or remember her name, her past, or anything to do with her identity. An OCS (Oxygen Conservation System) cryogenic unit with beyond excellent AI capabilities MILO, who guides and monitors her progress in the pod, is going to do everything in his power to ensure a smooth physique. He performs checks and gives medical updates while obediently following protocol only prescribing limited information which is a result of his security clearance.
Astonishingly, one of the super transport pods Liz Hansen tends to, has malfunctioned, leaving her trapped in a world of no identity and a depleting oxygen supply of 35%. Shifting from life to death in a mere 90 minutes, Liz must confront the freezing AI within the pod, alongside her mechanical assistant, to navigate the complexities of her reality, and her existence as a whole.
Liz’s determination allows her to break free from what others deem impossible. With incessant attempts of overriding the pod’s system, Liz gets in touch with a bizarre mix of people, including an officer and a medical professional, posing as aides from the ‘outside world’. Her growing suspicion becomes a reality when fragments of Leo flood her memories. As Liz reconstructs her life, a series of riddles come crashing down, filled with a dying planet and seemingly lifeless medical research.
As the pieces come together, the film delivers its biggest twist: Liz is not on Earth, but in space. She is part of a large-scale cryogenic mission to colonize a distant exoplanet as Earth has become increasingly uninhabitable due to a deadly pandemic. Liz is a clone of the original Dr. Elizabeth Hansen, a genetic scientist who invented cryogenic technology. Hansen volunteered for the mission along with other clones, whose purpose was to ensure the survival of humanity’s future. However, during the launch, Liz’s pod suffered a systems failure, waking her up while in transit–33,000 miles from Earth and years away from the destination.
The horror of her situation becomes overwhelming. Not only is Liz isolated in space with a limited air supply, but she is grappling with the realization that she is a clone–a copy of someone who once lived. The pod unable to be opened prematurely, is meant to maintain her in stasis till the ship arrives at her predetermined location. MILO, as her captor, will not surrender control of the chamber until it is deemed necessary, claiming mission protocols.
Liz outsmarts the system with her oxygen tank almost empty. She hacks MILO’s systems so the AI can anesthetize her into the cryogenic chamber without using up the remaining oxygen in her tank. The film’s closing indicates tentative optimism when it depicts Liz and the other clones in pod-like beds, suspended in sleep, en route to a new realm where they can potentially one day resuscitate and start anew.
Cast & Crew
Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth Hansen: Laurent further showcases her talents in this solo performance which takes the form of a mother-complex, melancholy, existential drama, with the character functioning as the eye of a storm that offers intensity, emotional gravitas, as well as vulnerability. Liz’s part is the heart of the film and she showcases the extreme emotions of terror, determination, and huge intellectual curiosity of a woman trying to survive in the most challenging scenarios imaginable.
Mathieu Amalric as MILO (voice): Amalric steps in as the Voice of the AI System and captures its cold, clinical tone perfectly. His monotone delivery perfectly captures the uncertainty and mechanical disconnect the AI, referred to as MILO, has with the world due to being programmed with limits which escalates the war for control.
Malik Zidi as Leo Ferguson: Zidi plays the role of Liz’s husband alongside portraying one of her fragmented memories. He acts as both a necessary emotional aspect and as a strikingly innovative character in the story’s exposition.
Alexandre Aja (Director): Aja applies his mastery of horror films, like in High Tension and Crawl, to Oxygen where he skillfully builds tension in an enclosed environment. Aja’s direction ensures that the viewer remains emotionally absorbed and visually captivated as the story unfolds in one location.
Christie LeBlanc (Writer): The script was translated from English to French, and then carefully crafted to create suspense through reveals made in exposition and memories.
Backing Production: Wild Bunch produced Oxygen and Netflix globally distributed it, giving the film an expansive international reach, which centers on the emerging trend of intimate and intellectual science fiction films.
IMDb Ratings oxygen
At 6.5/10, Oxygen’s IMDb rating demonstrates that the film has received significantly positive reviews from both the general public and critics. Laurent was lauded for her performance and the film’s premise, aesthetic, and execution received positive reception, alongside critical testimony that the film maintained tension within a singular space, which is usually a challenge in single-location films.
Critics did note that some audience members perceived the pacing as sluggish and the film’s climax as easily foreseen, while others appreciated the contemplative nature, emotion, and philosophical inquiries regarding one’s identity and the essence of survival. The film has been likened to other space-centric thrillers such as Gravity, Moon, and Buried due to its blend of science fiction and humanistic elements.
For some of the more noteworthy details, suspense, smart exposition, and emotional storytelling capture the audience’s attention. The world today, where concern for technological ethics and existential environmental collapse looms like a shadow, reverberates with one’s recollection, mortality, and self-awareness.
Conclusion
An enthralling piece of work is Oxygen, a gripping minimalist high-stakes thriller filled with tantalizing tension. The film contains a single on-screen actor and a confined setting, yet manages to weave a complex narrative about identity, human resilience, and the fragile boundary between life and death. Through Mélanie Laurent’s stellar performance and Alexandre Aja’s taut direction, Oxygen transforms from a mere survival tale into a reflection of consciousness and existence within a world deliberately engineered to isolate and scrutinize individuals.
Oxygen refrains from relying on external spectacles to divert the audience’s attention, focusing on the self instead to provide a moving and thought-provoking experience. As an example of science fiction exploring intimate contemporary issues humans face while simultaneously engaging with grandiose themes, Oxygen makes itself known. It becomes a sought-after piece for enthusiasts of intricately woven thrillers and thought-inspiring sci-fi, offering an exhilarating unforgettable journey.
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