‘Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc’ Review: Beautifully Animated Action-Romance Anime Revs up a Fun Cinematic Experience
Chainsaw Man, a 2022 anime series produced by MAPPA, was one of the few that intrigued me among the current crop of anime. A man with a chainsaw for a head and hands fighting powerful demons in a Men in Black-like agency is cool as hell. One of the most popular arcs in its manga, the Reze Arc – where Denji has his first reciprocated romance and heartbreak – deviates from the conventions of many anime films I've seen. It's a direct sequel to season one and a part of its canon rather than something that could be a standalone side story nobody cares for. Plus, it's not a movie version of an arc that they'll adapt and pad out again for TV *cough* Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, *cough*.
However, Reze Arc ensures that this is for fans who have completely caught up and doesn't include flashbacks for newcomers. Nevertheless, it's a fun and energetic action flick that retains the source's charms and perfectly suits the big screen.
Image copyright (©) Courtesy of MAPPA
MPA Rating: R (for strong bloody violence/gore and some nudity.)
Runtime: 1 Hour and 40 Minutes
Language: English (Dub), Japanese (Sub)
Production Companies: MAPPA, Shueisha
Distributor: Toho, Sony Pictures Releasing
Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Writer: Hiroshi Seko
Cast: Kikunosuke Toya, Reina Ueda, Fairouz Ai, Tomori Kusunoki, Shogo Sakata
U.S Release Date: October 24, 2025
After the conclusion of season one, Denji (Kikunosuke Toya), Aki (Shogo Sakata), and Power (Fairouz Ai) continue to serve as Public Safety Devil Hunters. Denji remains infatuated with his cunning and enigmatic boss, Makima (Tomori Kusunoki), and she shows off her tender side as they go on a movie-hopping date. Denji's happy life is turned upside down when he meets Reze (Reina Ueda), a pixie dream girl who works at a nearby cafe. Denji's position as a Devil Hunter is called into question as their relationship rapidly intensifies, prompting him to reflect on his life. Until she exposes herself as the Bomb Devil to trick him, that is. Will Denji find a better way to express his feelings, or will he have to face the consequences and fight her to the death?
Reze Arc continues Chainsaw Man's in-depth character study.
Reze in 'Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc' © 2025 MAPPA/CHAINSAW MAN PROJECT ©Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA
I had only seen a few Chainsaw Man episodes before watching Reze Arc, and I was really taken aback by its tone, animation, and characters. It’s a weird bag that I enjoyed watching, as the action direction is insane and the characters are enticing and sometimes very funny. Occasionally, Denji would say something sexist or go horny-on-main, and no one would confront him about it. Yet, his perverted mindset is understandable in light of his upbringing without any parental figures and social ineptness. I’m usually against anime movies overemphasizing flashbacks to the mainline series, but Reze Arc could’ve benefitted from it. Denji's tragic background and his lack of proper guidance to avoid being a hornball around women are not addressed in Reze Arc, which is heavily dependent on your completion of the first season. This is strictly *Huntr/x voice* FOR THE FANS.
However, the film continues nourishing Denji's psyche. As someone who is content with their new life, the film investigates Denji trying to grapple with his complex emotions and humanity apart from his Chainsaw Devil powers. His perspective is challenged by Reze, and their romance naturally stems from the hypotheticals of a life if it weren't stolen. They share emotionally intuitive yet naturalistic conversations revolving around who Denji would've been if he had had a proper upbringing and had attended school. He may be Chainsaw Man, but he's still an arrested-development baby out in the world for the first time. During the movie-hopping date, Denji looks to “girl, drop your Letterboxd” Makima to gauge her emotions and base his own thoughts off her because he doesn't know how to feel while watching movies. That shit is just sad to me, yet so understandable for a character like Denji.
The film thoroughly examines supporting cast members that weren’t fully covered during the first season, particularly the pairing of two extremely apathetic men, Angel Devil and Aki. Regretfully, Power and Makima are largely ignored for the majority of Reze Arc, making it a dude fest. It doesn’t help that the moments of "horny Denji" still reel their bomb head around; the dream sequence of seeing his crushes in lingerie attire will turn off first-time viewers.
MAPPA delivers another violent and visually splendorous roller-coaster ride.
Denji/Chainsaw Man in 'Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc' © 2025 MAPPA/CHAINSAW MAN PROJECT ©Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA
Yes, this is the same movie where Denji eventually rides a fucking shark-man to fight a destructive Typhoon Devil. Yet, series writer Hiroshi Seko retains the manga’s signature slice-of-life storytelling, while steadily working towards its over-the-top, bloody, ultraviolent action sequences. I was pleasantly surprised by how grounded the majority of its story is before it becomes a hyperkinetic action film. Reze Arc may play as an extensive episode of the anime, though for a feature format, it’s well-paced and keeps you enticed even in its more somber moments.
From a visual standpoint... eh, why waste any words? It's goddamn MAPPA! Why do I have to explain the superb animation quality? Its blend of 3D-modeled hyperrealistic backgrounds and 2D characters occupying its space is of the same wide scope as its series. It infuses the hyperreal and stunning layout and composition of its Tokyo-based locations, making the city these characters occupy feel so fleshed out and real.
Tatsuya Yoshihara, who directed two episodes of Chainsaw Man's inaugural season, and his MAPPA team flex their muscles with breathtaking action sequences. As the battle between Denji and Reze/Bomb Devil is brought to life on screen, it's a crazy, eye-popping, brilliant show of intense, colorful violence. A high-octane action climax in an anime film is as typical and expected as in any live-action capeshit flick. However, animation is a top-tier medium, so I don't care. I had a blast.
Final Statement
All in all, Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc is an enjoyable cinematic experience for the diehards and maybe first-time viewers (I saw it with two friends who thoroughly enjoyed it). It's an intuitive coming-of-age romance arc for the titular protagonist while being an explosive and electrifying action roller-coaster ride to watch on the big screen.
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