Over the past few years, Chainsaw Man has exploded in popularity. What started as a strange, violent, and emotionally charged manga has evolved into one of the modern Shonen Jump greats. The anime adaptation cemented its reputation, combining brutal action with an unpredictable story and characters that feel painfully real. Now, with Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, the franchise takes its next big step, and what a step it is. It’s not just a continuation, it’s a statement. A declaration that Chainsaw Man isn’t just another edgy action series, it’s one of the best things running in anime right now.
The movie picks up immediately after the first season of the anime. There’s no recap, no hand holding. You’re thrown right back into the chaotic world of Public Safety Devil Hunters, with Denji still adjusting to his strange new life after everything that went down in Season 1. If you haven’t seen the anime, I do have to mention, this movie isn’t for newcomers. It assumes you know who everyone is. Aki, Power, Makima, all of them, and it wastes no time explaining the world or Denji’s powers. This isn’t a reboot or a side story, it’s the next chronological chapter.
A new character, Reze, is the heart of this film, and her introduction brings a tonal shift right away. She’s charming, mysterious, and instantly draws Denji in with a warmth he’s never really known. There’s something fragile and human about her, and for the first time, Denji’s life slows down. The film lets that feeling breathe, it’s quieter, softer, even romantic in places. That’s where the story sets its emotional hook.
What struck me most about Reze Arc is how deliberately it’s structured into two very distinct halves. The first half plays almost like a slice-of-life film. It’s calm, surprisingly comedic, and focused on the small moments, conversations between Denji and Reze, casual humor between friends, the awkward charm of a boy who’s never really known affection. It’s lighter than what I expected from Chainsaw Man, and for a while, I was a bit worried.
I kept waiting for that trademark MAPPA insanity, the blood, the chainsaws, the screaming chaos. Instead, we get tenderness and emotional buildup. It felt strange at first. But as the story goes on, I realised it was all part of the setup. The film uses that downtime to make you care, about Denji, about Reze, about the fragile idea that maybe he could have something resembling normal happiness.
Without spoiling too much, the second half slams on the gas and never lets up. Everything that felt quiet and grounded in the first half detonates into an explosion of chaos, betrayal, and brutal combat. It’s Chainsaw Man in full swing again, fast, violent, stylish, and tragic. The action scenes are massive in scale, pulling in nearly every established character in one way or another. MAPPA goes all-out here, filling the screen with movement, blood, fire, and emotion. It’s breathtaking.
By the time the credits rolled, I realised that my early pacing worries were misplaced. The slow first half isn’t a flaw, it’s the fuse. Every quiet scene, every laugh, every soft moment makes the eventual violence hit ten times harder. The shift from hopeful to horrific is what gives the film its punch.
But yes, this movie expects you to already be invested in the world of Chainsaw Man. It makes no effort to catch you up. It doesn’t explain who Makima is, what Denji’s contract with Pochita means, or why Aki looks like he’s one bad day away from collapse. If you jump in without context, you’ll miss most of what makes the story so impactful. So, my advice, if you haven’t seen Chainsaw Man Season 1, start there. This isn’t a standalone spinoff. It’s the next chapter. And it’s meant to hit harder because you already care about these people.
When it comes to animation, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is nothing short of spectacular. MAPPA once again proves they’re at the top of the industry. The film looks incredible from start to finish, richly detailed, fluidly animated, and bursting with creative energy.
The quieter scenes have this cinematic softness to them, careful lighting, subtle color work, and precise character animation that captures small human gestures. You can feel the awkwardness when Denji blushes, the coolness of the rain-soaked streets when Reze smiles at him.
Then, when the chaos erupts, it’s like MAPPA flips a switch. The animation explodes into motion. camera angles twisting, buildings crumbling, blades revving, and devils tearing through everything in sight. It’s almost overwhelming how kinetic it gets. Every frame feels alive and so detailed.
There’s also some beautiful experimentation with perspective and color. The use of first-person shots, where you see scenes unfold through the character’s eyes, is striking, it drops you directly into their headspace. And the color palette shifts dramatically as the tone does, the first half is warm and human, full of oranges and soft blues, while the second half burns with reds, blacks, and harsh neon tones. The visual storytelling here is phenomenal.
The soundtrack deserves a huge shoutout. The music elevates the film’s emotional beats in ways I didn’t expect. During the quiet, romantic scenes, the score is gentle and melancholic, almost nostalgic. Then, when the fights start, it transforms, pulsing bass, heavy percussion, and that signature Chainsaw Man intensity.
The transitions are seamless. The music doesn’t just sit in the background, it drives the emotion. When Denji and Reze’s story takes a turn, you can feel it in the sound design before you even see it on screen. It’s really well crafted.
Whether you watch it in Japanese or English, the voice acting is consistently excellent. The performances carry every scene, from awkward comedy to emotional breakdowns to explosive battles. The actors really sell the humanity in these characters, especially Denji and Reze. Their chemistry is the film’s beating heart.
Final thoughts
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is a film that surprised me. It’s not the non-stop bloodbath I was expecting, but something more mature, more deliberate. It’s about connection, heartbreak, and the impossible dream of normality in a world that chews people up.
The first half lures you in with its quiet charm, almost tricking you into thinking Denji might finally get a break. The second half rips that illusion away in true Chainsaw Man fashion, reminding you that this world doesn’t do happy endings, it does heartbreak wrapped in fire and blood. By the end, I realized that the slower pacing, the slice-of-life tone, all of it was essential. It made the pain and chaos hit harder. It gave the film emotional weight.
This isn’t a movie for newcomers, it’s for fans who’ve been following Denji’s story and want to see it evolve. It’s also proof that MAPPA hasn’t lost a step. The animation, the music, the performances, it’s all top-tier. If Season 1 made you a fan, Reze Arc will remind you why you fell in love with this brutal, beautiful world in the first place. It’s Chainsaw Man at its most cinematic, intense, emotional, and unforgettable.
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9
- + Incredible animation from MAPPA
- + Twists and turns that drive emotion and action
- + Soundtrack that enhances each scene
- + A great continuation of the Chainsaw Man story
