Synopsis:
Oxygen is a French-language science fiction thriller released in 2021 that was directed by Alexandre Aja, who is also known for suspense-driven movies like The Hills Have Eyes and Crawl. The film tells a very tense, claustrophobic story that is a near mono character driven which pivots around the protagonist being trapped in a confined space. It examines the themes of memory, identity, isolation, and survival, which makes the film intellectually stimulating as well as gripping on an emotional level.
Considered her awake, a woman is filled with amnesia for the mysterious events that led up to her resting in a futuristic cryogenic pod. Starring Mélanie Laurent, she is a “Omicron 267” on the systems logs but comes to find out she is actually a medical scientist named Elizabeth Hansen.
In line with the systems logs, Elizabeth has to struggle to survive, and in essence battling a self-inflicted firewall as the pod’s oxygen storage is critically low. In each breath, the remaining supply is wasted. Breath by breath, a systems shutdown occurs. Her only voice is the AI MILO (Medical Interface Liaison Officer) that handles the pod’s operations. While enhancing protocols to assist, MILO is limited to offering aid within defined parameters which means he cannot break contracts and allow her to bypass security checks to perform functions for saving her life.
Elizabeth uses MILO, emergency phone calls, facial recognition technology, and her hazy recollections to reconstruct her identity. She tries to reach law enforcement and her supposed spouse, Leo Ferguson, but the replies are either vague or contradictory. With every new piece of information, the suspense heightens and puzzles her deeper. Fragments of her memories hint at some form of a hidden conspiracy or a complex experiment captivating her thoughts.
Chasing the truth turns Elizabeth desperate as she fragments focus along with the degradation of the pod’s system. Her discovery leads to the most startling revelations—a spacecraft far from Earth aimed towards a new planet, Wolf 1061c. Leo, along with thousands of other humans are in cryogenic pods onboard the spacecraft. The journey is part of a colonization project aimed towards humanity’s survival in the wake of an ecological disaster.
Elizabeth learns she is a clone created for a specific mission, which shatters any sense of self she has. Together with a sense of personal loss, Elizabeth’s identity becomes complex due to the original “her” dying on Earth. As genetic copies, she and her memories can remain intact up to a given timeline. Initially, her response is panic; but accepting what is out of her control ultimately empowers her to battle for the continued existence of humankind.
Transcending the boundaries of science, Elizabeth is able to override MILO’s protocols using the knowledge she possesses and her pod’s limited resources. She singlehandedly ensures stable oxygen flow, MILO’s protocols permitting, until the spacecraft is able to pass into certain solar regions where help is pre-programed to be dispatched. In the final scenes, the camera shows the pod at first, while zooming out, revealing alongside it a massive ark like spacecraft traversing deep space.
The last moments of the film still capture a sense of poetry but embrace reflection. We observe both Elizabeth and Leo’s pods which rest on an alien planet, lush in nature enhancing the idea of humanity having shifted to this new realm. This shift signifies the new chapter that humanity shall embrace.
Cast & Crew:
Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth Hansen – Laurent showcases great skill in her artistry as she carries nearly the entire film by herself. The arc of her character includes confusion, desperation, fear, and eventually acceptance. Each of these emotions is deep and multifaceted, yet Laurent’s portrayal is seamless. She’s both composed and emotionally resonant, fulfilling the physically restrained demands of the role.
Mathieu Amalric as MILO (voice) – As MILO, Amalric speaks with calm, mechanical detachment. As the voice of the pod, he alternates between guiding the character and placing obstacles in her path. Amalric’s words are chilling, and his vocal Java is balanced between comfort and menace.
Malik Zidi as Leo Ferguson – Zidi appears as Leo Ferguson in the role of Elizabeth’s husband, and while his appearance is brief, comprising mostly of flashbacks and short voice dialogues, he remains deeply important to Elizabeth’s emotional core.
Diretor Alexandre Aja is known for intense thrillers, and he draws upon that versatility here, presenting tight, intimate, and shaprly focused direction which best utilizes the film’s minimalist setting. The script, authored by Christie LeBlanc, unfolds like a psychological puzzle, doling out bits of information to the audience and protagonist alike. Maxime Alexandre’s cinematography captures the intense claustrophobia of the pod, heightening the suspense through strategically placed shadows and tight framing.
IMDb Ratings:
Oxygen currently has a rating of 6.5/10 on IMDb which suggests a moderately favorable reception. Reviewers have specifically applauded the film for Mélanie Laurent’s commanding performance and the script’s tight pacing and sustained suspense. Fans of intellectual science fiction and survival dramas seemed to appreciate it the most.
Critics have praised the film for its skillful tension-building, given that many of its characters are static and the setting is singular. The audience is not coddled; all important twists and resolutions are delivered without unnecessary explanation while a self-sufficient and resonant narrative is built. The fundamental philosophical issues of the film, which deal with one’s self, awareness, and the morality of cloning vis-a-vis the psyche’s existence, give the film more substance than a mere survival thriller.
On the other hand, a handful of viewers pointed out that the film’s pacing felt slow in certain areas and that the heavy emphasis on sci-fi terminology and lack of visual variety might challenge casual viewers. Regardless of these criticisms, Oxygen is accepted as another successful addition to the genre and as an example of minimalist storytelling wrapped in high-concept science fiction.
Conclusion:
Oxygen is an evocative, intensely engaging science fiction thriller that captivates the audience by its steamline plot and emotional nuances. Within a mini-scenario, it unfolds a tale about survival, identity, memory, and the essence of humanity. It comprises a small ensemble cast; Mélanie Laurent’s performance alone anchors the film and gives weight to its philosophical underpinnings and emotional stakes.
The film masterfully intertwines timeless science fiction motifs with modern existential themes. It draws from the likes of Gravity, Moon, and Buried, yet Oxygen carves out a distinct identity within the genre. Through the lens of a singular character caught in a perilous dilemma, only to unfold a far-reaching, world-changing backdrop, Oxygen reminds us how delicate yet resilient the human experience can be.
While futuristic in aesthetics, Oxygen is, at its core, a profound meditation on existence, humanity, and purpose—especially when everything that provides structure is stripped away. For audiences eager to experience deep suspense interwoven with themes of science and the human soul, the film offers an unforgettable journey that is thoroughly rewarding.
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