A young woman wakes up in a medical cryo unit. She doesn't remember who she is or how she ended up sequestered in a box no larger than a coffin. That's the opening to Oxygen, Netflix's latest offering in the science fiction genre that tends to be very hit-or-miss with the gargantuan streaming service. Pulling off an entire film set within what could be described as a futuristic box is a bold move from director Alexandre Aja, who's best known for his ventures into various horror genres. With a tight, smart script from screenwriter Christie LeBlanc, Oxygen moves at a delightfully quick place, feeding viewers twists and surprises every few minutes. In a time where an audience's hand can be quick to drift to their phone during a slow moment, one of the film's strongest points is the rate at which the twists and reveals are unveiled. Oxygen is an onion of a movie, surprisingly layered with enough intrigue that the viewers can simultaneously root for our protagonist to both solve the mystery of what's happened to her and discover a fresh source of air.
The woman's only constant throughout this movie is MILO, the on board computer that remains maddeningly calm in the most stressful of situations. Neither friend nor foe, MILO exists only to answer what questions his programming will allow him to. MILO kick starts the film informing the woman she has only 33% oxygen remaining. From there, with no sense of her past, her identity, or her current location, the woman has to defy a number of brilliantly placed obstacles to survive. Intercut throughout all this are clever flashbacks to what little memories she can conjure that at times do more to confuse her than assist.
All praises due to Melanie Laurent. Mostly known to western audiences for films like Inglorious Basterds and Enemy, Laurent is center stage here as our protagonist desperate for answers before her air supply runs out. Laurent deftly maneuvers through a number of extreme emotions that range from despair and anger to joy and triumph. Due largely in part to Laurent's acting, the audience is along for the ride as she works to discover who she is and how she's ended up in this situation. She commands the screen with a captivating performance that conveys the panic and claustrophobia while being largely unable to move due to her confinements.
Directed by Alexandre Aja, the horror director brings a sense of dread and hopelessness to Oxygen, mining the terror of being trapped in an enclosed space and almost completely cut off from communication. Still, thanks to cinematographer Maxime Alexandre, the camerawork is dynamic, using every inch of the small space to give viewers scope and purpose as Laurent's character endeavors to search for clues. Oxygen is superbly edited as well, moving at the perfect pace to drop yet another scrap of information just as the audience thinks they might have an idea as to what's happening. The constant reminder of a dwindling air supply serves as a ticking clock to keep the tension running high from the very opening to the end credits.
Overall, Oxygen is a tense, taught sci-fi thriller that excels in pacing and doling out information to the audience. A story that transpires almost completely in one enclosed location, Laurent's acting and Aja's direction both serve to keep the audience gripped and compelled throughout. None of the reveals feels contrived; each twist and turn is well earned and a genuine shock. A one woman tour-de-force, Laurent's performance keeps the audience rooting for her the entire time as she fumbles her way closer to fully realizing her situation. At 101 minutes, this movie is perfect for a Friday night, phones off, with as few distractions as possible (but maybe a few friends to theorize with, if possible). Of the dozens of low to mid budget sci-fi projects released by Netflix, this film is certainly a breath of fresh air. Oxygen is released May 12th on Netflix.
