Photo/Illutration “Penalty Loop” ((c) 2023 ‘PENALTY LOOP’ FILM PARTNERS)

A man finally takes revenge on his girlfriend’s killer only to find the murderer is still alive the next day.

It’s a typical theme in the time loop genre.

But director Shinji Araki says his latest film, “Penalty Loop,” is different.

“There have been many ‘time loop movies’ in the past, but I wanted to make something where you can’t ask for more,” he said.

Also written by the director, the story centers around Iwamori (played by Ryuya Wakaba), who poisons and fatally stabs Mizoguchi (Yusuke Iseya) before immersing the body in a swamp.

It’s June 6, yet Iwamori finds himself waking up on the same day all over again.

Iwamori kills Mizoguchi again, but this time Mizoguchi sees Iwamori’s face. The following day, Mizoguchi chooses not to drink a cup of poisoned coffee and offers it to someone else.

“There are time loop stories in which the protagonist gets killed and comes back to life, but I thought it would be novel to focus on the one who kills,” the director said.

In time loop tales, it is common to see the confrontation between the killer and the victim escalate.

But in this film, the protagonist and his nemesis become exhausted in their battle and find themselves bonding to create a strange friendship.

The story takes on a comical edge as the two men become trapped in a tragic loop that is part of a larger scheme.

The extraordinary sci-fi story unfolds against the backdrop of a realistic landscape, like the director’s debut film, “The Town of Headcounts,” released in 2020 that satirically portrays the dystopia of a controlled society.

“For me, reality is at the core,” Araki said. “I want to make movies that straddle the line between art and entertainment by combining themes the world needs to explore now, such as division and hatred, with science fiction.”

“Penalty Loop” is showing nationwide.

Related News