Tatsuki Fujimoto’s ‘Curse of Love’: Why Reze’s arc proves Chainsaw Man is more than just action

Chainsaw Man Reze movie is getting a lot of attention and for good reasons, as everything about this has been near perfect. The series began with Denji becoming a half-fiend, half-human, and was manipulated into working for Makima. It started as a wild premise that caught viewers' attention. Season 1 of the show was full of intense battles, which carried the show.

But what I feel it lacked was that it did not let viewers have moments where characters have vulnerable moments. As the main focus was to set the foundation, it was understandable. Then came the highly anticipated Chaisnaw Man Reze movie. While it also has a good amount of gore and fan service, I feel it managed to portray that this series is more than just a superficial story.

The movie is a story about pain, loneliness, and the twisted, beautiful ways love can destroy and define us. Even the creator has some idea behind making this film, Tatsuki Fujimoto has quoted:

"l like it when a romantic partner continues to exist as a kind of curse. For everyone who watched the 'Reze Arc,' I'd be glad if the presence of Reze remained in your minds as a lingering curse."

This movie did have elements of romance, but not because Fujimoto wants to write love stories. I feel that he writes them to remind his fans of the concept of first love. For instance, Reze is supposed to represent the first love of Denji. According to the creator, love can hurt, and sometimes it is this feeling that makes it real. The Reze arc is all about this philosophy. When anime-only fans first came to the movie, the only idea of what to expect from this film was from the trailers.

So on the surface, this movie promised fights, fluid animation, and fan-service shots. But beneath that chaos lies a quiet, devastating love story. Reze walks into Denji’s world like a breath of fresh air, sweet, kind, and for once, genuinely interested in him as a person. The protagonist had spent most of his life in poverty or being treated as a tool. Reze's attention made him want more of it. That is why when she betrayed, even the viewers felt a sting in their hearts.

Reze: The girl who taught Denji to feel

Reze was a soviet union spy who was sent to kill him, and even after she revealed this information, he refused to stop having feelings for her. She doesn’t just break Denji’s heart; she teaches him what it means to have one in the first place. When we saw the climax of the film, where she decided to choose him and ran towards the cafe, Reze had a fair idea that it was risky, but she wanted to take that risk for him.

She was no longer the Bomb Devil girl; in that moment, she was a normal teenager who wanted to be with the person whom she had romantic feelings for. Watching the Reze Arc movie, I couldn’t help but notice how Fujimoto’s “curse of love” theme saturates every frame. From the haunting piano theme by Kensuke Ushio to the washed-out colors that bloom into vibrancy when Reze appears, it’s all about that fleeting, intoxicating feeling of first love, and how easily it turns to tragedy.

Why the Reze Arc defines Chainsaw Man

In my opinion, Chainsaw Man is different from all the new-gen series. Most of the stories focus on the main character's motivation to be on the morally good side. But Fujimoto refuses to play by the rules and introduces a flawed character. And I love that about his work, as it is brutally honest.

This series never promises an unrealistic happy ending; it talks about manipulations and the consequences of actions. That is why when Reze's character was killed by Makima, the creator did not bring her back. She will continue to live in Denji's heart. Unfortunately, the kind of world they live in makes it was next to impossible for both of them to have a normal relationship.

Chainsaw Man's creator has said he prefers when the protagonist and heroine don’t end up together, and I get it now. It’s that bittersweet separation, that moment of letting go, that leaves the biggest mark. So maybe on the surface level, this series is about Devils, gore, and women trying to use Denji for his powers.

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Although after watching this Chainsaw Man film, many fans like me were left with a definition of love that makes everyone teary-eyed. We learnt that even if there was no happy ending, it did not mean that Reze never loved Denji. Even if their story was doomed, there was meaning to the vulnerable moments they shared.

I feel Reze isn’t just another anime girl; she’s the ghost of Denji’s humanity, the embodiment of everything he lost and everything he still hopes to feel again. And if that isn’t what makes Chainsaw Man more than just action, I don’t know what does. This series is not here to comfort us; rather, it is here to haunt us. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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