`Denji` Wasn’t the Only One Driven Crazy!? I Can’t Stop Thinking About `Reze` After Watching `Gekijouban Chainsaw Man` [Spoiler Alert]

I want to talk about the charm of `Reze`, the key character in `Gekijouban Chainsaw Man Reze-hen`.

2025.10.12 Sun 11:30

The highly anticipated and hugely successful film, Gekijouban Chainsaw Man Reze-hen, is currently showing in theaters. This film is based on the manga by the genius `Fujimoto Tatsuki`, known for creating popular works like `Fire Punch`, `Look Back`, and `Goodbye, Eri`, serialized in “Shounen Jump+”. This movie adapts the fan-favorite “Reze Arc,” which directly follows the TV anime’s final episode. It tells the thrilling story of protagonist `Denji` as he is led into an unpredictable fate by `Reze`, a girl he meets by chance, all depicted with `MAPPA`’s signature exhilarating battle action.

However, `Denji` wasn’t the only one `Reze` utterly captivated—this writer was too! Ever since watching the film, not a day goes by that I don’t think about `Reze`. It’s been a month since its release, and I’ve already seen it 12 times, yet she still occupies my thoughts. Why has `Reze` captured my heart so completely and refused to let go? I want to fully explore the reasons and her undeniable charm.

■ The Deep Pit of the “Reze Numa” – From “What a Cunning Woman” to Utter Capitulation (It’s Deeper Than Lake Baikal!)

As the film’s title suggests, `Reze` is the undeniable key character in this movie.

The story kicks off when `Denji` rushes into a phone booth to escape a sudden downpour, only to find `Reze` also seeking shelter inside.

There, `Denji` performs a “magic trick” by pulling a gerbera out of his mouth (though, in reality, he’d merely swallowed a gerbera he received as a thank-you for a donation, a peculiar “skill” developed from his impoverished life of eating anything). He presents this flower to `Reze`, who, wanting to reciprocate, invites him to `Cafe Nido`, where she works part-time.

Putting aside the fact that it was literally regurgitated… who wouldn’t be charmed by a girl delighted to receive a flower? But wait, this isn’t the true ‘heart-fluttering’ moment yet.

When `Denji` honestly visits `Nido` for his ‘thank you,’ `Reze` not only treats him to coffee but also sits close, leans in, gazes up at him with innocent eyes, touches him often, listens intently, and laughs at his stories. At this point, `Denji`, being the simple soul who likes anyone who likes him, naturally starts to fall for `Reze`.

If I were a man, I’d have already plunged headfirst into the `Reze Numa` (Reze Swamp) by this point. But I’m a woman, and up until then, I’d only felt a slight distaste, thinking, ‘What a cunning woman.’ However, this was my fatal ‘oversight.’ From here, I was about to tumble rapidly into the deep, dark abyss of the `Reze Numa`.

■ Night School, Pool Dive! Isn’t That Just the Best…?

`Denji`, being quite simple-minded, started frequenting `Nido` after that. The topic of school came up, and when `Denji` admitted he’d never attended, `Reze` playfully suggested, “Shall we go? Tonight?” inviting him to sneak into a school.

They held hands in the hallway, stripped down to dive into the pool, and `Reze` even taught `Denji`, who couldn’t swim, how to float. That entire scene was utterly dreamlike. Was it the moonlit night? Was there hidden lighting? The pool seemed to glow as if illuminated, and there, `Reze`, with an enchantingly seductive smile, uttered to `Denji` the devastating line, “I’ll teach you everything.” In context, it clearly means ‘how to swim’ or ‘about school,’ but given the situation, it felt like she was offering to teach him “many, many more things,” a promise that was bound to seize anyone’s heart.

Furthermore, `MAPPA`’s animation prowess shines blindingly in every detail of this scene—from `Reze`’s expressions and the glistening water droplets to the moonlit pool. It’s so breathtakingly beautiful that it’s etched into my mind, something I feel I’ll never forget.

Their conversation in the classroom is also memorable: “`Denji-kun`, have you really never even attended elementary school? Isn’t that, like… isn’t that… wrong? Not just wrong, but strange. You’re only 16, still just a child! Normally, you’d be studying for exams, working hard in club activities, going out with friends…’ `Reze` protests `Denji`’s unusual circumstances. Little did I know at the time that this very conversation would become the most significant foreshadowing, the ultimate trap that would ensnare me in the `Reze Numa`.

