Oxygen

Plot
Oxygen is a 2019 French science fiction film directed by Alexandre Aja, starring Mathieu Amalric, Mélanie Laurent, and French-American actress Adéle Haenel. Haenel stars as Claire, a woman who finds herself trapped in a cryogenic chamber with no memory of who she is or how she got there. The movie begins with Claire waking up in the cryogenic chamber, surrounded by the dimly lit interior of a seemingly abandoned facility. Panicked, Claire quickly assesses her situation and discovers that her air supply is limited to around 90 minutes. Realizing that she must act quickly to survive, Claire frantically searches her surroundings for any clues or means of communication. As she moves through the chamber, Claire stumbles upon a series of cryptic messages and notes scrawled on the walls by an unknown person, which hint at a catastrophic event that led to the facility's abandonment. The notes also mention a 'Procedure' and a countdown timer that Claire becomes increasingly obsessed with discovering. Determined to uncover the truth behind her predicament, Claire sets out to find a way to escape the chamber. However, she soon realizes that her memories and personal identity are shrouded in mystery. Claire's only lead is a cryptic message left by someone who claims to be 'Aurélien', warning that 'the countdown starts when I leave'. As Claire navigates the desolate facility, she comes across several rooms filled with cryogenic chambers containing other frozen individuals, but none of them show any signs of life or responsiveness. This raises several questions about Claire's own existence, the fate of the individuals in the chambers, and the true nature of the facility. As the countdown timer ticks closer to zero, Claire becomes increasingly desperate to uncover the truth behind her confinement. She discovers a room containing various personal belongings of her past, including photographs, clothes, and a few mementos that offer glimpses into Claire's life before the facility. One of the photographs, in particular, holds significant meaning as it shows Claire as a young woman surrounded by Aurélien and another person, who appears to be a scientist or researcher. Claire's determination to uncover the identities of these individuals and understand the events leading up to her arrival in the facility becomes the driving force behind her search for escape. As Claire delves deeper into the facility, she encounters various obstacles and cryptic messages left by Aurélien, who appears to have been trapped alongside her. The countdown timer continues to tick down the remaining oxygen in Claire's chamber, increasing the sense of urgency and desperation. Through her determination and resourcefulness, Claire uncovers the dark events surrounding the facility, including a catastrophic accident that led to the abandonment and a sinister experiment aimed at preserving human beings in a cryogenic state. The film's climax reveals the truth behind Claire's identity and her connection to Aurélien. Through a series of flashbacks, Claire's past life and her relationship with Aurélien are slowly revealed, culminating in a tragic event that led to Claire's confinement in the cryogenic chamber. As the countdown timer reaches zero, Claire makes a choice that will seal her fate. With the remaining oxygen dwindling, Claire has one final option to escape or succumb to the inevitable. The movie ends with a haunting and intense scene that raises more questions than answers about the true extent of the catastrophe and the lives of those trapped in the facility. Oxygen offers a gripping and intense exploration of identity, human connection, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through Adéle Haenel's powerful performance, the film takes viewers on a tense and thrilling journey that will keep them guessing until the very end.
Reviews
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