Manga and anime onlys are in for a bloody, chaotic treat with Chainsaw Man-The Movie: Reze Arc. It delivers an emotional, fun, and definitely an explosive good time.
Chainsaw Man The Movie Reze Arc Review
When it comes to Shonen protagonists, they typically all are strong, mostly selfless, and either emotional or aloof. For the uninitiated, you may think Denji, the main character of Chainsaw Man, would also fit this pattern. Well you would be wrong. Although he is strong, he is not selfless, at least not in the same way as say Deku, Tanjiro, or even Goku. He's not fighting to save the world or even to save his city. He's had a terrible life and all he really wants is food and to be able to touch certain parts of girls. Unconventional as it seems, Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man exploded in popularity and season 1 of the anime saw the devil-human hybrid gaining even more fans. Almost 3 years after season 1 ended, the wait for more is finally over. The manga's second arc is brought to life by MAPPA but this time for the big screen.
Chainsaw Man- The Movie: Reze Arc is everything I wanted as a manga fan and more. Director Tatsuya Yoshihara does a great job tackling this dark rom-very-little-com, that pushes Denji to grow in ways he wasn't expecting, both mentally and physically. He lets the story breathe during the emotional moments before making it pop in the climatic battle. Denji shows off some new abilities and the Bomb Devil looks even more killer on the big screen. Plus reader favorite Beam gets to be a part of some of the silliest (compliment) fighting sequences we've seen since Gear 5 Luffy and Kaido. Although this film works as a standalone, knowledge of the main characters, particularly Denji and his quest for acceptance/love, makes the film more meaningful. Also it ends on a cliffhanger as anime loves to do so there's that.
Here's a recap. Chainsaw Man takes place in a work where “devils” are born from humanity's fears (similar to how cursed spirits work in Jujutsu Kaisen). Denji is a rough-around-the-edges, horny teenage orphan whose only friend is the Chainsaw Devil Pochita. After he is attack and left to die, Pochita sacrifices itself to become his heart, making Denji the Chainsaw Man. Now he has powers which leads him to becoming involved with the devil hunting Public Safety organization, led by the beautiful, mysterious, and manipulative Makima. When the film starts, Denji meets Reze, a flirty, cute barista who seems to genuinely like Denji. The two hit it off, and even though Denji fights his growing feelings for Reze, due to his loyalty to Makima, he can't help but start to imagine a more simple life with this girl. Unfortunately, Denji's first real love is doomed from the beginning.
Do not come into this thinking you are about to get a 100 minutes of non-stop action. Out of the tight runtime, the majority of the film is mostly quiet, focusing on the growing relationship between Denji and Reze. In fact, it doesn't explain the overall premise of the show, mostly avoids the hunt for the Gun Devil, and aside from a cliffhanger at the end, doesn't really do anything in the way of a huge development. The love story is front and center, with everything revolving around it. Denji doesn't even transform into his chainsaw sprouting self until an hour into the film. Don't mistake that for boring though. The slightest touches, the nervous glances, all of it works together to create a slow-burn that helps sell this love story and further endear Denji to fans. For those catching the film in sub, Kikunosuke Toya and Reina Ueda are a phenomenal duo.
All those small moments are beautifully rendered thanks to the artists at MAPPA. Their work elevates the love story, adding a dreamlike hue to the quieter scenes before colors burst across the screen, signaling a massive shift in tone and intentions of Reze. Being able to translate through animation when Reze begins to break down and become the Devil she has been trying to ignore is nothing short of amazing. Naturally the action is nothing short of a spectacle, utilizing 2D and 3D animation to make things, well explode. The Bomb Devil gives us Bakugo and Roy Mustang type moves as she blasts through buildings, trees, and anything else that might get in her way. (I truly never get tired of seeing nods to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, wherever they pop up.)
One thing Chainsaw Man is known for outside of its interesting characters is its music. Kensuke Ushio's (Devilman Crybaby, A Silent Voice) score is both pulse-pounding and gentle. It is hauntingly beautiful during the pivotal pool scene. The rocking out with a synth-heavy sound as Denji does battle against his would-be lady love. Kenshi Yonezu's title track IRIS OUT is another banger that was immediately added to my anime playlist.
Verdict
Chainsaw Man-The Movie: Reze Arc is an emotional, bloody, chaotic, fun, and yes, an explosive good time. As a manga reader it was everything I wanted for this adaptation and more. Sure, it does seem like an odd choice to adapt a more slow-moving storyline for the big screen rather than something flashy like say Infinity Castle or Mugen Train, but it works. I know a lot of fans had some grievances with how season 1 was handled but I think Reze Arc puts those worries to rest from its animation to the energy given to the love story. Like many anime films, not every character from the show is given ample screen time, so for anime-onlys, I need you to know some of your favorites are barely there. Still, what we get is a faithful telling of the manga arc, from the connection between the two teens to the absolutely bonkers moments featuring Beam. Reze Arc does not disappoint.
Chainsaw Man: The Movie- Reze Arc is now in theaters. It is rated R for for strong bloody violence/gore and some nudity with a runtime of 100 minutes.
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