Review of Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple

I don't normally give out 9-star ratings, but this movie deserved it. It's mostly biased from the actual series from before, but that would make sense as this movie is a "sequel" to that in a sense. I loved this movie, the character development wasn't the best, but it was great; the main reason I gave out this score was the ending. Not only was it the same as the actual series of Bungo Stray Dogs, but it gave out a deeper meaning of the same theme/moral. This movie is themed around the fact that people will always help those in need, and that humans willalways save what they believe is important to them, even if it means overcoming the past and looking over regrets. Without spoiling it too much, everyone is protecting Yokohama City, from the criminals, to the government, to the Armed Detectives Agency. All of them "hate" each other in a sense, and there's always something keeping them apart, especially how one is for evil, one is management, and one is for justice. In the end, they all team up and still protect what they cherish.

Dazai might have been the star of this show, but we also see Atsuhi-kun overcoming his past, as he opens the door to the future and learns the truth to whom he is. He finally accepts who he is and becomes one with himself. Chuya and Dazai are enemies from not only their side and opinions, but from past events. This movie shows the trust between two friends no matter how far apart they may go apart (as you see when Chuya uses Corruption knowing only Dazai can stop him, even though they're enemies).

This movie ended in a fast paced manner, but I enjoyed it, and enjoyed it a lot. The ending theme, the sense of satisfaction you get, and the realization that humans will always protect whom they love, the places they cherish, and will ditch all or any past behind them to do so, gave me a thriller. From a sound-perspective, the soundtrack was amazing and the placing of the original ending theme at the final battle was amazing in my opinion, the placement of the new ending theme was also perfect along with that final cutscene that shows the "and so they lived on happily ever after" type ending.

I gave this movie a 9/10 because it is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece I've seen in quite a while. If you read this, you should watch the main series, and also watch this movie right after. It gave me a new outlook on life and my opinions on the separate character's personalities.