**Disclaimer: This movie contains violence and mature content.

With a massive global fandom, the Japanese manga Chainsaw Man premiered its first film of the series—“Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc”—on September 19, 2025 in Japan. Korean theaters brought the movie to the screens a week after, on September 26, 2025. The movie attracted many newcomers to the franchise, achieving huge success by drawing over 3 million Korean moviegoers in just 49 days.

The piece begins with an introduction of the protagonist, Denji, who works as a devil hunter to repay the debt left behind by his deceased father. During one of his off-hours, he meets Reze, a mysterious girl who gives him a sense of warmth and affection he has never experienced before. 

While it may seem like a typical love story at first, the plot quickly descends into chaos when Reze reveals her identity as the Bomb Devil, sent on a mission to steal Denji’s heart—quite literally. As the devils’ common enemy, Denji possesses the Heart of Chainsaw, a power capable of erasing devils from existence. It turns out that Reze, threatened by his presence, initially manipulates Denji’s emotions in order to kill him. 

The movie strings together numerous unforgettable moments, but the school scene, where Reze and Denji go on their first date, left the strongest impression on me. 

Denji discloses to Reze that he never attended school, and she spontaneously takes him to an empty one late at night. The two sit together and discuss whether they would rather live as a “country mouse” or a “city mouse.”

The scene contrasts safety and dullness with risk and excitement. Reze tells Denji she prefers the calm, simple life of a “country mouse,” away from violence. This symbolizes the future she offers him—a chance to run away together and start over, far from the devil-human conflict. Denji, however, hesitates. While he yearns for peace and her affection, he also feels drawn to the danger, chaos and purpose of his current life.

This moment made me reconsider my own life path as well: should I pursue competition in the academic field, racing against my peers, or should I seek an escape from the stress and rivalry, remaining in my comfort zone?

The movie reaches its emotional climax when Reze betrays her original mission in order to protect Denji. Throughout the film, Reze presented herself as carefree and emotionally detached. Her choice to abandon her task for Denji’s life, especially when she almost completed it, defied my expectations. It symbolized her resolve to leave behind the life she knew and follow her heart instead.

The film’s emotional impact grows stronger through its outstanding soundtrack. Each song meticulously enhances the mood. For example, “IRIS OUT” by Kenshi Yonezu, a powerful and energetic track, sets the atmosphere for the final fight between Reze and Denji. Even though I couldn’t fully understand the lyrics, the intensity and articulation of the vocals added depth and tension to the scene.

As a newcomer to the series “Chainsaw Man,” I watched the movie without any background knowledge. Because of this, some parts felt underexplained. The movie never explicitly clarifies the reason the Heart of Chainsaw is so significant, and I had to look it up afterward to fully understand the plot. 

Overall, I would give the movie a 7 out of 10, praising its music and the range of emotions it evoked. Even though the movie falls short in clearly introducing its world to new audiences, its sentimental moments resonate strongly. If you are a fan of “Chainsaw Man” or simply looking for a movie that will make you cry, you should give “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” a shot.