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Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Review
Image Credit: Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA
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Directed By: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Written By: Hiroshi Seko; Based on the original story Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto (Serialized in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+)
Runtime: 100 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence/gore and some nudity.
Kikunosuke Toya/Ryan Colt Levy – Denji
Reina Ueda/Alexis Tipton – Reze
Shogo Sakata/Reagan Murdock – Aki Hayakawa
Natsuki Hanae/Derick Snow – Beam
Tomori Kusunoki/Suzie Yeung – Makima
Maaya Uchida/Casey Mongillo – Angel Devil
Fairouz Ai/Sarah Wiedenheft – Power
Yūya Uchida/Josh Bangle – Violence Fiend
Karin Takahashi/Bryn Apprill – Kobeni Higashiyama
Shiori Izawa/Lindsay Seidel – Pochita
The animated Chainsaw Man saga continues with the big-screen treatment in the theatrical feature, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Instead of a standalone “filler” adventure, Reze Arc picks up directly where the anime television series left off after its twelfth episode.
The new movie adapts the next canonical storyline from creator Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga series. In the olden days, if a popular manga received a television series, and later a theatrical movie, the movie was usually not based on a canon story from the original manga storyline. The anime studio would usually devise a brand-new filler plotline set in the middle of an ongoing series that cannot contradict or affect anything in the mainline canon adapted from the source material.
Movies like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle marked a divergence from this format. Now, anime studios and publishers are opting to create theatrical experiences that adapt the main storylines, and the results have been paying off in dividends, at least where Demon Slayer is concerned. The Chainsaw Man movie reinforces why this is a winning strategy that should continue. Thanks to the theatrical format, it takes everything great about the anime series and dials it up to eleven with better production values, more mayhem, and pure, nonstop insanity.
To bring everyone up to speed, Chainsaw Man depicts a world where devils exist. Most devils are dangerous, ravenous creatures who feed on the blood and flesh of humans. The Devils weirdly manifest as the physical embodiment of abstract concepts or ideas, such as the future, time, or primal fears. Some devils and fiends manifest as concepts of animal species, such as dogs, sharks, or other animals.
Denji (Colt Levy) is a destitute, orphaned teen who kills devils for money and the yakuza, as his late father left him with a considerable debt. However, Denji managed to befriend a small, wounded dog-like devil he names Pochita, a devil that embodies humanity’s fear of chainsaws. After Denji is betrayed and killed by his mob bosses, Pochita forms a contract with his caretaker, merging with the dead Denji and bringing him back to life by becoming his new heart.
The process transforms Denji into a devil/human hybrid with a bizarre superpower. When Denji pulls a string lever that protrudes from his chest, he turns into Chainsaw Man, a terrifying force for good who grows literal chainsaws out of his body and has the power to kill and bring down stronger devils. Those who are confused by the premise might now want to seek out Chainsaw Man. Intrigued and intrepid moviegoers, prepare to become enlightened!
During the first season of the anime series, after becoming Chainsaw Man, Denji gets taken in by Makima (Yeung), the mysterious leader of Japan’s Public Safety Division, who employs hunters to track down and hunt malevolent devils. Later, Denji partners with the stoic Aki (Murdock) and the eccentric re-animated fiend, Power (Wiedenheft), to hunt down devils and track the whereabouts of the Gun Devil, a powerful and dangerous demon. All-out violence, blood, gore, and nonstop mayhem ensue.
In Reze Arc, Denji is enjoying some downtime when he experiences a fateful encounter with a young student, Reze (Tipton). Although Denji holds a sizable crush on his boss Makima, he’s quickly smitten and taken by the bubbly and cheerful Reze. A hormonal and sex-crazed teen boy like Denji can hardly resist a girl like Reze fawning over him and giving him so much attention, in contrast to the aloof Makima.
