All You Need Is Kill Review: A Disappointing Time Loop Anime
The second film adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's 2004 novel, All You Need Is Kill, arrives with high expectations but ultimately falls short, offering a time-loop narrative that feels more like a grinding chore than an engaging escape. This new anime version, directed by Ken'ichirô Akimoto and Yukinori Nakamura, is considerably inferior to the 2014 Hollywood hit Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise, despite sharing a similar premise of mechs and repeated days.
A Shift in Antagonists and Protagonists
In a notable departure from the original story, the directors introduce a new antagonist: a dormant alien flower named Darol, which begins emitting deadly spores resembling killer nasturtiums. The protagonist's perspective shifts to Rita, voiced by Ai Mikami, a female soldier in the United Defense Force tasked with monitoring this colossal plant. Exposure to Darol's quartz spores traps Rita in a relentless time loop, forcing her to relive the same imperfect day repeatedly.
Initially, Rita uses her early loops to flee from Darol, attempt suicide, and hone her combat skills. Eventually, she encounters another looper, Keiji, voiced by Natsuki Hanae, a hapless nerd. Together, they follow a gamified narrative akin to Edge of Tomorrow, gradually upgrading their abilities and gear to confront the flower's power. However, the film emphasises despair and futility, mirroring the existential rut seen in Groundhog Day, but this focus fails to resonate due to weak character development.
Lack of Engaging Characterisation
The film's central flaw lies in its protagonist, Rita, who comes across as a vehement-looking blank rather than a compelling character. Despite a hastily introduced backstory involving parental abuse, she lacks the depth or charisma needed to evoke gallows humour or personal tragedy from her predicament. This version misses the deft interplay that Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt brought to Edge of Tomorrow, leaving viewers disconnected from Rita's journey.
Studio 4°C's visuals, featuring idiosyncratic angular character models and vibrant colours for the alien invader, are sharp but underutilised. The potential for overblown weirdness and philosophical explorations, areas where anime could excel, is largely squandered, resulting in a narrative that feels repetitive and uninspired.
Final Verdict and Release Details
In summary, All You Need Is Kill struggles to captivate, with its time-loop mechanics feeling tedious rather than thrilling. While it attempts to innovate with new elements, the lack of engaging characterisation and inner spark makes it a forgettable entry in the sci-fi genre. The film is set for release in UK and Irish cinemas from 27 February, but it may leave audiences longing for the more dynamic execution of its predecessors.
