Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc (2025)

​“Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc” stars Kikunosuke Toya, Reina Ueda, Fairouz Ai, Tomori Kusunoki, and Shogo Sakata.  Released in Japan on September 19, 2025, the film has Denji encountering a girl with a mysterious past.

The film was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara.  It is a direct sequel to the first season of the anime television series “Chainsaw Man”, which is based on a manga series by Tatsuki Fujimoto.  The Halloween season is undeniably brimming with ghouls, ghosts, monsters, and demons.  Even in the world of anime, there’s no escaping the multitude of supernatural entities eager to spill some blood.  This was recently highlighted by the latest cinematic adaptation of “Demon Slayer”, which has been slaying box office records with its epic two-and-a-half-hour clash between the Corps and the Upper Ranks.  This clearly underscores the media’s growing resurgence.  Yet, the Corps isn’t the only group slaying demonic forces this year, as another ruthless demon-killing hero has made his way to the big screen.

“Chainsaw Man” is another thrilling supernatural action anime that fuses ambitious presentation with hard-hitting violence and, of course, an abundance of devils.  The series about a man gaining demonic powers through a chainsaw devil dog was praised for its distinctive style from MAPPA, captivating characters, exhilarating action sequences, and juvenile humor, eventually garnering a devoted fanbase.  However, the latter aspect may hinge on your tolerance for its innuendos and comedic elements.  This dedication paved the way for the series to continue the gritty, violent escapades of the Public Safety Devil Hunters through a film adaptation, with Denji putting his devil heart to the ultimate test.  Does it effectively rev up its chainsaw engines to faithfully adapt its violently surreal source material?  Let’s find out.

The story takes place after the events of the show’s first season.  Following the fight with the Katana Man, Denji (Toya), a man endowed with chainsaw-like devil abilities, continues to defend the city from devil attacks alongside the Public Safety Devil Hunters, under the leadership of Makima (Kusunoki).  One day, while taking shelter from a storm, Denji meets a young woman named Reze (Ueda), a cafe employee who quickly takes an interest in him.  After spending several days with Reze, Denji found himself caught between his growing attraction to Reze and his longstanding affection for Makima.  However, everything changes when he uncovers the shocking truth behind the mysterious woman.  Reze is actually a devil assassin armed with deadly powers from a Soviet Bomb Devil.  This revelation forces Denji to confront Reze’s explosive fury before she unleashes chaos upon the entire city.

“Chainsaw Man” is undoubtedly one of those experiences that demands to be seen to be believed.  As someone who enjoys media involving demons and the supernatural, this series was right up my alley.  I gave it a watch three years ago, and I must say, it was a pretty fun ride from start to finish.  The action was thrillingly wild, and although the characters could be annoying at times, their antics contributed to the juvenile quality and comedy.  Additionally, the animation from MAPPA skillfully captured its ambitious style, art designs, and horror elements, showcasing the studio’s impressive contributions to both television and film.  Its latest adaptation of “The Rose of Versailles” on Netflix was also good if you guys haven’t checked that out yet.  Following the show’s first season, I found myself wondering if there would be more until news broke out about an upcoming film adaptation.  Given my enjoyment of “Chainsaw Man”, I was both excited and curious about how a show like this would translate to the big screen.

Regarding its reception in international markets, it seems that the film has found the answer, as it received massive acclaim for its stunning animation and storytelling.  Considering the juvenile and darkly violent approach of the anime, it’s no surprise that it’s able to win over the source material’s fans.  Now that it has finally premiered in the United States this weekend, the question arises: will it also impress general moviegoers unfamiliar with the series?  Having seen the film, my personal answer is both yes and no.  While some viewers might be dazzled by its stylization and consistently engaging plot, others may feel overwhelmed by its sensory overload and raw nature.  Since the film takes place after the show’s first season, newcomers may feel a bit lost about specific plot elements and character development.  Therefore, I recommend watching the series first to better understand the world-building and characters.  As for my own experience, I was thoroughly satisfied.  With a blend of bittersweet storytelling and visually chaotic presentation, “Reze Arc” successfully continues the “Chainsaw Man” saga, delivering just the right amount of blood, action, and romance to slice out a few narrative shortcomings.

