Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc’s Clever Hollywood Film Homages Revealed

The arrival of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc in autumn 2025 has sent a ripple through the anime world, not least for its inventive storytelling and visual flair. Yet, what’s gone largely unnoticed is just how much creator Tatsuki Fujimoto draws upon his admiration for Western cinema. The film is peppered with scenes that pay tribute to a range of iconic Hollywood moments, each woven seamlessly into the narrative.

Subtle Cinematic Echoes

One of the more understated nods comes early on, as a plane glides over Reze—a direct visual echo of the 2001 Japanese drama Blue Spring. The composition and timing are so precise that it’s hard to dismiss as mere coincidence. Meanwhile, Denji’s monochrome horse-riding sequence is a clear homage to the pioneering motion study The Horse in Motion, also known as Sallie Gardner at a Gallop, which marked the dawn of moving pictures.

Angel’s ethereal landing, feet hovering above the ground, may well remind keen-eyed viewers of a memorable moment from the 2005 supernatural thriller Constantine, where Lucifer makes his entrance. Whether this was intentional or not, the resemblance is striking, and it’s the sort of detail Fujimoto is known for.

Iconic Scenes Reimagined

There’s a particularly memorable shot where a single raindrop lands on Reze’s eye, mirroring a tense scene from the 2002 sci-fi horror 28 Days Later. The parallel is uncanny, especially for those familiar with Frank’s fate in the original film. Elsewhere, the lively dance sequence featuring Denji, Aki, and Power is reminiscent of the choreography found in the French classic Bande à part and Fellini’s 8½, blending European cinematic flair with anime energy.

Not all references are so subtle. The graveyard scene with Kishibe, for instance, is a direct visual lift from Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg’s celebrated Second World War epic. The composition, mood, and even the gravitas of the moment are unmistakably borrowed from the Hollywood original.

Playful and Dark Inspirations

Denji’s wild ride atop Beam during the battle with Reze and the Typhoon Devil is both thrilling and oddly familiar. It’s hard not to recall the outlandish spectacle of Despicable Me 2, where El Macho makes a dramatic entrance astride a shark. Whether this was a deliberate wink or a happy accident, the similarity is hard to ignore.

Another clever touch comes as Denji clutches a bomb pin before detonating—a scene that closely mirrors the climax of Léon: The Professional. In both cases, the act of handing over a bomb pin signals an imminent explosion, drawing a direct line between the two works.

Unmistakable Homages and Final Details

Perhaps the most striking reference is found when Reze decapitates herself and lobs her head, now a bomb, into the training facility. This moment is a clear nod to the infamous scene in the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale, where a severed head is similarly weaponised. The parallel is so strong that it’s difficult to see it as anything but a deliberate homage.

Midway through the film, Reze’s character takes a darker turn as she strangles a mysterious visitor in the courtyard. The choreography and intensity of this scene are lifted almost frame for frame from No Country for Old Men, with the same chilling effect. It’s a testament to Fujimoto’s encyclopaedic knowledge of cinema and his ability to recontextualise these moments within his own narrative.

For those interested in the particulars: Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is produced by MAPPA, falls under the action, horror, and supernatural genres, and boasts impressive ratings on both IMDb and MyAnimeList. The film is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.