Penalty Loop Review

Coping with grief is a universal experience, yet each person navigates it in their own way. While there is no one-size-fits-all method, some ways of coping are undeniably destructive—violence being one of them. This raises a compelling question: if the love of your life were brutally murdered, would taking revenge on the killer bring you closure? It’s this moral dilemma that the dark comedy thriller Penalty Loop explores. A Groundhog Day-esque film that is as humorous as it is bleak, it intertwines the cyclical nature of vengeance with a thought-provoking examination of whether revenge can ever lead to true satisfaction—all while delivering a relentless stream of violent, repeated kills.

The film opens with Jun Iwamori (Ryuya Wakaba) waking up to his girlfriend, Yui Sunahara (Rio Yamashita), bidding him farewell as she heads out for the day. What seems like a routine morning soon turns tragic—this will be the last time Jun ever sees Yui alive. Her body is later discovered, dumped in a river. Overcome with grief, Jun embarks on a path of revenge. It is Monday, June 6. Jun goes to work, but only as a cover—his true goal is to kill Mizoguchi (Yusuke Iseya), Yui’s murderer. After spiking Mizoguchi’s coffee with drugs, Jun follows him to his car and brutally stabs him to death before disposing of the body in a lake. However, when the clock strikes midnight, Jun wakes up—only to find himself back at the beginning of the day. It is Monday, June 6. The cycle has begun, forcing Jun to kill Mizoguchi over and over again.

At its core, Penalty Loop is a meditation on loss—whether revenge can bring happiness and if it can truly help someone overcome grief. At one point, Jun decides he will no longer kill Mizoguchi. Having already murdered him multiple times, the emotional impact begins to wear off, and instead of another violent confrontation, they go bowling. However, an omnipotent force compels Jun to kill Mizoguchi with a bowling ball, reinforcing the inescapable nature of his predicament. No matter how many times the day resets, Jun must kill Mizoguchi. What began as an act of revenge transforms into a necessity—murder becomes the only way to restart the loop. This raises an unsettling question: when the cycle finally ends, will Jun feel any sense of satisfaction? Will revenge bring him peace? Penalty Loop is undeniably bleak, yet profoundly thought-provoking.

Over time, Jun and Mizoguchi develop an unusual bond, which is utterly compelling to watch thanks to the outstanding performances of Ryuya Wakaba and Yusuke Iseya. Like Jun, Mizoguchi becomes aware of the time loop and desperately seeks to understand why he is being killed repeatedly. When Jun reveals that Mizoguchi murdered his girlfriend, their conversations shift to the reasons behind his actions. As the film progresses, it delves into another facet of death—the idea that it can be an escape from internal suffering. However, this message feels somewhat muddled due to the mechanics of the time loop. Yet perhaps that is the point. Life is full of contradictions; people may appear happy while silently battling despair. Do others need to suffer for someone else to find happiness?Penalty Loop forces us to confront these difficult questions, making it an emotionally complex and intellectually engaging experience.

One of the most striking aspects of Penalty Loop is its immaculate soundtrack. In the early moments, where dialogue is sparse, the score takes center stage, propelling the narrative forward. So much is conveyed through the music that you may not even realize how little dialogue there is—until the characters begin speaking more frequently. From start to finish, the soundtrack is a true delight, enhancing the film’s atmosphere and emotional depth.

However, Penalty Loop falters in its conclusion. The ending fails to stick the landing and, oddly enough, feels disconnected from what was previously established. Despite this shortcoming, the journey itself is more than worth it. Penalty Loop remains a darkly grim yet poignant meditation on grief and the lengths we go to in pursuit of happiness.

★★★★

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2025 takes place in cinemas around the UK from 7 February – 31 March 2025 / Ryuya Wakaba, Rio Yamashita, Yusuke Iseya, Jin Dae-yeon / Dir: Shinji Araki / 18