tech
February 23, 2026
All You Need Is Kill review
New version of the sci-fi day-on-repeat sees a perplexed duo repeatedly battle monstrous plants but leaves you feeling as bored as the protagonist appears
TL;DR
- This anime adaptation is a second film version of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's novel, deemed inferior to the 2014 'Edge of Tomorrow'.
- The film lacks engaging characterization, turning the time-loop concept into a 'grinding chore'.
- A new alien threat, Darol, and a switched protagonist, Rita, are introduced but fail to improve the narrative.
- The protagonists, Rita and Keiji, upgrade their skills and equipment to fight Darol, mirroring 'Edge of Tomorrow' but with a stronger emphasis on despair.
- Rita is described as a 'vehement-looking blank' with an unconvincing backstory, lacking the charisma of previous adaptations.
- The animation's visuals are considered sharp but marred by 'idiosyncratic angular character models' and 'garish colours'.
- The film misses opportunities for the kind of 'overblown weirdness and philosophical sideshoots' often found in anime.
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