A woman wakes in a coffin-like pod with no memory and dwindling air supply.
In short: Trapped in a high-tech cryogenic chamber, a scientist must solve the mystery of her own identity before her oxygen runs out. Directed by Alexandre Aja, this claustrophobic thriller explores the terrifying intersection of artificial intelligence, genetic cloning, and the desperate survival of the human species in deep space.
The 2021 film Oxygen, directed by Alexandre Aja and written by Christie LeBlanc, centers on a woman who regains consciousness inside a locked medical unit. With her memory erased and oxygen levels rapidly depleting, she relies on an artificial intelligence interface named M.I.L.O. to navigate her predicament. As she struggles to identify herself, she discovers she is Elizabeth Hansen, a doctor who specialized in cryogenics. Her search for answers leads her to believe she is on a long-duration mission to a distant world, intended to preserve humanity from a lethal viral pandemic.
The narrative unfolds through a series of tense revelations. Liz learns that her presence on the spacecraft is part of a secret mission that began over a decade ago. The plot thickens when she realizes that the person she has been communicating with on Earth is an older version of herself. Further investigation reveals a profound twist: she is not the original Elizabeth Hansen, but a genetic clone imbued with the memories and personality of the doctor. This discovery forces her to confront the nature of her existence while managing the failing systems of her pod.
The production history of the film was marked by several shifts in personnel. Initially announced in 2017 with Anne Hathaway, the project later saw Noomi Rapace attached in 2020 before Mélanie Laurent ultimately took the lead role. Principal photography commenced in July 2020, and the film was released on Netflix in May 2021. The final product received a positive reception, holding a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 106 reviews. Critics praised the film for maximizing the tension within its confined, single-location setting, highlighting the performance of Laurent as the driving force behind the thriller's success.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Oxygen (2021 film)
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