Trapped in a Pod, a Woman Must Find Out Who She Is

Mélanie Laurent in "Oxygen"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

Over the years, director Alexandre Aja has built up a filmography of intense and bloody horror films, such as “High Tension,” the “Hills Have Eyes” remake, “Piranha 3D,” and “Crawl.”  While his approach to the horror genre has steered me away from his movies, I was intrigued that he would be directing a science-fiction thriller.  His latest movie, “Oxygen,” is a claustrophobic film that will keep you riveted as its mystery unfolds.

The story follows a young woman (Mélanie Laurent), who wakes up in a medical cryogenic unit.  Without any memory of how she got there, she must search for clues to piece together her past before her oxygen runs out.

Laurent delivers an emotional performance as her character must confront her past, while also dealing with the life-threatening nature of her situation.  We see how much the loneliness and hopelessness get to her, but we also witness the ingenuity that Elizabeth uses as she tries to find a way to survive, with Laurent showcasing both sides of this character to terrific effect that absorbs us in her character’s plight.  Seeing as this movie is all about one character, Laurent proves that she can carry a movie, using her abilities to immerse us in this disquieting, yet powerful journey.

Although the screenplay by Christie LeBlanc has some similarities to Rodrigo Cortés’ 2010 thriller, “Buried,” the sci-fi twist to this one-person survival story helps it overcome the likeness.  The story offers a slow build as we’re offered clues here and there that help us put everything together regarding the main character’s present situation and her past.  The deliberate pace that this movie takes to disclose the details keeps our hearts pumping as we stay connected to Laurent’s character and await what issue or revelation may arrive next.

As a director, Aja ventures into the sci-fi genre with a more-restrained approach than in his horror films, substituting his usual blood and gore with pure tension and atmosphere.  He makes the most out of the film’s single setting, using cinematographer Maxime Alexandre’s camerawork to roam around the pod, allowing us to become familiar with the main character’s confined surroundings.  Despite this being a thriller, Aja uses a couple of well-timed jump scares that heighten the tension without feeling like a cheap trick to scare us.

With its compelling lead performance, poignant story, and abundance of high stakes, “Oxygen” is a movie that will have you holding your breath.

Grade: A-