Unlike the first Demon Slayer movie, Mugan Train, which was a self contained story with a beginning and end, To the Swordsmith Village picks up in the middle of a story, has it's climax about half way through, and then starts a new story, ending on a cliffhanger. Yes, both are cinematic showings of the ongoing TV series but Mugan Train at least started at the beginning of one story and took it through the end. Swordsmith puts together the final 2 episodes of season 2 and the first episode of season 3, the first two ending one story and the third starting something new, and barely starting it. Also Swordsmith doesn't even pretend it's a movie as much by including the credits for each episode.
What Swordsmith has going for it is Demon Slayer's gorgeous animation and intense plotting. It truly is breathtaking to see on the big screen. I believe fans of the series will enjoy seeing it in this format. But as a movie on it's own it doesn't work great. The film starts out okay by summing up how we got to this point rather effectively, but it's episodic nature after that takes you out of the story and the final act, the season 3 episode 1 part, is just so anticlimactic that it makes for an awkward viewing experience if you are stepping into it without having followed the entire series up to this point.
And Mugan Train wasn't like that. I saw it sight unseen and could follow it and enjoy it for exactly what was presented on screen without needing further explanation or even further viewing. But this one just isn't designed to be enjoyed that way. This is solely about offering a big screen experience of the TV show for fans who are already devoted, and teasing the upcoming new season. So unless you really are a fan, or are okay with just watching some beautiful anime without needing to be super invested, I wouldn't recommend Swordsmith on it's own.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- To the Swordsmith Village
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
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