Oxygen

Trapped in silence. Fighting for every breath.

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Synopsis

Directed by Alexandre Aja, Oxygen is a gripping French sci-fi thriller starring Mélanie Laurent as Elizabeth Hansen, a woman who wakes up trapped inside a cryogenic chamber with no memory of how she got there. As her oxygen supply steadily diminishes, Elizabeth must piece together clues about her identity and her situation while confronting the claustrophobic confines of the pod. The intense narrative captures her fight for survival as she races against time to unlock the mysteries surrounding her captivity. Featuring a tense and minimalist setting, Oxygen explores themes of resilience, memory, and hope in a high-stakes environment.

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Reviews

Oxygen has garnered generally positive reviews with a strong appreciation for its thrilling and claustrophobic atmosphere. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a high approval rating of 90%, with critics praising Mélanie Laurent’s compelling solo performance and Alexandre Aja’s effective direction that keeps audiences gripped throughout the film’s runtime. The site’s consensus highlights the film as a "taut, riveting sci-fi thriller with emotional depth." IMDb users have rated the film a respectable 6.5/10, reflecting a solid average response that recognizes its suspenseful narrative but notes some limitations due to the film’s constrained setting. Metacritic offers a more mixed but favorable score of 67/100, suggesting generally favorable reviews albeit with some criticism towards the film’s predictability and focus on a single character. Some reviewers have lauded the film’s ability to maintain tension and engage viewers despite the minimalist premise, with one critic from The Guardian calling it "a nerve-wracking survival story that succeeds on smart storytelling and strong performance." On the downside, certain reviews mention that the film’s pacing can feel slow to some, and the plot’s mystery element may not satisfy all viewers looking for a broader scope. Overall, Oxygen is celebrated for its gripping intensity and Laurent’s dynamic portrayal, securing it as a standout in the survival-thriller subgenre.