Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc (2025)

Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc (2025)

6/10

Starring the voices of

Kikunosuke Toya

Reina Ueda

Fairouz Ai

 

Directed by: Tatsuya Yoshihara

 

Spoiler Alert

It is not often you get an anime movie that feels like a continuation of something big and not just a filler. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is that a full continuation of the series, and it is fun.

The moment Reze showed her true colours, and Denji was saved from being killed, and we see the wonderful animation of Reze morphing into the Bomb Devil, the tone and pace of the movie changed.

Before watching this movie, I stayed far away from the trailers because I wanted to experience it fresh, and I am glad I did. The animation here is slick, but the movie does start slow and feels a bit uninviting at first, because you sit there expecting Chainsaw Man’s dark, gory, action-packed energy, and instead you get forty-five minutes of Denji and Reze connecting emotionally and getting a bit intimate.
That slow start is what you have to bear through before the tone shifts.

This movie picks up after the events of Season 1, with Denji trying to live a normal life despite everything he has been through. Then comes Reze, a girl who seems to understand him, laughs at his jokes, and finds him interesting. That is the first warning sign, the moment you realize something is up. In the world of Chainsaw Man, when things seem too peaceful, you should be suspicious.

If you have read the manga, you know that Reze is the Bomb Devil, trying to cut out Denji’s heart, so all her intimate play is just a setup to get close enough to do it.

Now, I will say this movie is not for anyone who has not seen the anime series or read the manga. You need that background to understand what is happening and why it matters. For those who know the story, though, watching Makima’s manipulative hold over Denji, and how she continues to twist him, is as fascinating as ever. Her control over him is chilling and the movie does a good job showing how trapped Denji still is, even when he thinks he’s free.

The focus here is very much on Denji and Reze. Their chemistry is believable, and the build-up to what eventually happens is handled well. But it also makes Denji feel one-dimensional at times, stuck in that loop of wanting love, attention, and something physical. That focus slows the film’s pace during the middle section, where it becomes mostly about emotional tension, dark themes, and quiet dialogue. The action takes a while to come, but when it does, it delivers hard.

The fight scenes are brilliant, exactly what you would expect from a Chainsaw Man project. They are brutal, fast, and beautifully animated, giving the movie a powerful punch in its second half. The explosion of chaos when Reze’s real identity as the Bomb Devil is revealed is one of the highlights. It turns what looked like a love story into heartbreak and carnage.

As expected, the voice acting is great. Everyone brings their A-game and helps you connect with the emotion and madness of the scenes. It is easy to get lost in the sound of it all, from Denji’s frustration to Reze’s charm, to the dread that lingers in the quiet moments.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc does what it needs to do. It moves the story forward, develops the characters, and keeps the world of Chainsaw Man alive. It is not perfect, the pacing could be better, and some parts feel stretched, but it never feels pointless and I recommend you see it.