Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Review - A Bombastic Follow Up to Season 1.
After the massive success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, anime fans have been riding a high that doesn’t seem like it’ll end anytime soon. And just when we thought the year couldn’t get any better, another top-tier movie dropped to keep the hype alive. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is a feature-length continuation of the story, expanding on everything we loved from the first season while giving fans even more of the chaos, emotion, and jaw-dropping animation that made the anime such a hit.
Chainsaw Man, based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuki Fujimoto, originally aired from October to December 2022. Produced by MAPPA, the story follows a young guy named Denji, who has seemingly been abandoned by society at a very young age. He lives in a tiny wooden house with Pochita, a small dog with a chainsaw protruding through his forehead. Pochita is the chainsaw devil, and after Denji is brutally killed by the Zombie devil, Pochita fuses with Denji to bring him back to life. This is what truly kicks off the story.
What follows is a mix of blood, chaos, and a surprising amount of emotion as Denji ends up joining the Public Safety Division. It’s basically a government group that hunts down devils threatening humanity. He works under Makima, who’s this calm but super manipulative higher-up that Denji’s completely obsessed with. It’s here he finally gets a taste of something he’s never had before, a real purpose and maybe even a little family.
He’s teamed up with Aki, the serious and collected devil hunter who keeps everyone grounded, and Power, a wild Blood Fiend who’s equal parts hilarious and annoying but somehow loveable. Together, the three go through some insane fights, each one bloodier and crazier than the last, and Denji slowly starts realizing that this new life isn’t as simple as he hoped.
By the end of season one, Denji’s been through a lot. He’s learned what it means to fight, to care, and to lose, even if he doesn’t quite get it all yet. And that’s where Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc picks up. With things finally calming down a bit, Denji’s just starting to enjoy life when the story takes a turn that’s way more emotional, more personal, and honestly, way more heartbreaking.
After Denji’s fight with Katana Man, Makima brings in a few new hybrids to strengthen Division 4: Beam the Shark Fiend, the Violence Fiend, and the Angel Fiend. Beam gets paired with Denji while Power is off getting her excess blood drained, and right away he becomes completely obsessed with him. It’s funny and a little strange, but that loyalty ends up helping Denji later on.
Not long after, Makima takes Denji out on a full-day movie marathon. By the last film, they’re both surprisingly emotional, and Makima points out that Denji really does have a heart. It’s a rare, tender moment that leaves him thinking about what he wants, just before he meets Reze the following day in a chance encounter while sheltering from the rain.
Reze is an intriguing young woman who immediately catches Denji’s attention with her warmth and curiosity. Unlike the other women in his life, she treats him as an equal, carrying him around for food at the café where she works, sneaking him into her school at night so he can experience what going to school might have been like, and even teaching him to swim in the school pool. Denji is clearly drawn to her, though he’s still tangled up in his feelings for Makima.
Without giving too much away, let’s just say that things get complicated fast, with devils and political intrigue all converging on Denji in ways that put his heart, literally the chainsaw devil, on the line.
Outside of the story, I have to talk about the animation from MAPPA. Honestly, it might be some of the best hand-drawn work I’ve ever seen. Compared to the anime, the film is brighter and more colorful, fitting in perfectly with contemporary anime styles. With Ryu Nakayama stepping down as director and Tatsuya Yoshihara taking over, the transition is seamless, and the original team’s passion really shines through. Every frame feels alive, from the explosions and blood splatters to the rubble and even tiny details like how shirts crease. The level of care and precision in this movie is incredible, and the impact it leaves on you is hard to put into words.
Another aspect that really stands out is the soundtrack by Kensuke Ushio. A great score can make or break a scene, and here it absolutely elevates everything. The music hits hard during the intense, chaotic moments, giving each battle and confrontation real weight. At the same time, it knows when to pull back and let the quieter, more emotional beats breathe, adding a surprising layer of tenderness and humanity to the story. It’s the kind of soundtrack that sticks with you long after the credits roll.
It’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge the incredible effort that goes into making films like Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. Many animators in Japan work under intense conditions, long hours, and tight deadlines to bring these worlds to life, and it’s not always easy. The massive success of these movies shows just how much fans love this work, and it also presents an opportunity for the industry to improve.
By supporting official releases and paying for the content we enjoy instead of relying on pirated versions, we can play a part in ensuring that production studios have the resources to treat their teams better and continue creating at this high level. It’s exciting to think that our enthusiasm as fans can help fuel not just amazing stories but also positive change behind the scenes.
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is an absolute triumph in every sense. I genuinely love this movie and without hesitation I’d call it one of the best anime films I’ve ever seen in the genre, boasting some of the finest animation work you’ll find in any contemporary anime. The action is intense, relentless, and beautifully choreographed, yet amidst all the blood, chaos, and devilish battles, the film never forgets its heart.
Moments of tenderness, connection, and genuine emotion shine through, showing that even in a world filled with devils, there is still room for love and warmth. You walk out of the theater exhilarated by the action but also feeling something deep and unexpected.
With over 158 million dollars at the box office on a budget of just four million, it’s clear that audiences around the world are feeling the same way. This film is a perfect storm of spectacle, emotion, and artistry, and it sets the bar incredibly high for what anime films can achieve.