Unfortunately, Denji’s new crush is not all she appears to be, as the bright young woman harbors a dark secret. Soon, Denji becomes embroiled in an all-out brawl against a new hybrid enemy, the Bomb Devil, who can conjure deadly explosions and create bombs at will, all for the sake of capturing Denji’s chainsaw-emblazoned heart. All the aggravation revs up Denji’s chainsaws, making Tokyo ground zero for a madcap battle of epic proportions.
Reze Arc basically acts as two movies. The first half features Denji embarking on an odd, syrupy teen romance with Reze, while the second half delivers the unhinged mayhem fans come to expect from the Chainsaw Man saga. The film packs most of the action into the latter half, but once it starts, it gradually escalates and goes nonstop.
Denji and Reze’s tragic, twisted love story is interesting in how it showcases Denji’s keen sense of empathy, even though Denji comes off as dimwitted and naive. While the Devils in Chainsaw Man represent abstract concepts or humanity’s fears, Denji represents humanity’s capacity for goodness, kindness, and compassion, so it’s not surprising that a wounded animal such as Pochita would bond with the infinitely kind yet always down on his luck Denji. Then, in the new movie, Denji experiences the joys and tragedies of a whirlwind teen romance, albeit through the demented lens of Fujimoto’s storytelling and some wondrous animation by Studio MAPPA.
Elsewhere in the movie, Denji’s frequent comrade and roommate, Aki (Murdock), partners with the lazily nihilistic Angel Devil (Mongillo), a Devil brought to heel by the Public Safety Division. Aki acts as a secondary antagonist. He likes to play the strong, silent type and the cool guy.
However, Aki merely projects his stoic personality to hide his true nature. He’s actually a genuine guy with a heart of gold who cares about his allies. Aki tragically finds himself in a dangerous line of work where he’s fated to die very young, and it’s the same for his friends and co-workers. The best moments in Chainsaw Man occur when Aki lets his mask of stoicism slip, showing the kind and compassionate guy he attempts to bottle up.
Deep down, Aki is still that little kid who loved his family, but he’s lost so much that he tries to harden himself and wear a grim mask, devoid of any emotions. Aki is one of the saddest and most tragic figures in the Chainsaw Man saga.
Unfortunately, Power takes a backseat in this storyline, as her devil horns have grown too unwieldy, so Makima sidelines her for a routine blood draining. As a result, Denji gets partnered with the Shark Fiend, Beam (Derick Snow). Whereas Power is maniacally insane, Beam demonstrates the loyalty and eagerness of a golden retriever puppy, eager to please his Lord Chainsaw.
Beam and Denji share an amusing relationship and a very unique dynamic compared to Denji’s relationship with Power. However, Beam and Denji share a similar dimwitted braincell, which provides some of the movie’s most humorous moments when they fight together.
Director Tatsuya Yoshihara, who previously worked on the anime series, and the animators at Studio MAPPA created some glorious work here, bringing Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga creation to life. The romantic scenes between Denji and Reze beautifully visualize what’s likely going through Denji’s head as he falls deeply in love with the young girl.
The animation strangely captures the romantic spark, along with the tragic sadness, that comes with young love. Additionally, when the major action sequences unfold, MAPPA truly shows why the studio is a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Chainsaw Man and the Bomb Devil wage a devastating all-out battle, and the animated visuals look terrific.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc ultimately proves that the trend of making movies that work as canonical chapters, rather than filler adventures, works, and it should likely continue. The story works as a singular chapter of a larger, ongoing story. However, director Yoshihara and writer Hiroshi Seko wisely did not bite off more than they could chew.
In an ominous prologue, the movie opens with an eerie moment that revisits Denji’s close bond with Pochita. It’s an intriguing setup that lacks a proper payoff for the movie’s narrative, and it could have benefited from an additional follow-up.
They crafted the Bomb Devil story arc into a satisfying, self-contained movie, while also delivering a satisfying theatrical experience for fans who have been patiently waiting almost three years for new Chainsaw Man animation. Hopefully, the wait for a second season will not be as long as the wait for the movie.
Where to Watch Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is now playing in theaters across the U.S. Ticket details and showtimes are available at the film’s website.
