Chainsaw Man – The Film: Reze’s Story, the review of the anime from the MAPPA studio

The biggest difficulty when dealing with a work like Chainsw Man – The Film: The Historia of Rezeit simply is orient yourself. The cinematographic proposals anime they are very often the daughters of one close and multimedia continuity between manga, TV series and chapters designed for the big screen: its protagonists and the narrative premises themselves (usually sprawling) are taken for granted. The occasional spectator is consciously renounced, however favor a loyal fandom. It makes perfect sense on a commercial level, but it’s also a shame: for the work we do we know we have to study, when we are not already familiar with a specific universe, but those who ignore the coordinates of a Chainsaw Man he may give up an experience that he would perhaps find interesting and fulfilling. Let’s try to help us and these hypothetical occasional spectators, under the premise that fans will not have to search our text for the detailed analysis they demand.

Who is the sixteen year old Worthyl’ “Chainsaw Man” of the title? He’s a guy who halfway through the nineties moves in one alternative realitywhere i Devils they wander around cities, among human beings, and are eliminated by Public Security Devil Hunters: the head of the latter body, Makimatook Denji under his wing, whose heart was replaced by that of the mythical Chainsaw Devilwith whom he hunted devils for the yakuza and with whom he merged after practically dying. Directed by Tatsuya YoshiharaChainsaw Man: The Movie: Reze’s Story is made by the studio MAP (The Roses of Versailles – Lady Oscar, Jujutsu kaisen), who had already dealt with the first season of the adaptation of manga di Tatsuki Fujimotoof which this feature film is the continuation: a film is therefore the sequel to a TV serieswith a practice that has brought success to illustrious exponents such as Demon Slayerrecently world box office champion with The Castle of Infinitybut the roots are distant.

Having said that, Reze’s Story manages to stand on its own as a meritorious cinematic experience? In our opinion yes, because the characterization of the main protagonists is quite clear, with a narrative crescendo ends at an hour and forty minutes of duration, although obviously open to a continuation. The risk remains get lost in the maze of supporting charactersbut the main story is ultimately a clear melodrama about an impossible love: teenager attracted but scared of girls, Denji is in love with his superior Makima, but the girl bursts into his life delicate Rezepart-time bartender, generous in her work cover it with sweetness. This melodrama however passes by grotesque-horrorso we invite you not to assume that an idyll will emerge. The idea of ​​a is always fascinating self-destructive and sacrificial loveespecially when “self-destruction” for Denji is very relative, given that he has a way to regenerate his body, even when he is the victim of choreographic splatter violence! The melancholic element, in usual changes in register typical of the anime, is what remains the most: we willingly root for those who should be an incarnation of evil, but deserve a second chance in the name of a world that is more gray than black or white. Denj’s “purity” made him a rather solid and captivating protagonist.

Other elements are in line with the average anime production: the more or less progressive elimination of increasingly stronger opponents is aecho of the RPGwhile the visionary and resonating clashes, prolonged with ultrasonic editing, are now fashionable. However, it is appreciated graphic design of the various abominations, which to the young and old might remind the Pyramid Head of the Silent Hillbut which also remains a visionary-metal imagery (recalled in the soundtrack of some fights). Some doubts however about erotic dimensionwhich avoids the representation of nipples on the breasts while evoking them in the dialogues (?), and makes them appear out of nowhere pudichi slip about a… creature that presented its most menacing form without wearing them. A handbrake suddenly pulled in a hallucinatory experience that nevertheless remains fun and exciting… and which could constitute a good taste for those who want to delve deeper into the issue with the comic or the first season of the anime, made up of twelve episodes.