One element that took me by surprise was the film’s narrative depth.  Given the title “Chainsaw Man”, one might anticipate a relentless barrage of bloodshed, music-video-style imagery, and mindless violence.  You know, because it has devils in it.  While it does deliver the bloody mayhem we would expect from the source material, they don’t emerge until the second half.  Instead, “Reze Arc” focuses on a character-driven, anti-love story exploring Denji’s humanity and complex affection.  Despite harboring feelings for Makima, Denji also felt drawn to Reze, thrusting him into a mental struggle to choose between them.  Although we all know what happens at the end, the journey retains its poignancy through Denji confronting an adversary more formidable than any devil: heartbreak.  Opting to reserve the intense action set piece for later, the film boldly prioritizes a grounded narrative that blends dark fantasy with anti-romance, particularly for a “Chainsaw Man” movie centered on a guy with a chainsaw for a head.  Fortunately, this decision paid off exceptionally well.

Screenwriter Hiroshi Seko not only delivered one of the most rewarding anti-love stories through engaging dialogue, humor, and character chemistry but also added depth to the source material’s seemingly unlikable characters, notably Denji.  I’m not much of a romance fanatic unless it’s up for some awards or it’s in anime form.  Thankfully, this is one such occasion where I didn’t mind the romance aspect being the primary focus amid its gruesome violence.  Denji remains the dimwitted yet intricate protagonist fans expect, and Reze is another female character who does more than just deliver fan service.  It’s this type of oddball romantic chemistry that’s believable enough to make us root for their happy ending despite its tragic end, evoking a surprising amount of emotion and underscoring the theme of heartbreak.  Some of the film’s narrative elements could benefit from further expansion to enhance its thematic depth.  Nonetheless, Seko has crafted a worthy addition to the saga that beautifully illustrates the decay of love through a man whose heart lies beneath his devilish exterior.

The original cast and crew from the series returned for the film, which isn’t surprising considering that they’re the glue that holds “Chainsaw Man” together.  At least, that’s what I remembered because it’s been a while since I last saw the show.  Notably, its Japanese cast continues to breathe life into their characters through their strong vocal performances, particularly Kikunosuke Toya, who effectively conveyed Denji’s wild yet layered personality.  Reina Ueda was also great as the voice of Reze, who’s perceived as a seemingly “cute” yet foreboding figure.  Ueda’s vocal range added a psychological dimension to Reze’s unnerving character, making people think twice before opening their hearts to her.  While bittersweet and dangerous, Reze’s background and Ueda’s voice work created a compelling adaptation of one of the source material’s most formidable adversaries.  Natsuki Hanae also did a commendable job voicing Beam, Denji’s temporary partner, who’s also a shark devil.

In terms of animation, “Chainsaw Man” stands as a testament to visual ambition, offering a chaotic yet captivating treat.  The blend of traditional animation with CGI, vibrant color palettes, and striking visuals exemplifies MAPPA’s prowess in art design, characters, and action scenes.  “Reze Arc” allowed MAPPA to take the anime’s style to the next level, and the result is downright incredible.  Obviously, the presentation maintains the same vivid chaos and stylization as the series, but it also showcases the haunting beauty in artistry during the less-violent moments, highlighting the intricate designs, atmospheric depth, and Teppei Ito’s cinematography.  Certain anime can be a bit constrained by their animation style, but “Chainsaw Man” actually feels like an actual animated movie with fluid character movements and smooth yet rough textures.  The film’s director, Tatsuya Yoshihara, worked on the show as an action director and also directed its fourth and tenth episodes, so it’s easy to tell that Yoshihara has extensive experience with the source material’s juvenilely violent aesthetics.  Yoshihara masterfully guides the film’s ambitious style, especially during the thrilling, vibrantly chaotic battle between Denji and Reze, and the equally compelling character-driven scenes through his directorial vision.  The score by composer Kensuke Ushio also played a crucial role in enhancing the film’s atmosphere, delivering a dynamic blend of heavy metal that highlights the stylized action and the subtle grace of the romantic elements.  

Overall, “Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc” revs its source material back up with an incredibly stylized and poignantly bittersweet continuation that reinforces the anime’s ferocious quality.  While some narrative elements don’t slash as hard as others in terms of the film's tragic themes, it provides enough depth in its character-driven moments to make its anti-love story as rewarding as its visually chaotic mayhem.  Understandably, audiences unfamiliar with the show might feel somewhat lost regarding the character development.  Nevertheless, Chainsaw Man’s debut on the big screen is another remarkable feat in anime cinema that sheds plenty of blood needed to satisfy die-hard fans of the source material.  With its strong voice cast, Hiroshi Seko’s engaging screenplay, substantial emotional resonance, and fantastic animation, “Reze Arc” proudly stands alongside “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” as an exemplary representation of the cinematic experience in the anime genre.  With these two films, it’s easy to see that anime’s future with cinema continues to shine bright, even if they both involve demons and devils.   

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