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A pair of teenagers experience a intimate, gentle instant at the local high school’s outdoor pool after hours. As they float together, hanging beneath the stars in the quietness of the night, the sequence captures the fleeting, heady thrill of teenage romance, utterly engrossed in the present, ramifications overlooked.

Approximately 30 minutes into The Chainsaw Man Film: Reze Arc, it became clear these scenes are the heart of the film. The romantic tale took center stage, and all the contextual information and backstories I had gleaned from the series’ initial episodes proved to be largely irrelevant. Despite being a canonical entry within the series, Reze Arc offers a easier entry point for newcomers — even if they haven’t seen its single episode. The approach has its benefits, but it also hinders some of the urgency of the movie’s narrative.

Developed by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Chainsaw Man follows the protagonist, a debt-ridden Devil Hunter in a universe where demons embody particular evils (ranging from concepts like Aging and obscurity to specific horrors like cockroaches or World War II). After being deceived and killed by the yakuza, he forms a contract with his faithful devil-dog, Pochita, and returns from the deceased as a part-human chainsaw wielder with the ability to permanently erase Devils and the terrors they represent from existence.

Thrust into a violent conflict between devils and hunters, the hero encounters Reze — a charming barista concealing a deadly secret — igniting a heartbreaking clash between the pair where love and existence collide. The movie picks up immediately following season 1, exploring Denji’s connection with his love interest as he wrestles with his emotions for her and his loyalty to his manipulative boss, his employer, forcing him to choose between desire, loyalty, and survival.

A Self-Contained Romantic Tale Within a Larger World

Reze Arc is fundamentally a lovers-to-enemies plot, with our fallible main character Denji falling for Reze right away upon introduction. He is a isolated young man seeking love, which makes his heart vulnerable and up for grabs on a first-come basis. As a result, in spite of all of Chainsaw Man’s complex mythology and its large cast of characters, Reze Arc is highly independent. Filmmaker Tatsuya Yoshihara recognizes this and guarantees the romantic arc is at the center, rather than weighing it down with filler recaps for the new viewers, particularly since such details is crucial to the complete storyline.

Despite Denji’s imperfections, it’s hard not to feel for him. He’s still a adolescent, stumbling his way through a reality that’s distorted his understanding of morality. His intense longing for affection portrays him like a lovesick dog, even if he’s prone to growling, biting, and making a mess along the way. Reze is a ideal match for him, an effective femme fatale who targets her prey in our protagonist. Viewers hope to see Denji win the ire of his affection, despite Reze is obviously concealing a secret from him. So when her true nature is unveiled, audiences can’t help but hope they’ll somehow succeed, although deep down, it is known a positive outcome is never really in the plan. As such, the stakes fail to seem as intense as they should be since their relationship is fated. This is compounded by that the film acts as a immediate follow-up to Season 1, leaving little room for a romance like this amid the darker events that fans know are coming soon.

Stunning Animation and Technical Execution

This movie’s visuals seamlessly blend 2D animation with 3D environments, delivering stunning eye candy prior to the excitement kicks in. From cars to small desk fans, 3D models add depth and texture to every scene, allowing the 2D characters pop strikingly. Unlike Demon Slayer, which frequently highlights its digital elements and shifting backgrounds, Reze Arc employs them more sparingly, most noticeably during its explosive finale, where such elements, while not unattractive, become easier to spot. These smooth, dynamic backgrounds render the film’s battles both spectacular to watch and surprisingly simple to follow. Nonetheless, the technique shines brightest when it’s invisible, improving the vibrancy and movement of the 2D animation.

Final Thoughts and Wider Considerations

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc functions as a good starting place, likely resulting in first-time audiences pleased, but it also has a downside. Telling a standalone narrative restricts the tension of what ought to seem like a sprawling anime epic. It’s an illustration of why following up a popular television series with a movie isn’t the optimal approach if it undermines the franchise’s overall storytelling potential.

While Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle succeeded by concluding several seasons of anime television with an grand film, and JuJutsu Kaisen 0 avoided the issue completely by acting as a prequel to its popular show, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc charges forward, maybe a bit foolishly. However that doesn’t stop the movie from being a great experience, a excellent point of entry, and a memorable love story.