Oxygen (2021) || Oh, This One Tested My Patience
So I have this list of ‘highly recommended’ movies I want to watch and I randomly pick one each time I feel like watching something hence how I got to this one titled Oxygen. I always say that sci-fi really isn’t my thing. And honestly? This film reminded me exactly why I don’t usually vibe with the genre. It’s clever, sure, but it also felt way too wrapped up in futuristic ideas and high-concept mystery when all I wanted was something grounded and relatable.
The whole film is basically about one woman, Liz (played by Melanie Laurent), trapped inside a futuristic cryogenic pod, trying to figure out who she is, how she got there, and how to survive before her oxygen runs out. That’s it. Ninety-plus minutes of one character in a box with a computer voice called Milo, talking back at her and you know the funny part? I sat through it all, watching at normal speed expecting that at least, she will get out of the pod(since that’s all she wanted to do) but nope, I was utterly disappointed.
I’m not a bad person so I’ll give credit where it’s due. Melanie carries the film on her shoulders. She’s frantic, she’s vulnerable and believable enough that I never doubted her panic. The tension of watching her oxygen levels tick down works. It made my chest tighten just looking at the screen. And for people who like sci-fi mysteries, I get how this claustrophobic setup might be brilliant.
But here’s where this movie completely lost me. It lost me at the heavy sci-fi twists and explanations. Artificial intelligence, cryogenic tech, memory loss, futuristic space stuff, after a while, I stopped caring about the “how” and “why.” It felt like the movie was too busy trying to be smart and mind-bendy, instead of just sticking to the raw human drama. For someone like me, who doesn’t care for futuristic jargon, it dragged the emotional impact down.
And pacing? Oof. Some parts felt stretched way too thin. A lot of the movie is just Liz screaming at a robotic voice, which, after 45 minutes, had me checking the time.
Would I recommend it? Honestly, not really, unless you’re a hardcore fan of science fiction and enjoy puzzle-box storytelling. If you’re like me and prefer thrillers rooted in something more tangible, you’ll probably find this frustrating, maybe even exhausting.
Rating? A 4/10 for me. The acting was strong, and I respect the concept, but the sci-fi trappings overshadowed the human story I would’ve rather focused on.
Hi @teknon, when I opened your post, I thought of my husband, because he likes this kind of futuristic genre and I have often enjoyed the selection of films he has watched. But after reading your review, I don't even think I'll suggest watching it. But I would really like to know if, at the end of the film, you found out how and why Liz was there?
This reminds me of the movie Buried with Ryan Reynolds, which isn't futuristic at all, but the plot reminds me a lot of it. I spent the whole movie in agony, with pain in my chest and hope, and of course I wouldn't recommend it either. But at least take a look at the trailer so you can see what it's about.
Hey there mama.
Honestly, I couldn't fully comprehend how Liz got in that pod but I think they mentioned something like the government put her there because she was a threat or something like that. But if I’m asked why she was a threat? That explanation I do not have, because the movie doesn’t explicitly state and I couldn’t come up with any answers of my own.
But on the flip side, if your husband is into sci-fi’s he may get to understand their jargon and comprehend the movie more than I did. Who knows? Maybe recommend it, when he sees it, do a review. I’d love to read his perspective.
There are movies that leave gaps or, as you say, sometimes something in the plot is obvious to some people but not to others. But the truth is that there are movies that have many flaws, but hey, to err is human. Yes, I might recommend it to my husband to see what he thinks, and even I'm suspicious about it, so maybe I'll watch it too 😅.
4 out of 10 is like a pity fail😂😭
Sadly I hate movies with terrible pacing too...
It's heartbreaking to watch..
Just had to soften the blow😂😂
And this movie was my next go-to movie on my list. I kinda like sci-fi movies, but then I like it also possessing some little level of human nature.
From your review, I'm not gonna attempt it.
Oh hi, Tari. I honestly don’t recommend the film but if you get to see it, your perspective about it may be different from mine. Who knows?