Oxygen

Oxygen

Year: 1999

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Shepard

ThrillerDramaMysteryCrimeCrime

When housewife Frances Hannon is abducted and buried alive, detective Madeline Foster is called in. With only 24 hours of air left, Madeline races against time, following clues left by a killer who calls himself Harry Houdini. She captures him and tries to force a confession, but he manipulates her unstable, alcoholic mind as the clock ticks down.

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Oxygen (1999) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Oxygen (1999), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

A chilling game of cat and mouse unfolds when Harry Houdini abducts and buries alive a wealthy businessman’s wife, demanding $1 million in cash from the husband in exchange for revealing the burial site’s location before she runs out of oxygen. He warns that police involvement will doom any chance of finding her alive.

As the scheme spirals, the authorities move quickly and Detective Madeline Foster is assigned the task of locating the buried woman and bringing Houdini to justice. What starts as a straightforward ransom turns into something far more insidious: Houdini seems to want the police involved, not to rescue his victim, but to lure Foster into his next kidnapping plot.

A tense car chase culminates in Houdini’s capture, and Foster presses for the buried woman’s location, but the stream of progress breaks when the FBI takes over—with results no better than the local police. In a shocking twist, it’s revealed that Houdini has already murdered his accomplice, changing the stakes dramatically and signaling that the buried woman may no longer be the sole target of the hunt.

Yet Houdini offers one last lifeline: he will allow the victim to be recovered alive if he is granted a private audience with Foster. The police concede, turning the interrogation into a dangerous dance between captor and detective. Foster’s resolve begins to deepen, and she notices a troubling kinship in Houdini, a mirror of the darker facets she herself harbors.

The investigation takes a pivotal turn when Houdini, who turns out to be more than a mastermind, reveals that he had been a painter working within the police department, responsible for a meticulously detailed map of the building. As Foster edges toward the truth, Houdini leads her to the place where the first woman was buried. Foster breaks free, frees the victim, seizes Houdini’s gun, and traps him by pushing him into the coffin. In the climactic moment, Foster shoots Houdini, choosing life and justice over burying him.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:03

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Thrillers with a Race Against Time like Oxygen

High-stakes narratives where every second counts for survival or justice.If you liked the urgent, life-or-death stakes in Oxygen, explore these movies like it. This section features similar thrillers and crime stories where a ticking clock creates intense, fast-paced suspense and desperate attempts to prevent disaster.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is built around a clear, impending deadline—be it a bomb set to detonate, a victim running out of air, or a criminal about to escape. The plot unfolds rapidly, with the protagonists scrambling against overwhelming odds, often facing twists and setbacks that heighten the tension until the final moments.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared structure of a tangible, urgent countdown. They deliver a consistent, high-intensity experience defined by fast pacing, anxious suspense, and the emotional weight of a desperate struggle where failure is not an option.

Psychological Thrillers with Troubled Detectives like Oxygen

Stories where damaged investigators are manipulated by cunning antagonists.For viewers who enjoyed the psychological cat-and-mouse game in Oxygen, this list features movies like it with similar character-driven plots. Discover crime investigations and mystery stories where a flawed hero's instability is exploited by a cunning villain.

psychologicalunsettlingdarktensemanipulativeobsessivecharacter-driven

Narrative Summary

The narrative centers on the volatile relationship between a troubled investigator and a perceptive criminal. The antagonist actively probes and exploits the protagonist's weaknesses, turning the pursuit into a battle of wits where the hunter risks becoming the hunted on a psychological level. The climax often involves the hero overcoming their flaws to win, but at a significant personal cost.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on a psychologically complex protagonist whose vulnerabilities are central to the conflict. They deliver a heavy emotional weight and a tense, unsettling tone through this intimate and manipulative character dynamic.

Unlock the Full Story of Oxygen

Don't stop at just watching — explore Oxygen in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Oxygen is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Oxygen Timeline

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Oxygen Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Oxygen

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Oxygen

Oxygen Spoiler-Free Summary

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Oxygen Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Oxygen

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