Oxygen

Oxygen
Starring Melanie Laurent, Mathieu Amalric, Malik Zidi
Directed by Alexandre Aja

Claustrophobia is one of my biggest fears, the idea of being trapped in a small, enclosed space with no seemingly way out terrifies me, as well as millions of other people, and cinema has given us some expert-level films that correlate to this fear. From Ryan Reynolds' phenomenal "Buried" to the horror-thriller "The Descent" to the true-life story of "127 Hours," there's a load of films to please the claustrophobic thrill-seeker in us all, and Alexandre Aja's "Oxygen" can now be added to that list, a film that - much like "Buried" - focuses on one sole actor in an enclosed space that could've been a disaster if the wrong actress was chosen, but thankfully that wasn't the case.

Dr. Elizabeth Hansen (Melanie Laurent) wakes up inside a cryogenic chamber with no memory of how she got there, or even who she is, as her memories themselves seem to be a jumbled mess. She is able to communicate with her chamber's artificial intelligence, M.I.L.O. (Mathieu Amalric), but he is unable to think for himself. She learns that her oxygen level is quickly depleting, and needs to find a way out of her confined space before the oxygen runs out, as well as learn who she really is and why (along with who) put her in the chamber in the first place.

A film like "Oxygen" is a huge risk because for 99.5% of the time, the camera is focused on one single character, in a confined space, where they can only use their facial expressions and emotions to convey what they're going through at the time. There's little to no outside influence, no physical actors to work alongside, and no exciting scenery changes to keep the viewer's attention - so the key is choosing the right actor for the job. Choosing Ryan Reynolds in "Buried" was a risk because he was known more for comedy and action films, but he conveyed the true terror of being buried alive with ease, where you really connected with the character in a deeply personal way, and you felt like you were trapped in the coffin with him. Likewise, the actress chosen for "Oxygen" is every part Reynolds' equal, albeit in a more polished, futuristic tomb.

That actress is Melanie Laurent, best known for her role of Shoshana in Quentin Tarantino's epic "Inglorious Basterds," as well as Michael Bay's action film "6 Underground" (also starring Reynolds), an actress who's incredibly versatile and can more than hold her own by herself, as shown in "Oxygen." She - along with the viewers - starts off the film finding herself trapped in the cryogenic chamber with no memory of how she got there, who put her there, or even who she is. She has minor flashbacks but nothing really concrete hits her, and slowly she begins to piece together the events that brought her to that place, which is nothing short of exceptional storytelling by the film's writer Christie LeBlanc. All is not as it seems for Dr. Hansen, and she begins to doubt even her own memories along with those who she's been able to communicate with over the phone, as her oxygen level begins depleting at an astronomical rate. Laurent plays to her biggest strengths here, as she seamlessly transfers from fear to doubt, to sorrow and sadness, and even some dry humor as she finds herself in a race against time.

Director Alexandre Aja ("Crawl," "High Tension," "The Hills Have Eyes") encompasses all his directorial knowledge to deliver a thrilling film that hardly ever leaves the confines of the chamber, escalating the music to shocking crescendos and confined filmmaking that makes you feel like you're trapped there with her, and feel your own sense of oxygen getting lower despite being in a well-ventilated room. This is due to the impeccable performance as well as the top-notch directing that delivers the one-two punch to the gut as the twists and turns begin to unravel at a breakneck speed.

The first half of the film is also the slowest, as we begin to piece the puzzle together along with Dr. Hansen, thinking that the film is heading in one direction as we sense Hansen's apprehension and doubt about who she can trust, but then the second half explores the twists the the story tells, which is fascinating and downright shocking, leading to a tense, electrifying conclusion that utilizes the classic storytelling technique of a timer running out, but doesn't use that trope to its generic use. Obviously, the film starts with a countdown as the oxygen level keeps getting lower and lower, and as such it adds that sense of urgency that you wouldn't otherwise feel if the character had hours or days to figure things out - not mere minutes. It's equal parts insanity and intellectually stimulating mixed with deep human emotions that Laurent delivers in spades. For those who are fans of a fantastic claustrophobic movie - or fans in general of superb acting - then don't hold your breath for anything other than "Oxygen."

Delivered with perfection by Melanie Laurent, "Oxygen" highlights all the classic feels of being trapped in an isolated place, but also provides huge twists and turns that keeps you riveted to the story and the path it takes.

The Score: A+