'Oxygen' review: Netflix's sci-fi, single-location film is masterfully claustrophobic
French sci-fi drama Oxygen (or Oxygène in French) premiered on Netflix recently. The film masterfully takes the hard to execute idea of a single-location film and keeps you hooked, especially if you're into futuristic technologies and the notion of space travel. Let's take an in-depth look at the film, which stars Melanie Laurent (Elizabeth Hansen), Malik Zidi (Leo Ferguson), and Mathieu Amalric (M.I.L.O).
Laurent's acting prowess really shines in the film
The film begins with Dr. Elizabeth Hansen stuck inside an unknown box-like structure. Laurent who plays Hansen, known for another hit Netflix flick 6 Underground, gives an intensely beautiful performance as the film totally rests on her shoulders. A feeling of claustrophobia ensues in the film with some effect on the viewers as well as we see the character figure out where she is.
The anxiety of being isolated for long is relatable
As the storyline moves further, we come to know that she is in space and has woken up from a cryogenic sleep earlier than expected. The movie was shot during the COVID-19 lockdown, and viewers can weirdly reflect on their anxiety of being isolated. She now has to find a way to keep herself alive as the oxygen is finishing up in her pod.
Director is known for creating films inside enclosed spaces
Director Alexandre Aja is known for creating such tense and tightly sequenced scenes. In fact, his last film Crawl, which was released in 2019, was set inside a basement filled with alligators! Coming back to Oxygen, the film kept me at the edge of my sofa the entire time. It's a well-paced movie that will keep you guessing until the very end. Rating: 4/5.
Anne Hathaway was the originally supposed to lead the film
Actress Anne Hathaway was originally cast as the lead for the film, as well as a producer, back in July 2017. At the time, the film's working title was O2. Then, Noomi Rapace replaced Hathaway in February 2020, but in the end, Laurent was chosen as the lead character of the film. The film was retitled to Oxygen just recently in February this year.