■ How Much of Reze Was a Lie?

Later, they go to a summer festival together, finding a ‘secret spot where you can see fireworks and no one else comes,’ a tip from the cafe master. Here, `Reze` once again tells `Denji` that it’s ‘strange for a 16-year-old not to be in school,’ and urges him: ‘Quit your job… won’t you run away with me? I’ll make `Denji-kun` happy. I’ll protect you forever. Please.'”

When `Denji` rejects this plea, `Reze`’s true identity as the ‘Bomb Devil’ is dramatically revealed. From this point, a furious cascade of battle action ensues.

The fight concludes when `Denji`, realizing that ‘bombs can’t explode when wet,’ plunges into the sea with `Reze`. Washed ashore on the beach, `Reze` confesses that all her affection towards `Denji` was a lie, merely a trained facade.

As `Reze` attempts to escape before being captured by the Devil Hunters, `Denji` calls out, “Won’t you run away with me? I’ll be waiting for you at that cafe… at noon today!”…

・
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・

Then, the scene shifts. `Reze` stands on a train platform. She doesn’t board the shinkansen that pulls up before her. Instead, she heads towards `Cafe Nido`, the very place `Denji` promised he’d be waiting. She walks and walks, and just as the cafe door is within sight—a swarm of rats pours out, piling up, only for `Makima` to emerge from within.

Instinctively, `Reze` tries to pull the pin from her neck, but `Makima`’s attack swiftly stops her. Her heart is then pierced by the spear of the Angel Devil, who was perched atop a nearby building, and she meets her tragic end.

In her final moments, as she gazes at `Denji`’s head peeking from the cafe window, `Reze` utters:
“Denji-kun… the truth is, I never went to school either.”

I’ve seen this film countless times, and there hasn’t been a single viewing where I didn’t cry at this point. In fact, just recalling it brings tears to my eyes.

Before this scene, `Kishibe` revealed that the Soviet Union used children, often called ‘guinea pigs,’ for experiments, implying `Reze` was one of them.

Could it be that when she told `Denji` it was ‘strange for a 16-year-old not to be in school,’ she was actually talking about herself? Was her plea at the summer festival, ‘Let’s run away together,’ truly from her heart? Did she choose to head to `Nido` instead of boarding the shinkansen because, after all their interactions, genuine feelings for `Denji` had blossomed within her?

While everyone knows that mixing a bit of truth into lies makes them more convincing, was `Reze` truly ‘all lies’? Once you start thinking about it, there’s no stopping! Imagining `Reze`’s tragic upbringing makes me cry, then wanting to know the truth sends me back to the cinema, only to cry again while pondering `Reze`… This cycle repeats, and even now, nearly a month after the film’s release, `Reze` remains constantly on my mind.

■ When Will I Escape the Reze Numa? Someone, Please Help Me!!

Despite my ‘spoiler warning’ at the beginning, if you’ve read this far, you’ve undoubtedly already seen the film. What’s more, aren’t you, like me, one of those poor souls utterly captivated by `Reze`?

Original tweet from Chainsaw Man Official X (Twitter)

Even the original creator, `Fujimoto Tatsuki`-sensei, commented, “After watching, I couldn’t sleep thinking about `Reze-chan`!” If even `sensei` finds himself in such a state, it’s perfectly understandable why I can’t escape the `Reze Numa`. How long will I continue to think about `Reze`? With a three-day weekend starting tomorrow (at the time of writing), I’ll probably find myself at the cinema again.

(C)2025 MAPPA/Chainsaw Man Project (C)`Fujimoto Tatsuki`/Shueisha

Here’s a related interview:

`Totani Kikunosuke` Talks About `Denji`’s Love… `Makima` or `Reze`, Who Will He Choose? `Gekijouban Chainsaw Man Reze-hen` [Interview]

`Gekijouban Chainsaw Man Reze-hen` (hereafter, `Reze-hen`) opened on September 19th (Friday). `Totani Kikunosuke`, who plays `Denji`, says, “You’ll see a different side to `Denji`’s emotions than before.” We asked him about behind-the-scenes recording stories for `Reze-hen` and his favorite points of the film.

By `Yoneda Kaori`