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Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train Review – What A Ride!

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Tangeer Mehedi
Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train Review – What A Ride!

There's that cliche phrase of being "hungry for more" and when the first season of Demon Slayer concluded in September 2019, I was absolutely hungry. I waited with bated breath, as news of the film came out, its eventual release in October 2020 in Japan, and finally the confirmed release in Australia/New Zealand. I felt like I had waited a long time, and yet once those opening scenes started, it was like no time had passed since the anime aired! Within moments, I was very happily taken once again into the fascinating world of Demon Slayer. Let's know more.


After a short opening cutscene, Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train picks up right where the anime left off. Tanjiro, Insouke, and Zenitsu (with Nezuko in tow) race to board the Mugen Train and join Flame Hashira, Rengoku, on his mission. Over forty people have disappeared on the train and they must use their wits to discover the demon lurking in the train cars. But this will be the toughest battle of the group so far, it's not just a fight they can win with their swords. The cruel ability of this demon forces them to face each other as they fight to break the divide between dreams and reality.


Mugen Train covers about fifteen chapters of the manga and turning this "arc" into a movie instead of a few episodes within a season was a brilliant choice. While I'm used to watching anime on a week-to-week basis, having this story as a focused movie made for a tighter, much more intimate experience. And while the film takes a while to get going, once you get into it you can't help but appreciate how well crafted the story is.


The story slowly draws viewers into the mystery behind the Mugen Train, leaving a tantalizing trail of breadcrumbs that we follow to the final showdown. As we watch the assassins take on the demon, it's literally an emotional train ride. There are moments of pure angst and then maybe ten minutes later you're laughing out loud at one of Zenitsu's jokes. One would think that these transitions would make for a jarring display, but instead it creates a truly immersive experience. Especially coupled with the stellar music from the movie, I swear they know exactly the right time to strike a chord with me and turn me into a sobbing mess! We embark on the emotional journey the film wants to take us on with carefully timed ebbs and flows of tension. One minute it will lighten up and we'll be smiling and the next the dial is back up to 100 and I'm grabbing my seat! This makes those moments of brutality, especially as the story enters its second phase, hit harder.


Since the film's release, it seems like every week there is a new report of its incredible success. So when I finally sat down in my movie theater seat, I must admit that all my nervous excitement fell like a pit in my stomach. What if my expectations were too high? And luckily for that brief moment of doubt, he was dead wrong. I loved this movie. It's exactly everything I hoped a Demon Slayer movie would be. From the first scene, it took my breath away, and heck, the final scene - it's hard for me to be speechless, but I have no words to describe it. From start to finish, this movie was a must see experience for any Demon Slayer fan.

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Tangeer Mehedi
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