Netflix’s Oxygen Has 1 of the Most Jaw-Dropping Twist Endings

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Netflix has become a strong player in science fiction films with movies like The Adam Project, They Cloned Tyrone, and the Oscar-nominated Don’t Look Up. The streaming service particularly excels at thought-provoking and emotionally challenging sci-fi that often leaves viewers pondering complex themes and facing uncertain endings. A standout critical success is the 2021 French thriller directed by Alexandre Aja, known for films like Crawl and Never Let Go.

Oxygen is a thrilling mystery film featuring Mélanie Laurent, known for her role in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. The story centers on Liz Hansen, who wakes up trapped inside a broken cryo-pod with no memory of who she is or how she ended up there. With her oxygen running out, she desperately tries to remember her identity and the code to escape. But as fragments of her past return, even more puzzling questions emerge.

Mélanie Laurent Carries Oxygen with a Wonderful Locked-Room Performance

Locked-room thrillers live or die based on how well the main actor performs. If the actor doesn’t convincingly portray intensity and fear, the movie can easily become dull. A strong performance that quickly makes the audience care about the character is key to a successful locked-room thriller. That’s why performances like Ryan Reynolds in Buried and Jake Gyllenhaal in Source Code are so highly praised.

Right from the start, the actress convincingly portrays confusion and fear, immediately drawing viewers in. As her character begins to recall her past, the movie skillfully mixes suspense with the sad truth that she can’t reclaim what’s been lost. The story shifts between feelings of anxiety, sorrow, and ultimately, acceptance, taking the audience on an emotional journey alongside her.

Even though you expect the main character to survive in most movies, the audience truly fears for Liz’s safety from the very beginning. The film’s pacing is expertly maintained by Laurent’s conversations with himself and the pod’s AI, M.I.L.O., voiced wonderfully by Mathieu Amalric (known from Quantum of Solace), creating a fast-paced, thrilling experience that lasts for 100 minutes, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Oxygen Has a Brilliant Twist Ending That No One Saw Coming

While Oxygen begins with a setup similar to other films, it quickly veers into familiar sci-fi territory, feeling somewhat repetitive. As the main character, Liz, uncovers fragments of her past, inconsistencies arise, and the audience realizes she’s missing far more than just a few hours of her life – potentially years.

The movie takes a surprising turn in its final act when we learn that Liz, who’s been in prison, is actually a clone. She was put into a deep sleep and sent 14 light-years to another planet with the goal of ensuring humanity’s survival.

More than ten years ago, the original Liz’s memories and genetic material were transferred into her clone. However, the clone was prematurely awakened from the process because of a technical issue with the pod she was in. As Liz starts to understand who she is and come to terms with being a clone, she shifts her focus from trying to escape to simply staying alive.

Despite employing a familiar premise – similar to films like Moon and The Island which explore themes of self-awareness and identity – Oxygen managed to feel original by crafting a convincingly real life for its protagonist, Liz. Because Liz genuinely believed her own story, the audience was invested right alongside her. The moment she discovers her memories might not be her own is deeply moving, and the film’s conclusion feels earned after the intense suspense built throughout.

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2026-01-21 04:38