Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc sets up Season 2‘s storyline by teasing Makima’s sinister nature and the threat she poses to the main protagonist, Denji. Although Makima was incredibly enigmatic in Season 1, Reze Arc offered a glimpse at her psychology and motivations.
Reze Arc takes place after the events of Chainsaw Man Season 1. It sees Denji meeting the titular character, a mysterious girl. The former initially believes Reze has feelings for him. However, he later learns that her interest was influenced by sinister motives.
Here’s how Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc teases Season 2
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc sets up the events of Season 2 by foreshadowing Makima’s role as the main antagonist.
Makima’s sinister motivations are teased via Reze, the film’s main villain. Reze initially offers Denji love. However, she later tries to kill him, revealing that her interest was motivated by her desire to claim Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil that merged with Denji.
Makima, who also desires control of Pochita, has a similar objective. She aims to give love and happiness to Denji, intending to rip everything away from him later on. Makima’s ploy is to manipulate Denji into surrendering himself to her control.
This is subtly teased in the film’s opening when she and Denji enjoy a movie marathon. When she cries after watching a film, Denji wonders if he has a heart. Makima responds by placing her head on his chest and assuring him that he has one — an act subtly teasing her desire to claim Pochita.
Moreover, Denji frequently compares Reze to Makima, which is another indicator of the latter’s sinister behavior. Reze even tries to free Denji from Makima’s control by highlighting how she has only given Denji enough to be under her influence.
Makima’s villainy is further teased when she tracks down and murders Reze — who changed her motivations and planned to run away with Denji, realizing she had feelings for him — at the end of the film. Before killing Reze, Makima makes her interest in Denji clear to her.
Denji waits for Reze to meet him at the cafe where they crossed paths. When she doesn’t show up, the former assumes she had lied about her feelings. Thus, Makima has ensured that her manipulation of Denji, which began in Season 1, will proceed in Season 2.
