(film review) - Demon Slayer: The Movie: Infinity Castle

I started watching what we now call anime a long time ago. I used to go to the video shop and pick up what looked cool. They were all dubbed as well, so I did not need to read subtitles, and if I am honest, I knew nothing about anything. I cannot remember who put me onto Manga, but I enjoyed watching them. I want to say my first Anime I bought was not a manga, but my second one was. It was either 'Dominion Tank Police', the series or 'Guyver'. Maybe it was my Cousin because I'm pretty sure he had 'Akira', and at the beginning of Manga's, you have a fanfare of other Manga films, kinda like what Marvel does before it says Marvel Studios. Seeing glimpses of other anime got me interested in wanting to watch other Manga movies. But in the latter years of my life, I fell off Manga, couldn't understand why it was called anime, and I slowly tried to get back into it. With all the films and shows I watch, I do try to slide in some anime here and there. It was only my mate who told me about 'Demon Slayer', telling me I'd like it and that the show reminded him of the old manga I used to show him. So I gave it a go, and he was correct. I watch the dubbed version with subtitles on Netflix, and although the shows are something near 25 minutes long, it was a little difficult to get into at first, but I got used to the flow and rhythm of the show eventually. This is my first time watching a version of 'Demon Slayer' as a film in the cinema, because you can watch it on Netflix (where I usually watch the series), but it is broken up, although a whole season might be movie-length, like this movie. So how did it fare, for me as my first time, well...I kinda liked it, but also didn't like it at all. I'll explain.

So the movie picks up where the show's last season ends. Muzan Kibutsuji had spies around the Hashira compound, but the leader of the Hashira set a trap for him. When the trap is sprung, the Hashira come running, but Muzan teleports all the Hashira to the Infinity Castle, where all the floors and levels and walls move, and it is overrun with demons. Tanjiro, sworn to take revenge on Muzan for killing his family, must find his way through the Infinity Castle with his Hashira family and defeat Muzan once and for all. That is the long and short of it.

Just like the TV show, my understanding is that this is a season or storyline, but it is uncut. We follow different characters, not just Tanjiro, and we get backstories of some of the characters and the ranking demons we are reintroduced to. Also, just like the show, there are some beautiful scenes and picture-esque imagery. Utterly beautiful. The music is great, just like the show, and so is the story, but other than the subtitles catching me off guard because this was not dubbed and took some time getting used to, I could not get with this as a film at all. It is likely because I had a long day and was a little tired, but ultimately, I believe I am used to the "cut" format, where the credits start to roll as soon as it starts to get interesting. Also, when I watch 'Demon Slayer', sometimes it is in the background and it is dubbed, subtitled, AND I have the ability to rewind whenever I like. I even watched the last two episodes before watching this movie, but reading subtitles after a long day, and having this film not broken up like the show started to wane on me halfway through. I started to get restless, and I felt myself trying to start the long blinks, but I kept repositioning myself in my seat and at one stage, I kept drinking my water to keep me alert. And some of the backstories just got a little boring after a while, where I think had I been watching it on Netflix, I probably would have had 80% concentration on it, having been able to utilise the options I have, or they would not feel as long because the show is usually broken up. I loved the film, loved the action, enjoyed most of the backstories, but I just feel the focus and attention needed from me after a long day, and the difference in the format the show/movie is presented, as well as the subtitles (just having to read), was that one-two punch that did not agree with me. Also, when hearing the dubbed voice acting sound very different to what you know, it does not give it any familiarity. I am honestly going to think twice about watching another Demon Slayer movie in the cinema again, or at least watch the dubbed version next time around.

One last thing, though, I am not sure if the film does enough to give you a storyline where you can simply watch this movie and understand what is going on without having watched the show first. For example, 'Star Wars' Episode 4 is the beginning of a storyline, but the "middle" of the story, hence why it's called episode 4. For the most part, it is self-contained, as you meet Luke, he has heard of Ben but never met him. Luke understands there are these people called Jedi, and his father was one, sets out on a mission to rescue a princess, but gets caught up with fighting the galactic "police" authority of sorts and defeats them to rescue the princess and save the rebel base from being destroyed. That is a story within itself. With this, a bunch of students and teachers rush to help their master and find themselves teleported to a destination where nothing is normal, everything is moving, and there are demons everywhere, including high-ranking ones they need to battle and defeat as they make their way to defeat Muzan, all the demons' leader, once and for all. And to not give away the ending, there will be a sequel. So, like I said, really good and enjoyable, but the format is not for me, and this may not work for beginners as the film does not really allow for a 3 act story, any character growth and it could be the fact I did not watch a dubbed version, maybe I missed some bits, but the story as a whole does not seem to be explained. This movie acts as the beginning of a storyline within the main story to flesh out some new characters and give us some familiar faces, but if you are not clued into the show, this may well go over your head as a first-time watcher.