Film Review – All You Need Is Kill (2026)

      All You Need Is Kill, 2026.

      Directed by Ken’ichirô Akimoto and Yukinori Nakamura.

      Voices by Ai Mikami, Natsuki Hanae, Kana Hanazawa, Hiccorohee, and Mo Chugakusei.

      SYNOPSIS:

      In a time loop during an alien invasion, a clever yet lonely young woman must endure the cycle of death until she encounters a timid young man also caught in the same predicament. Together, they strive to escape the loop.

      If certain plot elements and even the film's title sound familiar, it’s because Ken’ichirô Akimoto and Yukinori Nakamura’s All You Need Is Kill (adapted from Hiroshi Sakurazaka's manga and scripted by Yûichirô Kido) has previously been made into a live-action film starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, originally titled Edge of Tomorrow (though some home video versions reverted to the original title). Let's be real, it’s hard to forget such a striking and memorable name. As someone who loves that Hollywood version and considers it one of the finest sci-fi films of the century so far, it's likely that this anime adaptation would evoke a similar response.

      This version shifts the gender roles from the original material (an alteration that often frustrates insecure purists, typically men). The story is more focused on Rita (voiced by Ai Mikami), a soldier assigned to the area of Darol, a massive 25-kilometer electromagnetic tree that mysteriously appeared. Today marks the anniversary of that event, and now plant-like monsters have emerged, destroying everything in their path. Each time Rita is killed, she wakes up to relive the same day, with her morning routine and the actions of supporting characters repeating verbatim.

      As a result, Rita faces a grueling challenge, learning, attacking, and dying repeatedly armed only with an exoskeleton and some melee weapons. The creatures feature a red spring at the center of the plant, acting as a weak point akin to video game logic. It’s intriguing that this narrative, across different media, is receiving another adaptation as rogue-lites— a newer gaming genre focused on dying and learning from experience— gain popularity, requiring players to develop skills to succeed in one go.

      While there are indications of a trauma-filled journey suggesting she is not only trapped in a time loop but in life itself, this interpretation wisely chooses not to focus heavily on storytelling, opting instead to capitalize on the action-driven premise for maximum enjoyment, with minimal breaks and high energy, supported by stunning animation. This doesn’t imply that Edge of Tomorrow suffered for its narrative approach, but this version confidently carves out its own unique identity.

      Throughout the story, Rita encounters Keiji (voiced by Natsuki Hanae), an introverted gamer who struggles in battle, similarly ensnared in the time loop. When one of them dies, the day resets. Together, they must collaborate to find a way to break the cycle and improve themselves. Although this adaptation of All You Need Is Kill lacks depth in story and emotional weight, it remains focused and concise, enhanced by vibrant visuals and breathtaking combat scenes.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder