Reze Arc brings romance and tragedy to Chainsaw Man’s ultra-violent world
It is easy to look at a title like Chainsaw Man and think you know exactly what you are getting into. A violent spectacle, a mash of horror and absurd comedy, and an anti-hero swinging chainsaws around like a slasher villain with a sense of humor. All of that is true. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga and MAPPA’s anime adaptation are absolutely drenched in blood, body horror, and surreal humor. But with Reze Arc, the first big screen continuation of the Chainsaw Man anime, the story proves it carries more weight than just blood and gore. It also explores tragedy, longing, and heartbreak that cuts deeper than any chainsaw blade.
This new movie picks up right after the events of the anime’s first season, adapting one of the manga’s most beloved arcs. Denji, the scrappy teen who once lived in squalor with nothing but his devil-dog Pochita for company, has already been pulled into the bizarre world of Public Safety Devil Hunters. He has survived betrayal, dismemberment, and a parade of enemies who see him as little more than a tool. All Denji wants in life is a decent meal, some warmth, and maybe affection from someone who treats him as more than a disposable weapon. The tragedy of Chainsaw Man is that even these modest desires always seem just out of reach.
That tension comes to a head with the introduction of Reze, a young woman who appears in Denji’s life by chance. She is charming, warm, and unlike the manipulative Makima who has kept Denji tied to her since the beginning. For the first time, Denji sees a chance at a normal life. Their scenes together, from playful swimming lessons to conversations beneath fireworks, carry a tenderness that is rare for a series so infamous for carnage. The performances, especially from Kikunosuke Toya as Denji and Reina Ueda as Reze, sell the chemistry in a way that feels genuine. When Denji blushes or stammers around her, it feels less like slapstick comedy and more like a boy learning what love might mean.
Of course, this is still Chainsaw Man. That fragile sense of peace shatters when Reze’s true identity comes to light. She is no ordinary girl but the Bomb Devil hybrid, an agent of larger forces who want Denji’s heart for their own purposes. The betrayal cuts deep, not only for Denji but for the audience who has been drawn into the same fantasy of escape that he has. The eventual clash between Chainsaw Man and the Bomb Devil is together explosive and emotionally devastating. It is the kind of storytelling Fujimoto’s manga thrives on, and the film does not flinch in bringing that to the screen.
Tatsuya Yoshihara, stepping into the director’s chair after serving as action director for season one, approaches the material with a slightly different vision. Gone are the muted grays and cinematic lighting experiments that defined Ryu Nakayama’s approach to the show. Instead, Reze Arc uses a more colorful and mainstream palette, closer to what anime fans may expect from blockbuster releases like Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen. Some fans of the first season’s moody tone may miss that unique aesthetic, but the tradeoff is a brighter presentation that makes the action sequences easier to follow and the romantic interludes glow with warmth.
MAPPA’s animators once again prove why they are among the best in the business. The details in small moments, like hair moving in the wind or Denji’s posture shifting when he is around Reze, give as much weight as the explosive fights. When the action ramps up, the movie goes for broke. The battles are chaotic and visceral, complete with Denji literally riding the shark fiend Beam into combat. Reze’s bomb explosions light up the Tokyo skyline with a surreal frenzy, and the choreography never loses sight of the emotional stakes beneath the carnage.
A major highlight is the score by Kensuke Ushio. Known for his eclectic compositions in Devilman Crybaby and A Silent Voice, Ushio weaves together melancholic piano pieces with glitch-heavy tracks that distort as what was once romance turns into horror. The music during the pool scene, where Denji and Reze share a moment of closeness, is hauntingly beautiful. Later, when their connection unravels into violence, the soundtrack twists into a pounding electronic nightmare that mirrors Denji’s heartbreak. It is one of the best anime soundtracks of the year, and arguably the glue that makes the tonal shifts between romance and gore feel seamless.
Thematically, the film anchors itself in the fable of The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, which Denji and Reze discuss at a key point. Is it better to live a quiet, safe life or a dangerous one filled with opportunity? Denji, who has only known suffering, is the country mouse who thinks he wants the city’s pleasures, but in chasing them he constantly exposes himself to more pain. The irony is that he never even realizes he is trapped in a story where others dictate his choices. Reze Arc forces him to confront the cost of that naivety, and while he survives, the scars are not only physical.
By the end, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc has delivered everything fans hoped for, from over-the-top action to unforgettable visuals, but it also does something more. It makes you care. Denji’s first taste of real love, however fleeting, adds another layer to his tragic journey. The closing moments leave you hollow in the best way, a reminder that this is not a typical shonen hero story but a bleak meditation on survival, manipulation, and the cost of vulnerability.
For newcomers, the movie may feel overwhelming without prior context, but the core story of Denji and Reze works even without knowing every detail of the world. For fans, it is a faithful and moving adaptation of one of the manga’s standout arcs. It may not reach the same cinematic highs as the anime’s first season, but it succeeds where it matters most by breaking your heart and entertaining you at the same time.
Screen Rated 