‘Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc’ – Action-packed, romantic rumble

Fresh off the heels of the successful Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, another anime hits Jamaican cinemas. This time, a film continuing the story of the viral sensation Chainsaw Man. The Reze Arc features the same cast as the series, following the adventures of a hapless Denji, who has the ability to transform his head and hands into chainsaws, a power he uses to hunt devils as a member of the Public Safety Devil Hunters.

If none of this makes any sense to you, you should likely pick something else to watch at your local cinema. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is an unapologetic sequel to the series, and continues plot threads without much explanation. There are a few hints to earlier events, but if going in uninitiated you’ll likely be lost as to what this world is, and who the characters are.

That said, the Reze Arc features a relatable story of a boy and his search for love. Despite its wildly violent second half, much of the movie’s runtime shows a romance taking shape. Denji’s naivety is charming, yet often hilarious, as it leads to his downfall. All it takes is a dark-haired waitress doting on him for all sense to leave his chainsaw-addled mind.

As a hopeless romantic, Denji is pretty pathetic, but when it comes time to fight, he’s no different. He’s effective, yet strategy and mindfulness are not exactly his strong suits. Chainsaw Man: T he Movie – Reze Arc uses this to its advantage, placing him in situations that seem insurmountable, only for him to emerge victorious through sheer strength of will.

Its slow-paced beginnings set up the stakes and give its characters some dimension, so that when things fall into chaos in the second half, there’s more than just flashing lights and pretty colours. It’s by no means sentimental, although the film’s side plot of Aki Hayakawa coming to terms with his own mortality, as well as his reluctance to work with his angel devil partner, carries weight—especially by the film’s conclusion.

The film is an over-the-top, action-packed, and impressively animated piece that places the juvenile impulses of a teenage boy at the centre of a fight he has no business being in. It tempers the melodrama of such a premise, instead embracing ludicrous stylisation and ironic detachment, allowing for the guilt-free enjoyment of frenetic action befitting a big-screen adaptation.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com