I first watched Root Search at a Sci Fi convention in the late 80s, I was already an anime aficionado, and had many titles watched as well as in my library. I thought it was basically trash and slept through most of it. Years later in 1997, im in a theatre, watching a pretty good horror movie when it strikes me. I've seen some of this before. I can't place it and it gnaws at me. A few months after that, a friend asks if I've ever seen an older anime called 'Root Search' I denigrate it as not worthwhile, and she says I should take another look. So I do, I rent it and watch and suddenly, I understand what my brain was linking. Also, rewatching the show definitely has different meanings to you when you actually pay attention and have some history in your own life. Aside from the obvious connection to that previously mentioned horror movie which is sometimes labeled as either Hellraiser(1987) in space or simply as 'a haunted house in space' - Event Horizon (1997). Root Search stands on its own as some heavy sci fi that should be enjoyed. Don't expect an amazing movie, it's not that. It's a thought experiment on screen. A brain tickling gut punching experience if you understand the implications. I don't highly recommend this, however, if you are a fan of anime, horror, sci fi, and like the movie Event Horizon, then I do highly recommend you watch this just once. Enjoy.