Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.... Absolute Anime!!!
It’s been truly fascinating to watch the rise of Chainsaw Man. Ever since I read the early preview of Volume 1 way back in 2020 thanks to our friends at VIZ, I knew this manga series was going to be something special. Since then, the manga has gone on to be a best-seller, and it spawned a highly successful anime in 2022, which I got to see first at NYCC! Yet, while the manga continued to be published in America, things seemed to cool down after the anime’s conclusion. Then, in December 2023, a new animated Chainsaw Man project was announced – an animated film adaptation of the next arc. Things went quiet again, and now, in 2025, we have the return of Chainsaw Man to the screen with Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc. Was it worth the two-year wait? Let’s talk about it.
Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc picks up right where the first season of the anime left off, with Denji (Chainsaw Man) working as a Devil Hunter for the Japanese Government as part of Special Division 4, under supervision of Makima, an enigmatic woman Denji is hopelessly in love with. In the movie, things change for Denji in a major way as he falls for a new girl, Reze, who opens Denji up to new experiences and shows him that there may be more to life than simply doing a good job as a Devil Hunter.
Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc is, for my money, the ideal anime film. It’s something that continues the story of its source material, while being grand enough to not feel like a bunch of episodes strung together. The team at MAPPA have outdone themselves here, creating an eyepopping spectacle of a film that is absolutely gorgeous to behold. Reze Arc elevates even the small moments with extreme detail, innovative camera angles and frenetic, high-octane action. Visually, this film far exceeds the benchmark I’d set for myself after seeing Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Beginning of a New Era at AnimeNYC. You can clearly see where all of the work went in these past two years, bringing this story to life.
Not only that, but Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc introduces new characters into the story, all of whom stand out and immediately endear themselves to the audience. Besides Reze herself, who is such a masterfully written character I can’t explain it without going into spoilers, there are two major characters introduced in Reze Arc.
The first is Beam, the Shark Fiend. He’s assigned to be Denji’s new partner while his old one, Power, is regrettably indisposed for the length of the film. Beam is a super fanboy of the Chainsaw Devil, which at first, I worried would make him annoying. However, his instant ride-or-die attitude towards Denji and frenetic energy made him a delight to watch from beginning to end – I look forward to seeing more of him in the next animated adaptation!
The second major character introduced is the Angel Devil. Paradoxically, the Angel Devil is an entity that has been born from humanity’s fear of Angels, and as such, Angel is a danger to those around him. Angel has the innate, uncontrollable ability to suck the life force out of anything he comes in contact with. This destructive ability makes him extremely powerful, but also stops him from making any meaningful connection with anyone – and so he remains detached and aloof. However, his partner, Aki, challenges that. It’s another tragic, yet fascinating character dynamic I look forward to seeing play out further in future adaptations.
Having seen the film in both English and Japanese, I have to say that both teams did an impeccable job of bringing their characters to life. Special mention of course goes to Reina Ueda and Alexis Tipton, who played Reze in Japanese and English respectively. Their performances are the anchor point of this film, and each of them bring Reze to life in a unique, heartbreaking way.
I believe I’ve gone as far as I can go here without delving into spoilers, so before we get to all of that, let me say this: if you are a fan of Chainsaw Man, you should have already gone to see this movie, you shouldn’t need me to tell you that. But, for those of you on the fence, let me just say that Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc is not only one of the most visually impressive animated films I’ve seen all year, but it’s also an adaptation that elevates itself beyond its own source material. That is to say, even if you’ve already read the manga, there’s things here in the movie that you won’t have seen before, from subtle to major changes.
However, for people who haven’t seen or read Chainsaw Man, you could walk away confused from the film. As it is a direct continuation, Reze Arc spends no time reintroducing characters or established relationships. If you want to see this movie, the best way to enjoy it is to do your homework first and watch season one of the anime.
Having said all of that, I believe this is as far as I can go without delving into spoiler territory. So, if you have any inclination to see Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc and want to go into the story unspoiled, here is your jumping off point. When you’ve watched the film, feel free to come back and delve into my extended thoughts. I’ll give you a moment to click off if you need to.
We good?
Okay. Here goes.
Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc adapts a pivotal point in Part 1 of the manga, the Bomb Devil Arc. Reze herself is the Bomb Devil, a demon-human hybrid raised by the USSR from birth to be a weapon. Her goal was simple, to take Chainsaw Man’s heart. However, in meeting Denji, both Reze and Denji find kinship in each other. Both are children who were never allowed to have a normal life, thanks to Devils and Devil Hunting. Both of them fall in love with each other, but their own missions keep them from being together, and send them inexorably toward a violent clash that won’t end until one of them is dead. It’s a true tragedy, as you can see just how much Denji and Reze make each other better, the happiness they could have if only they had been in different lives.
Reze herself is a multi-layered character, worthy of an entire article dedicated to breaking down just what makes her so brilliant, especially given she only exists in the manga for around ten chapters or so. Reze is at once a lovestruck teenager, wanting nothing more than to run away with Denji, but also a sociopathic murderer who takes no pity in killing anyone she has to to accomplish her goals. The film effortlessly mingles Reze’s two sides, to the point where up until the credits roll, you’re never quite sure which side is the real Reze. It’s magnificent to watch, even more so than it was to read way back when.
Kensuke Ushio
Another thing that truly elevates Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc above its source material is the absolutely stellar score, composed by Kensuke Ushio. His tender piano theme In The Pool is the film’s emotional core – symbolizing the quiet, vulnerable moment that Denji and Reze share in the abandoned school’s pool together, and it’s a theme that returns several times throughout the rest of the film. The piece Sweet Danger, which plays when Reze reveals herself as the Bomb Devil, plays “in the pool” distorted, with haunting moans and an ever-present beeping, as if an explosion is about to go off, before turning into a frenetic, techno-infused chase theme. The music that plays at the climax of the film, In The Sea, is a reprise of “in the pool”, but distorted as if the piano itself is underwater. This intentionality and direction is present throughout the music of Reze Arc and it makes it that much more memorable.
Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc reminded me why Chainsaw Man remains one of my favorite manga series, and this adaptation shows that the team at MAPPA haven’t lost their touch when it comes to treating the series with the love and care that it deserves. Reze Arc was absolutely worth the two-year wait it took to get to us. I can only hope that the next anime adaptation of this series is treated with the same deep love that this was. I give Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc an enthusiastic five out of five stars. Bombs away!
