Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc (2025) opened in Korea on September 24.
I kept going back and forth on whether to watch it in theaters, and before I knew it, time just flew by.
Then one day, YouTube’s algorithm hit me with Lee Jongbeom’s Story Camp, and that was all it took — I got completely sold and went straight to the theater.
It’s been almost two months since the release, so I was honestly surprised (and super lucky!) to find that it was still playing on the big screen.
“Chainsaw Man” is a work I feel especially attached to, because I absolutely loved Look Back, also by Tatsuki Fujimoto.
It’s actually surprising how different the styles of Look Back and Chainsaw Man are — so different that you could almost doubt they came from the same creator.
Some artists stick to their own voice, tone, or signature style throughout their careers.
But others, like Tatsuki Fujimoto, seem to have no fixed style at all — instead, they jump across forms and genres as if they’re exploring entirely new worlds each time.
There are film directors who work the same way.
Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed Punch-Drunk Love, Phantom Thread, and There Will Be Blood,
and Christopher Nolan, known for Memento, Inception, The Dark Knight, Oppenheimer, and Odyssey,
both come to mind.
If I ever end up creating my own work, I think I’d rather pursue the latter — someone who experiments with many forms of expression and messages, instead of staying within one style.
Quick Thoughts
So— I didn’t go into Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc as a hardcore fan or anything, so my expectations weren’t unusually high.
And yes, there were moments where the plot felt predictable or the storytelling felt a bit thin.
But despite all that, the film stuck with me.
The action sequences, the color work, the music, and the number of ideas it throws at you… all of it left a long aftertaste.
There is definitely a barrier to entry, and the film has its share of gory scenes that might turn some people off.
But even so, I think Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is surprisingly accessible to a general audience.
Honestly, it works pretty well as an entry point for anyone trying to decide whether to dive into the series.
As I said, there were a few parts I didn’t love — predictable beats, some weak connective tissue —
but the things it does well? They’re much stronger.
Strong enough that I’m planning to start reading the manga from the beginning soon. 😂
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After Watching
There are some very light spoilers ahead — just a heads-up!
The film starts by giving you a bit of space to learn who Denji is —
his situation, his circumstances, and the kind of person he is.
It does a really good job of laying out what his life looks like.
And then, almost immediately, it throws him into confusion by introducing the two women who shake up his world: Makima and Reze.
Denji’s innocence and honesty are incredibly charming,
and the tension between his devotion to Makima and his growing interest in Reze is one of the most fun parts of the film.
There were even moments when Makima and Reze reminded me of people I’ve known,
so the whole thing felt sweet, sharp, and a little bittersweet.
Whatever emotions come up, that moment when a movie makes you think of something personal —
that’s what I love most about films and books.
To be honest, when Reze first appeared, I didn’t think she was that pretty.
But wow — her character is incredibly captivating.
By the time the movie ended, I found myself remembering the exact color of her eyes,
and that’s when I realized:
yep, I had completely fallen for her. 😂
The early scenes where Denji and Reze hang out together are especially memorable.
There’s this warm, gentle excitement that really makes you think about love and what it feels like to fall for someone.
For me, the moment they fall into the pool — and the song that plays right then —
that stuck with me so much.
And because the ending circles back to it, the whole feeling lands even harder.
(This is the song I mean — though I couldn’t find an official link!)
And one more thing — the opening and ending tracks?
If you watch the movie, you’ll probably have them on repeat for days.
There were honestly so many memorable moments in this film.
Early on, there’s a rooftop scene where Reze talks with the Typhoon Devil.
Reze asks, “Who are you?”
and the Devil replies with something like,
“Well… do you know who you are?”
It’s such a quick scene, but the line is incredibly detailed and precise —
and it really made me stop and think.
The early date sequence with Makima was also beautifully done.
The way the film uses props and lighting to show the passing of time was so impressive.
And the kiss scene in the middle of the movie,
the meaning of the kiss scene near the end,
and Reze’s lines in those moments…
they were all just so captivating.
The way the film uses the symbolic flower — the gerbera —
absolutely blew me away.
White for purity, red for love…
the lingering emotion it creates is unbelievable.
And the action sequence in the latter half?
I honestly sat there thinking, “What on earth… how is this even possible?”
You can literally feel the skill, the effort, and the affection exploding out of every frame.
The directing and color work are gorgeous, so it’s basically nonstop eye candy.
There are so many other great touches, too—
the meaning behind the country mouse and city mouse,
the first phone booth shot with Reze and Denji 🤩 (goat-level),
the ending sequence,
the way the film uses light and color to build atmosphere,
and those subtle but stunning hook-up shots.
There’s just an endless list of beautiful moments.
If you’re even slightly interested, you should definitely watch it.
I also got this little piece of merch after the screening,
and because I saw the ending just moments before,
I was hit with all kinds of complicated emotions…
Anyone who’s seen the movie will know exactly what I mean 😭
The poster’s colors are so pretty that I’m this close to buying one secondhand.
Still debating… 🤨
All in all, it was such an enjoyable theater experience.
Thanks to this beautiful film, I felt genuinely happy today.
That’s it from me 🙂
Lee Jongbeom’s Story Camp Video
Get “converted” before it leaves theaters—trust me!
<Related Posts>
