“everyone’s after my chainsaw heart! what about denji’s heart?!?
In a brutal war between devils, hunters, and secret enemies, a mysterious girl named Reze has stepped into Denji’s world, and he faces his deadliest battle yet, fueled by love in a world where survival knows no rules.” – Letterbxd Synopsis
This movie was just as great as I expected it to be. A few years removed from the excellent first season, the anticipation has been building for this arc to be adapted, especially with it being (in my mind) a real pivotal turning point in the series. I’m glad it got the movie treatment. They nailed it. It was just as fun, action-packed, and emotional as it needed to be. Also, the visuals and sound, which were already great from season one, are on another level here.
The Reze arc is a very important one; I think it marks the beginning of a turning point for many things. First and foremost, being Denji as a person. This is once again a situation where he finds himself being manipulated in some way by another girl, but unlike the weird undertones that are there with Makima or Himeno, there is something genuinely there between Reze and Denji. There is an understanding and kinship between them that was honestly so beautiful to see animated. I’ll talk about the music and visuals later, but for now, I can’t stop thinking about the pool scene or the ending scene. It was all very sweet, and for the first time ever, Denji had to really deal with certain internal conflicts and his feelings and a sort of heartbreak. Which is all new for him.
Reze is iconic when it comes to this series, in terms of her design, story, and mannerisms. I love her character, and seeing her brought to life was amazing. She’s written so well because most of how she feels is never said aloud. It’s mostly all in how she acts and her expressions. What little we come to find out about her backstory and how she gets put into this position really makes her a sympathetic antagonist and someone you want to see have a better life, just like Denji, maybe even with Denji. And her character overall really hammers home the bleakness of this world and the cruelty of it all. I really love Reze as a character and how she is utilized in this arc.
Aki and Angel also have some prominent moments in this arc. They’re kind of the B plot of this movie. Seeing their relationship grow a bit, but also seeing Aki’s pain slip out once again. This man has lived such a tragic life filled with loss, and he really reaches a breaking point in this movie that was very raw and emotional. These past few arcs have really been adding a lot of emotional weight to him as a character, and it’s interesting seeing him having to deal with his feelings about all the loss he’s faced in this cruel world.
As much as I loved the story of this arc and how the movie told it. The star of the show is the visuals and sound. I didn’t think there would be an opening, but we got a new one, and it slaps so hard and looks amazing. And once again, the lyrics are just so perfect and fitting. The movie itself looks like a better version of the anime (which already looked great). The animation is superb, the camera work and direction is chef’s kiss, and the flares that they add to the action scenes (which make up most of this movie) are amazing. Even when I would start to get to the point where I felt like the action was dragging a bit, they’d bring out some of the coolest animation I’ve ever seen, and I’d be right back in it. The infrared scenes and really any time Reze was involved in the fight, it was amazing. And so was the music. I talked about the opening, but even the ending and overall score in general were beautiful.
So yeah, I couldn’t be happier that Chainsaw Man is getting treated so well (at least so far) when it comes to this adaptation. This series is truly deserving. I still stand by my feelings from a few years ago when I binge-read it all. I think this story is genuinely amazing and tackles a lot while also being so fun and chaotic. So far through season one and this movie, the anime has done an amazing job adapting the material and enhancing things. This arc getting a movie was perfect, because for as much action as there is, there’s equally enough heart and emotion and story elements that become very important as the series goes on. I’m just living for the fact that Chainsaw Man is getting this much love and that such an important and fan favorite arc got a blockbuster movie.
Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc – 9/10
Notes – Makima is such a great mystery of a character. I can’t wait for the next season.
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