Oxygen (film)
Encyclopedia
Oxygen is 1999 film
, directed and written by Richard Shepard
. The film follows a troubled and (unbeknownst to her husband) masochistic cop, Madeline Foster (played by Maura Tierney
) as she pursues a kidnapper who calls himself Harry Houdini
(Adrien Brody
). The film bears a resemblance to the 1958 film Macabre
.
) has kidnapped and buried alive a rich businessman's wife. He demands $1 million in cash from the woman's husband in return for the release of the location of her burial site before she runs out of oxygen. He also states that if police involvement is initiated, he will ensure she is never found alive. As expected, however, police involvement is initiated and Detective Madeline Foster (Maura Tierney
) is assigned with the task of finding the buried woman as soon as possible, together with catching Houdini.
It is quickly realized though that Houdini, in fact, wanted the police to get involved so he could commit a second kidnapping - that of Foster. When Houdini is finally caught as the result of a car chase involving him and Detective Foster, he embroils her into his terrifying psychological world as she attempts to get him to reveal the location of his buried victim. When Foster's initial interrogation of Houdini proves unsuccessful, the FBI are assigned to take over the case, although they do not have any more luck. In a plot twist, it is revealed that Houdini has already committed a murder, that of his accomplice. He now has nothing to lose and the police realize the death of the buried woman would not be as significant as first thought.
However, Houdini offers them a final lifeline - if he is allowed to talk to Detective Foster, alone, he will allow his victim to be recovered alive. The police, now just puppets in Houdini's plan, give into his request and Foster is again embroiled in a psychological adventure of self-discovery with Houdini at the helm. Troubled, Foster begins to reveal her darker side to Houdini and he sees a kindred spirit in her. Just when she thinks she is getting through to him, Houdini persuades her that they are more alike than she ever imagined.
Soon after, it is revealed that Houdini was in fact a painter in the police department, and outlined the entire building in a very detailed map. Just as Foster is revealing the truth, Houdini takes her to the place where he buried the first woman. Foster escapes her hold, and releases the woman and takes Houdini's gun, then pushes him inside the coffin. His fate ends with him taunting Foster, so she shoots him rather than burying him.
The end of the movie is a short scene with Foster and her husband in a bar.
The film was shot on location in New York City
.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, directed and written by Richard Shepard
Richard Shepard
Richard Shepard is an American film and television director and screenwriter. In 2007 Shepard received a Directors Guild of America Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for the television pilot Ugly Betty....
. The film follows a troubled and (unbeknownst to her husband) masochistic cop, Madeline Foster (played by Maura Tierney
Maura Tierney
Maura Therese Tierney is an American film and television actress, who is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on NewsRadio and Abby Lockhart on the television medical drama ER.-Early life:...
) as she pursues a kidnapper who calls himself Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
(Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody is an American actor and film producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist . Winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 at age 29, he is the youngest actor to do so...
). The film bears a resemblance to the 1958 film Macabre
Macabre (1958 film)
Macabre is a 1958 thriller film directed by William Castle, written by Robb White, and starring William Prince, Jim Backus, Christine White, Jacqueline Scott, and Susan Morrow. It is considered Castle's first foray into using the promotional gimmicks that later made him famous...
.
Plot
"Harry Houdini" (Adrien BrodyAdrien Brody
Adrien Brody is an American actor and film producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist . Winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 at age 29, he is the youngest actor to do so...
) has kidnapped and buried alive a rich businessman's wife. He demands $1 million in cash from the woman's husband in return for the release of the location of her burial site before she runs out of oxygen. He also states that if police involvement is initiated, he will ensure she is never found alive. As expected, however, police involvement is initiated and Detective Madeline Foster (Maura Tierney
Maura Tierney
Maura Therese Tierney is an American film and television actress, who is best known for her roles as Lisa Miller on NewsRadio and Abby Lockhart on the television medical drama ER.-Early life:...
) is assigned with the task of finding the buried woman as soon as possible, together with catching Houdini.
It is quickly realized though that Houdini, in fact, wanted the police to get involved so he could commit a second kidnapping - that of Foster. When Houdini is finally caught as the result of a car chase involving him and Detective Foster, he embroils her into his terrifying psychological world as she attempts to get him to reveal the location of his buried victim. When Foster's initial interrogation of Houdini proves unsuccessful, the FBI are assigned to take over the case, although they do not have any more luck. In a plot twist, it is revealed that Houdini has already committed a murder, that of his accomplice. He now has nothing to lose and the police realize the death of the buried woman would not be as significant as first thought.
However, Houdini offers them a final lifeline - if he is allowed to talk to Detective Foster, alone, he will allow his victim to be recovered alive. The police, now just puppets in Houdini's plan, give into his request and Foster is again embroiled in a psychological adventure of self-discovery with Houdini at the helm. Troubled, Foster begins to reveal her darker side to Houdini and he sees a kindred spirit in her. Just when she thinks she is getting through to him, Houdini persuades her that they are more alike than she ever imagined.
Soon after, it is revealed that Houdini was in fact a painter in the police department, and outlined the entire building in a very detailed map. Just as Foster is revealing the truth, Houdini takes her to the place where he buried the first woman. Foster escapes her hold, and releases the woman and takes Houdini's gun, then pushes him inside the coffin. His fate ends with him taunting Foster, so she shoots him rather than burying him.
The end of the movie is a short scene with Foster and her husband in a bar.
The film was shot on location in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.