Review of 'Oxygen (Oxygène)'

oxygen.jpg A woman (Mélanie Laurent) wakes in a small coffin-like box not knowing where she is or who she is. All she knows is that she has only minutes to live. As the story begins to unravel we learn that she is Dr. Elizaben Hansen, a leading cryogenic scientist and that she is in a cryogenic chamber. As the clock runs down more and more of her story comes out but will she be able to find a way to survive?

Before watching this film I was a bit concerned it would not be very interesting - A woman in a box for the entire length of the film - But this concern proved to be misplaced with Laurent putting on an incredibly powerful and moving performance as someone driven to the edge of sanity as she seeks an escape. The story has a great deal of twists and turns as Hansen's story comes out with a finale that is truly breath-taking in scope and a huge surprise in the final few minutes as we learn of Hansen's fate.

Powerfully shot with imaginative camera angles that manage to draw us into the drama unfolding on the screen, giving us the feeling of claustrophobia and panic as the time drips away. The story is proper Science Fiction stuff but also very human at the same time with a very simple premise that becomes so much more.

Wonderfully shot and powerfully acted out one-woman film that keeps you guessing up until the final seconds. Will she figure out what is going on and survive?

Rating: “I have absolutely no complaints”

Review Date: 2021-08-21


Directed by: Alexandre Aja

Studio: Getaway Films

Year: 2021

Length: 100 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6341832/