Reel Reviews | Chainsaw Man

by Charles Kirkland, Jr.

The wildly popular manga series gets the full feature-film treatment in Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.

Denji, better known to fans as Lord Chainsaw, finally gets his deepest wish: a date with Makima. For a fleeting moment, everything he has ever wanted seems within reach. During their outing, Makima’s tenderness borders on divine. She confirms the existence of Denji’s heart both literally and figuratively, and in that instant, Denji pledges it entirely to her, at least in his mind. But the cruel irony of Denji’s life is that happiness never lingers.

The very next day, while taking shelter from a sudden downpour in a phone booth, he meets Reze, a flirty, charming barista whose bright energy cuts through his gloom. When she invites him to the café where she works to repay his kindness, Denji finds himself captivated once again. What begins as an innocent spark soon spirals into chaos, for surely Reze has no idea what danger awaits when you fall for a devil hunter.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc features a screenplay by Hiroshi Seko, adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed Chainsaw Man manga. The film stars Kikunosuke Toya, Tomori Kusunoki, Shōgo Sakata, and Ai Fairouz, with direction by Tatsuya Yoshihara, whose kinetic touch elevates this adaptation into an event that is both intimate and explosive.

The first and most important thing to know about Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is that it picks up immediately after the end of the anime’s first season. There is no recap, no prologue, and certainly no hand-holding. The film assumes that its audience already knows the world of devil hunters, Public Safety divisions, and the emotionally complicated bond between Denji and Makima. It is a bold, creative choice by MAPPA and Yoshihara, effectively declaring that this film is made for the fans.

That said, newcomers can still follow the story. It is accessible enough on a narrative level, but much of the emotional depth will resonate more deeply with those already invested. Surprisingly, the film’s pacing works to everyone’s advantage. For veterans, it expands the universe with richer emotional texture. For newcomers, it offers a window into the peculiar heart of Chainsaw Man.

Denji’s personality, equal parts crude, naïve, and strangely innocent, is on full display. The blossoming connection between Denji and Reze feels surprisingly authentic within the chaos of this world, their chemistry both awkward and endearing. Even without deep familiarity with the series, viewers can sense the danger simmering beneath Reze’s sweetness and Makima’s ever-watchful gaze.

Tonally, the film strikes an intriguing balance between dark humor and raw emotional gravity. The first act, in particular, bursts with levity, moments that humanize Denji while poking fun at his teenage impulsiveness and his impossible infatuation with Makima. There is a sequence that feels straight out of an R&B fever dream, part Bump N’ Grind, part existential comedy, as Denji battles his dueling desires. It is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny and cleverly sets the stage for the devastating tonal shift that follows.

Once the narrative pivots into its darker chapters, the emotional stakes rise sharply. The playful warmth between Denji and Reze gives way to heartache, betrayal, and explosive violence. The transition is quintessential Chainsaw Man, the illusion of bliss torn apart by the inevitability of blood and loss.

Visually, the animation is a noticeable step up from the series. Whether it is the benefit of a theatrical scale or Yoshihara’s refined direction, the film possesses a new richness and dimensionality. The fluidity of motion and the attention to lighting and texture make every frame feel alive. While it does not quite reach the painterly opulence of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, it fits the grimy, chaotic beauty of Fujimoto’s world perfectly. Each fight sequence feels like a dance between madness and meaning, every chainsaw roar underscored by a pulse of tragic humanity.

Already a box-office success across Japan and much of Asia, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc delivers everything fans could hope for: explosive action, twisted romance, and a heartbreakingly human story beneath all the gore. It is both a thrilling standalone experience and the perfect bridge to the anime’s anticipated second season.

For newcomers, diving into the series on Crunchyroll before watching is highly recommended. But even if you go in blind, let go of logic, embrace the chaos, and just ride. In true Chainsaw Man fashion, it is messy, moving, and absolutely unforgettable.

Grade: A-