By Chainsaw Man shouldn’t be as popular as it is. Compared to most other mainstream Shōnen action series, a lot of what makes Chainsaw Man stand out is how un-Shōnen it is. Many of its concepts are esoteric, the series doesn’t follow your typical Shōnen story structure, and devastating scenes kind of happen with little fanfare. That isn’t to say I don’t like the series, because I most certainly do. I read it every single week, but I’ll be the first to admit that reading Chainsaw Man on a weekly basis isn’t exactly the best way to experience the series.
The series is at its strongest when you binge each individual arc all at once. I think that’s one of the main reasons why MAPPA decided to adapt the next major arc in their Chainsaw Man anime adaptation as a feature film. Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc, much like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, is a canon adaptation of a relatively short arc in the series, but it’s a fan-favorite one. I wouldn’t call the Reze arc my favorite arc in the series (I cannot WAIT for the International Assassins arc to be adapted), but I knew that the highs of Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc were going to be some of the best moments of MAPPA’s adaptation so far. And I was not mistaken.
Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc
Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Release Date: October 2, 2025 (Theatrical)
Rating: R
For those unaware of what Chainsaw Man is about, the series follows a teenager named Denji (Kikunosuke Toya/Ryan Colt Levy), who has the ability to turn into a demon covered in chainsaws. He quickly gets the attention of a mysterious woman named Makima (Tomori Kusunoki/Suzie Yeung), who conscripts Denji into the secret government agency she heads, Tokyo Special Division 4, a group made of monster hunters and demons forced into service by Makima. You don’t really need to know any of that, though, as Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc mostly centers on Denji and his feelings both for Makima and a young woman he meets at the start of the film, Reze (Reina Ueda/Alexis Tipton).
For the first half of the movie, you wouldn’t even be aware that this film is part of an action series. So much of Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc is actually about exploring the complicated feelings that Denji has for Reze and his own self-perceived loyalty to Makima. These aren’t exactly healthy relationships – Denji is typically referred to as a dog by both women – but it only highlights how Denji is such an unconventional protagonist.
Unlike anime heroes such as Naruto, Luffy, or Tanjiro, Denji has simple goals. He just wants to get laid. It’s as simple as that, and one I can respect. He has a basic life where he enjoys the necessities, like having three square meals a day and a roof over his head. And at times, that’s enough for him. Other times, he wants to be with a woman just because. He kind of exists and never thinks about complex feelings. He’s a simpleton, but he’s not an idiot. Likewise, he’s trying to figure out who he is in the film and spends time with Makima and Reze attempting to discover that. Does he have a heart or not? Does he even like killing monsters for Tokyo Special Division 4? Is love all he wants, or is there more to it?
Copyright: Crunchyroll, Sony
Something that separates Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc from other anime feature films is how philosophical it can get. Yes, this film does have a man made of chainsaws ride a giant shark like a horse, which is stupidly awesome in so many different ways, but it juxtaposes those moments with quiet moments of contemplation. The film uses the allegory of Aesop’s “The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse” to explore each of the characters’ desires and explores them in great detail. Why is Reze, who is so adventurous and forthcoming, the kind of person who prefers the simplicity of the country mouse?
Moments like these litter the first hour of the film, and if you were the kind of person expecting the same bombastic and sophomoric charm that laced the first season of the show, you may be taken aback. It’s contemplative, and at points has more in common with films like Your Name than Chainsaw Man. The world is still bleak and fatalistic, and most of the film balances stewing in the negativity of the world with the optimism and hope that Reze brings to Denji’s life.
But therein lies a bit of a problem. Denji is the main character, and most of the film is entirely dedicated to his relationship with Reze. However, we barely get to know Reze as a person here. We meet her, get a glimpse of her personality, see the layers of her character peel back, and then she’s gone by the time the credits roll. Granted, her last scene is tragic when you think about it, but it doesn’t change the fact that we only really have 100 minutes to get to know her. In a way, she’s like Rengoku from Mugen Train, but Rengoku was unquestionably the main character of that film to the point where his death had meaning. Here, Reze isn’t the lead, which limits her effectiveness as an emotional anchor. Her name may be part of the title, but this film is still about Chainsaw Man.
Copyright: Crunchyroll, Sony
But once Chainsaw Man appears an hour into the movie, Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc dives headfirst into bombastic action. It’s like the film was tweaking about how it really couldn’t have any fight scenes, so when it’s finally given permission, it’s an absolute bloodbath. MAPPA are always incredibly skilled animators, even if their crunch culture is borderline inhumane. Nevertheless, the fight scenes that dominate the climax of the film are absolutely stunning. I know that people will instinctively praise Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle as being one of the most gorgeous anime feature films of all time, but the attention to detail and sheer energy of Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc is magical.
The explosions, the blood, the weather effects, the color; all of it is on point and irresistible. I loved the attention to detail present in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original manga, and I especially love the intro that homages the manga, but I think the film presents the fights here so well that I can’t go back to the original source material. The speed and scale of the fight scenes are a sight to behold, and the way that the film mixes 2D and 3D is practically seamless. I admit that I’ve previously stuck up my nose at anime that use CG in anime productions, mostly because its inclusion has less to do with artistic vision and more to do with it being the cheap option, but its use here is frankly masterful, and if a theoretical second season of Chainsaw Man can integrate 2D and 3D as well as this film does, then we may have one of the best action anime of all time on our hands.
Are there other minor quibbles I could take with the film? Sure, but I don’t think they’re deal breakers. I’m sad that Power (Fairouz Ai/Sarah Weidenheft) is sidelined for most of the movie, but that’s an issue more with the source material than the film. Not only that, but I think the supporting cast, in general, is just kind of there and barely leaves an impression outside the core trio of Denji, Makima, and Reze. But as a longtime Chainsaw Man fan, I was happy with what Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc brought to the table. It’s effectively a feature-length episode of the show with some extra money thrown at it to make it shine, and really, that’s all I was asking for.
See Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle? THIS is how you make an anime film that respects that source material and my time!
