Telling a time loop story is a real challenge. Done poorly, it becomes a repetitive chore for the audience. Thankfully, All You Need Is KIll deftly avoids this common trap, delivering an engaging and sharp sci-fi narrative from start to finish.
Many will know the premise from the Tom Cruise film Edge of Tomorrow. It’s no coincidence; both are based on the Japanese sci-fi novel, All You Need Is Kill. This anime adaptation introduces us to Rita, a troubled but intelligent young woman volunteering for reconstruction efforts.
Their enemy is “Darol,” a rather odd name for the towering, skyscraper-sized alien plant that obliterated some of Japan when it landed. After a year of dormancy, Rita and her colleagues are tidying up the massive growth, but the anniversary brings an unpleasant surprise.
Death Becomes Her
Murderous aliens erupt from the plant, slaughtering everyone, including Rita. And then she wakes up, back at the start of the same morning.
Yes, it’s that type of story. Rita is now caught, forced to work out how to prevent the catastrophe, dying repeatedly in the process. Crucially, the anime respects the viewer’s time. We only see the loop play out in full perhaps twice before the story smartly truncates the action, focusing only on what changes.
As a protagonist, Rita could have been as frustrating as the alien plant, but she remains compelling. While you wish she would simply ask for help (something she struggles with after a few failed attempts), her determination is admirable. She teaches herself to fight, master her mech suit, and does exactly what you’d expect from someone determined to save the world… or die trying. And she dies many, many times.
A Surreal Conclusion
If there’s a slight stumble, it’s only towards the very end. As Rita makes her final push to escape the loop, the narrative tempo drops slightly and things get a bit surreal.
This seems to be a common trait in anime, where the final scenes ramp up the “sci-fi craziness” to abstract levels. The resolution for Darol feels a little thin, perhaps even inexplicable given the highly improbable setup.
But honestly, this is just nitpicking. All You Need Is Kill is a modern, entertaining, and easy watch. It takes a familiar concept and executes it with style. Recommended.
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