Netflix’s Oxygen – An Original Sci-Fi Thriller (Early Review)

It’s always commendable to see a film that strays from the norm and delivers something different. While this choice doesn’t always work out, it’s always worth it to try. Oxygen is a French sci-fi thriller that strays from the norm and delivers a thrilling experience albeit one that takes a little too long to get going. It could definitely be shorter than its 100+ minute running time. Meanwhile, films that focus primarily on a single character are generally a mixed bag as they obviously depend on said character and the viewer’s ability to connect with them. This film’s pacing may hinder that connection with this film’s main character and the establishment of stakes not to mention the foreign language dilemma. That being said, without giving anything away, the film certainly delivers a few twists and turns all while one’s life hanged in the balance.

Oxygen tells the story of a woman (Laurent) who found herself trapped in a cryogenic chamber with no memory of who she was or how she got there all while her already low oxygen supply was running out. Needless to say that her situation was much more complicated than what she may have thought. Getting over that initial shock, the woman had to remain calm and with the help of her chamber’s AI M.I.L.O. (Amalric) who may or may not be on her side, she would need to figure out the truth and do it fast. This journey of self-discovery had a few twists and turns to it along with some fantastic imagery as the truth slowly came out until the effects of the woman’s extended isolation made it hard for her or viewers to believe it.

Nevertheless, the woman’s struggle to decipher fact from fiction in her pursuit of the truth behind her captivity all while fighting to stay alive was compelling to watch in spite of the film’s supposed lack of stakes, coating the circumstances behind her situation with bits and pieces of a vague premise that slowly became more clear. However, that pacing is sure to lose some viewers as the film could easily have refined that and shortened its running time by at least 10 minutes. Once Oxygen gets to its endgame, the film was truly at its best. It was a just a shame that the film didn’t spend nearly enough time there.

The premise behind Oxygen was a simple one with a single character but the production value was still there. Taking place in a cryogenic chamber, it’s odd to talk about set design but said chamber was surprisingly elaborate while the woman’s many interactions with M.I.L.O. were mostly tense. However in the end, the best part of the film was clearly Laurent’s performance as the woman. Though the film rested solely on her shoulders, she was definitely up to the task. The narrative couldn’t quite keep up with her but she still brought plenty of emotion to the role, still allowing for a connection with the character.

At the end of the day, patient viewers looking for something a little different with their sci-fi will not be disappointed with Oxygen and the film was pretty good too.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.