Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – The final countdown

Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, Hikaru Kondô
Starring Zach Aguilar, Greg Chun, Aleks Le, Lucien Dodge

7/10

Four seasons in (and the biggest-grossing Japanese film of all time), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has certainly proven its worth. A worldwide sensation that’s stoked the fire in the anime fanbase, it has earned a reputation for beautifully staged fight sequences punctuated with some stunning art. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle represents the start of the final arc for the series and the first film in a trilogy to bring this epic tale to its conclusion.

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the last vestiges of a superstitious age were clashing in Japan. The demon king Muzan Kibutsuji (Greg Chun) has been injured in his battle against the Demon Slayer Corps. To escape the trap he finds himself in, he’s pulled everyone into his hellish netherworld, the Infinity Castle. Now Tanjiro (Zach Aguilar) and the rest of the corps must battle their way through a slew of powerful demons in an attempt to defeat their master.

You can definitely see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle’s shonen manga roots. At this late stage of the game, all the pieces are in place and ready to go. Hence, most of the film is taken up by expansive duels, peppered with flashbacks, personal growth, new techniques and heroic sacrifice. The results might be bewildering for new viewers, but they are compelling for fans of the series as it ushers in that final confrontation—a true sight to behold.

The dazzling Infinity Castle acts as an appropriate background to this climactic battle. An Escher-like structure given a mediaeval Japanese makeover, it’s a disorientating maze where gravity can change on a whim. Through this, the superpowered battles between demon and hunter rage, with flawlessly smooth execution. The highlight here is the special techniques, allowing for a noticeable bit of graphic flair. Ufotable are definitely showing off here, and it is a premium experience.

However, the pacing of the story is a little off. Anime watchers (especially of shonen battle manga adaptations) are used to an apocalyptic fight sequence being teased out between flashbacks and philosophical debates, but the third act takes it to a whole new level. This impacts the momentum of the climactic fight of the first movie. It’s a move one suspects will make more sense going forward as part of a trilogy, but it damages a stand-alone film. It still works, but it could have been handled better.

Still, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle whets the appetite for the next two films and is a good opening act.

DAVID O’CONNELL