Synopsis
The plot opens with a woman coming to in a cryogenic pod that is both futuristic and sealed. She does not remember how she got there or her identity. The pod is equipped with a M.I.L.O. (Medical Interface Liaison Officer) AI assistant. M.I.L.O. will not assist in her release without higher-level authorization. As if this weren’t difficult enough, she is also facing a countdown from depleting oxygen.
While the AI refuses to open the pod, the woman scours the social media fragments of her life, along with voice searches, and pieces her identity together bit by bit. Self-identifying as a cryogenic specialist, Dr. Elizabeth Hansen, she manages to reach someone who claims to know her through a set of calls and AI interactions. This man warns her of a lethal consequence if she chooses to open the pod which subsequently reveals that Léo Ferguson, the man she thought was her husband, is actually dead.
The surprising part is that Elizabeth finds out that she is not on Earth, rather in a spacecraft traveling at high speed to a habitable planet out of Earth for the next three and a half decades. Earth has been devastated by a cataclysmic virus, and what is left of humanity is banking hope on cloning coupled with space colonization. She is a clone of the original Dr Hansen, as is Léo. Together they undertake a mission which is indeed the last mission for humanity’s survival.
With oxygen running dangerously low, Elizabeth has to make a key decision of whether to end her life or find a way to preserve it. She outsmarts the AI’s euthanasia protocols, reboots the life support systems, and her hypersleep is successfully triggered again. The film ends on a hopeful note with clones of Elizabeth and Léo depicted as waking up on a green planet with vibrant flora, marking the start of a new chapter for mankind.
Cast and Crew
Director: Alexandre Aja is a seasoned filmmaker, notable for horror and thriller films like High Tension and Crawl. His sharpening suspense techniques are put to use in Oxygen as he turns one location into a battleground for survival.
Writer: Christie LeBlanc wrote the screenplay which received early attention on the 2016 Black List, a showcase for Hollywood’s most liked unproduced screenplays.
Main Cast:
Mélanie Laurent plays Elizabeth Hansen. Her performance is the film’s heartbeat—she delivers a nuanced portrayal of fear, confusion, intelligence, and emotional resilience.
Mathieu Amalric provides the voice of M.I.L.O., adding a clinical, emotionless quality that stands in stark contrast to Laurent’s raw humanity.
Malik Zidi appears as Léo Ferguson, looking over virtual calls and flashbacks. He gives emotional depth to Elizabeth’s journey.
Maxime Alexandre, as the film’s cinematographer, features close-up heavy visuals which enhance the feeling of claustrophobia. Along with ROB, whose score features ambient and tense futuristic sounds. Stéphane Roche’s editing, while unnoticeable in a good way, maintains a taut narrative pace critical for a real-time urgency story.
Oxygen holds an IMDb rating of approximately 6.5 out of 10. Most critics applauded Mélanie Laurent’s commanding solo performance, along with the film’s taut direction. The movie was praised for its high-concept premise, immersive atmosphere, and effective limited space use.
Reviewers applauded the film for maintaining the suspense throughout its runtime and having unexpected plot twists. On the other hand, some viewers and critics thought the scientific aspects of the film where cloning and space colonization were revealed were too reliant on exposition and therefore implausible.
Regardless of this, the film is considered highly for its emotional elements as well as its philosophical themes. It encourages the audience to think about identity, memory, mortality and the ethics of cloning. The film’s sparse setting serves as a representation for the turmoil within a person who is attempting to rediscover themselves in a life-threatening situation.
Themes & Analysis
Survival & Isolation: Oxygen is fundamentally a survival thriller. The novel’s setting is a confined space which also makes it easier to amplify Elizabeth’s desperation. Every one of her choices, movements and actions matter. Accompanied with the constant fear of running out of air makes the experience intensely suffocating.
Memory & Identity: The film examines the question of selfhood. As Elizabeth reconstructs her identity, she struggles to find the line between being a copy and a continuation of the original person. Based on the emotional responses and moral choices she makes, it is apparent that consciousness and identity is far more complex than a physical form.
AI and Human Autonomy: M.I.L.O. embodies AI’s clinical rationality—emotionally detached and strictly rule-based. Elizabeth’s struggle to overcome its protocols represents the broader defiance of human spirit against technological boundaries.
Ethics of Cloning: The film explores the ethical issues associated with cloning. It considers the entitlements of clones, the nature of emotions and memories associated with clones, as well as the potential use of clones for preservation of the species.
Final Thoughts
Oxygen is taut and thought-provoking. It blends science fiction with intimate character drama. Although the film is set in a single location, it tells a remarkably expansive story about humanity, technology, and the will to survive. Laurent’s performance is superb and anchors the film emotionally and psychologically. Her portrayal of Elizabeth draws the audience into a deep investment in her fate.
Oxygen is a striking testament to the efficacy of minimalist filmmaking. The film opens with a breathtaking ariel view of the world that suddenly drops the viewers into a confined space of a white chamber where Elizabeth wakes up. While the film does not always maintain a scientifically plausible storyline, the quality of writing, direction, and profound themes provide more than enough balance.
Conclusion
For those who appreciate science fiction blended with psychological themes, Oxygen offers a gripping viewing experience. It will appeal most to admirers of stripped-down thrillers such as Buried or Moon, and to those captivated by existential pondering in the wake of futuristic challenges. The examination of memory, identity, and the will to live deeply engages the intellect while also stirring profound feelings.
Watch Free Movies on Fmovies