Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Review — Gorgeous Fights, Bloated Story

As a longtime Demon Slayer fan — yes, I still keep Rengoku as my phone screen saver (RIP) — I walked into Infinity Castle with high expectations. The franchise has delivered some of the most breathtaking fight sequences in anime history, and I was hoping this film would raise the bar again. And while it does deliver on the action, it stumbles in the pacing and storytelling.

What Worked: The Fights

The highlight of Infinity Castle is, without question, the three big fight sequences. Each one feels like a Season 1, Episode 19 moment — beautifully animated, emotionally charged, and choreographed with the precision we’ve come to expect from Ufotable.

• Doma vs. Shinobu (Insect Hashira): A stunning battle that kept its momentum all the way to the end. The combination of style, skill, and raw emotion made it one of the strongest moments in the film.

• Zenitsu’s Revenge: Watching Zenitsu finally step into his own and avenge his grandfather was both cathartic and exhilarating. This felt like the payoff fans have been waiting for.

• Tanjiro & Giyu vs. Akaza: The climactic showdown had me on the edge of my seat when the focus was on the actual fight. The choreography and intensity were top-tier, exactly what Demon Slayer does best.

What Didn’t Work: The Storytelling

Here’s where Infinity Castle loses steam. The film leans too heavily on backstory and filler, which drags down the pacing. Akaza’s backstory in particular eats up almost half the runtime — and while some depth is welcome, it felt shoehorned in and unnecessary. Worse, much of it wasn’t even from the manga, making it feel like padding rather than genuine character exploration.

Instead of keeping the momentum of the fights, these detours pulled me out of the story. What could’ve been a lean, thrilling movie became bloated and uneven.

Final Thoughts

I wanted to love this film. Demon Slayer remains one of my favorite anime series, and when it hits its stride, it’s spectacular. But Infinity Castle spends too much time dragging us through filler and invented backstory instead of letting the action speak for itself.

The fights alone are worth seeing on the big screen, but the overall experience left me lukewarm. Beautiful, yes. But also too long, too padded, and ultimately not the masterpiece it could have been. We have two movies to go, I hope Ufotable gets it right

Final Grade: B