Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (IMAX) review: An intense start to the final trilogy

Walking into Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, you already know this isn’t a side story or filler arc. This is the beginning of the end, and the movie wastes no time pulling you into its sprawling, twisting labyrinth. What stood out right away was how much the castle itself feels like a character – the folks at Ufotable didn’t just built a backdrop for battles, they’ve created something that shifts and truly unsettles you. Walls move like muscle, staircases twist without logic, and the whole thing feels like a fever dream you can’t quite escape.

At close to three hours, the film doesn’t really let up either. One fight after another rolls in like waves, sometimes overwhelming, sometimes pulling back just long enough for you to catch your breath. On paper that might sound repetitive, but what saves it is how different each clash feels and how much weight they carry for the characters. It’s not just a list of boss fights; it’s more like a gauntlet where each round pushes everyone, and the audience, further.

Shinobu’s duel with Doma is one of the first big fights and is also one of the most striking. She’s always been shown as calm and unreadable, and the duel mirrors that. It’s sharp and calculated, her insect-themed style sliding against Doma’s arrogance in a way that feels tense right up until the end. Then you’ve got Zenitsu’s big moment, which feels like long-awaited payback. For so long he’s been the one frozen by fear, and watching him finally step up against Kaigaku, someone tied to his past, is a release. When his Thunder Breathing fills the screen, it isn’t just spectacle for viewers – it’s the result of seasons of frustration, cowardice, and hesitation finally breaking into something solid.

But the first of a trilogy’s core is still Tanjiro’s battle alongside Giyu against Akaza. Ever since Mugen Train, Akaza has been the demon looming in the background, and seeing Tanjiro face him head-on feels like everything has been building to this. The fight is supremely brutal, and you can see Tanjiro learning and adapting with every move. Even Giyu, usually the most restrained of the Hashira, acknowledges Tanjiro’s growth. That small nod of respect says more than a whole speech could. Even Akaza himself admits Tanjiro’s strength, which is rare for someone who usually fights with pride and disdain. It’s the kind of moment that lands hard because you can tell Tanjiro is no longer just playing catch-up.

Hearing Takahiro Sakurai, the voice of Giyu Tomioka, talk about his first impression of the character puts that moment into perspective. During a media interview, he shared that during his audition, the scene where Giyu first encounters Tanjiro was the most special to him, because it defined who Tanjiro was and laid the foundation for their relationship. For Takahiro, that encounter became the most important anchor for how he approached Giyu throughout the series. Knowing that adds a layer to Giyu’s calm presence here in Infinity Castle – you can feel how much weight those early foundations still carry.  

That said, the way Akaza’s story is handled is where the film stumbles. Demon Slayer has always slowed down mid-battle to explore backstories, and most of the time that works. Shinobu’s flashbacks feel sharp and well-placed. Akaza’s, though moving, take up so much time that they begin to drag. His past is tragic, and it does make his character more layered, but in a film format it stretches the pacing thin. You can see how this would have worked better as part of a TV season, where an entire episode could have carried his story without breaking the rhythm of the bigger fight. On the big screen, though, it feels like momentum grinding to a halt.

I have to give Zenitsu’s arc another mention because it’s the clearest example of how much the characters have grown. He’s often been treated as comic relief, but here he finally proves himself. The only frustration is how quickly the film moves past it. Just as you want his thunderous breakthrough to echo a little longer, the castle shoves you into the next fight. It’s a reminder of how packed the film is, and how sometimes the pacing robs you of breathing room.

The technical side of the production is as impressive as you’d expect from Ufotable, maybe even more so. The way the hand-drawn animation blends with CGI is seamless, and the lighting brings everything alive. Flames glinting off broken tiles, blades flashing in the dark – the details pull you in whether you want to or not. This is the kind of movie that deserves the biggest screen you can find, and if IMAX is an option, it’s worth going for. The soundtrack works just as hard as the visuals, swelling with intensity during the action, then dropping back to let the emotional beats breathe. It never feels overdone; it knows when to step up and when to stay quiet.

Still, nearly three hours of battles, grief, and flashbacks will push some viewers. Fans who’ve been here since the start will find it rewarding, but newcomers might find the constant stops and starts difficult to sit through. The film feels like a reward for those who’ve followed Tanjiro’s journey from the very beginning, less of an entry point for anyone new.

Takahiro also shared how playing Giyu has shaped his own life. He explained that while his approach to acting is always the same no matter the role, this character was different on a personal level. Through Giyu, he’s been able to travel overseas and connect with fans in ways he hadn’t experienced with other projects including meeting audiences here in Singapore. It’s a reminder of how Demon Slayer has grown into something much larger than just an anime series, becoming a shared experience across cultures.  

This Infinity Castle movie isn’t the finale, and it doesn’t claim to be. It’s a first step into the last act, laying the groundwork for what’s still to come. That makes it exciting and frustrating in equal measure – you leave satisfied, but also reminded that the true end is still years away. Ufotable clearly knows what it’s doing though, and this first chapter shows no signs of them dropping the ball.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is now showing in cinemas.