Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple

Rating: 7,6/10
Status: Recommended


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[English]

Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is a cinematic extension of the series’ stylish, literary world—part murder mystery, part supernatural thriller, and part philosophical deep dive into the nature of power and identity. While it doesn’t fully escape the “anime movie” syndrome—where plot can feel condensed and some character arcs rushed—it offers enough visual flair, thematic intrigue, and emotional tension to satisfy fans, especially those invested in Dazai, Atsushi, and their inner demons.

Set during a bizarre phenomenon where gifted individuals are dying under mysterious fog-related circumstances, Dead Apple quickly introduces the antagonist Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, a calm, cryptic figure with his own warped philosophy about ... abilities and human worth. His goal is abstract yet eerily resonant: to separate people from their “gifts,” to test whether they are truly anything beyond their power. That core conflict—what defines a person, their gift or their will—is classic Bungou Stray Dogs territory.

The movie thrives on character psychology more than plot twists. Atsushi’s trauma, Akutagawa’s rage, and Dazai’s manipulation form the emotional triangle that anchors the film. Watching Atsushi confront the monstrous embodiment of his past, while Akutagawa is forced into reluctant cooperation, gives the story emotional weight—especially as both begin to understand how their identities were shaped by pain, yet also by choices.

Dazai, as expected, operates in the shadows—pulling strings, planning six steps ahead, and revealing layers of complexity even in brief appearances. His relationship with the main conflict is not direct, but always influential. The movie cleverly keeps his true intentions opaque until the final act, which adds suspense and satisfaction.

Visually, Studio Bones delivers one of its best theatrical efforts. The use of the fog, glowing red and gray against dark cityscapes, creates a dreamlike tension that reflects the characters’ inner conflicts. Fight scenes are dynamic, especially Atsushi vs. Akutagawa or the final confrontation with the fog beast. Lighting and composition frequently evoke a gothic noir aesthetic, reinforcing the idea that this world is poetic even when it’s brutal.

Musically, Dead Apple maintains the series’ signature jazz-classical blend, with haunting piano and violin pieces underscoring key moments. The soundtrack supports the mood without overpowering it, and the theme song by GRANRODEO adds a melancholic but anthemic closure.

Where the film falters is in narrative cohesion. The central plot is ambitious, but its pacing is uneven. Shibusawa’s motivations, while conceptually rich, don’t get enough screen time to fully develop. Secondary characters—Ranpo, Kunikida, and others—feel more like cameos than participants, which may disappoint fans hoping for ensemble development.

Still, Dead Apple succeeds as a focused character study with a cinematic polish. It adds texture to the world, deepens the psychological themes, and offers a meaningful confrontation between self and power. It doesn’t rewrite the rules of the series—but it does reinforce what makes Bungou Stray Dogs distinct: the belief that power is not identity, and trauma is not destiny.


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[Bahasa Indonesia]

Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple adalah perluasan sinematik dari dunia literer dan penuh gaya seri ini—gabungan misteri pembunuhan, thriller supernatural, dan renungan filosofis tentang kekuatan dan identitas. Meski tak sepenuhnya lepas dari “penyakit khas film anime”—di mana alurnya terasa padat dan pengembangan karakter terburu-buru—film ini tetap menyajikan visual memukau, tema yang menggugah, dan ketegangan emosional yang cukup memuaskan, terutama bagi penggemar Dazai, Atsushi, dan konflik batin mereka.

Latar ceritanya adalah fenomena aneh: para pengguna kemampuan tewas dalam kabut misterius. Di sinilah muncul Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, antagonis tenang dan penuh teka-teki, dengan filosofi menyimpang soal makna kemampuan dan nilai manusia. Tujuannya terasa abstrak tapi relevan: memisahkan manusia dari “kemampuannya” dan menguji apakah mereka tetap berarti tanpa itu. Konflik ini—apa yang mendefinisikan manusia, kekuatannya atau kehendaknya—adalah inti khas dari Bungou Stray Dogs.

Film ini lebih kuat dalam psikologi karakter daripada plot besar. Trauma Atsushi, amarah Akutagawa, dan manipulasi Dazai menjadi poros emosional cerita. Saat Atsushi menghadapi perwujudan masa lalunya yang mengerikan, dan Akutagawa terpaksa bekerja sama, ada beban emosional yang nyata—terutama saat mereka mulai menyadari bahwa identitas mereka terbentuk bukan hanya oleh luka, tapi juga oleh pilihan.

Dazai, seperti biasa, hadir dari balik bayangan—mengatur rencana dari kejauhan, merancang strategi, dan menunjukkan kerumitan motif bahkan dalam waktu tayang yang terbatas. Hubungannya dengan konflik utama tidak langsung, tapi sangat berpengaruh. Film ini cerdas menjaga niat Dazai tetap kabur hingga babak akhir, memberikan kejutan yang menyenangkan dan konsisten dengan karakternya.

Secara visual, Studio Bones tampil prima. Kabut merah dan abu-abu yang bersinar di atas kota gelap menciptakan ketegangan mimpi buruk yang mencerminkan konflik batin para tokoh. Adegan pertarungan—terutama antara Atsushi dan Akutagawa serta konfrontasi final dengan makhluk kabut—disajikan dengan gerakan dinamis dan estetika noir yang puitis sekaligus kelam.

Musiknya tetap kuat dengan gaya khas seri ini: jazz dan klasik yang melankolis. Piano dan gesekan biola membungkus momen-momen penting tanpa berlebihan, dan lagu tema dari GRANRODEO menutup film dengan nuansa sedih sekaligus gagah.

Namun kelemahan film ini adalah kohesi naratifnya. Plot utamanya ambisius, tapi ritmenya naik turun. Motivasi Shibusawa secara konseptual menarik, tapi tidak cukup dieksplorasi. Karakter pendukung seperti Ranpo dan Kunikida hanya muncul sekilas, bukan sebagai pemain utama, yang mungkin mengecewakan penggemar mereka.

Tetap saja, Dead Apple berhasil sebagai studi karakter yang berfokus dengan sentuhan sinematik. Ia menambahkan tekstur pada dunia seri ini, memperdalam tema psikologis, dan menyajikan konfrontasi bermakna antara diri dan kekuatan. Film ini mungkin tidak mengubah arah cerita besar, tapi ia memperkuat inti dari Bungou Stray Dogs: bahwa kekuatan bukanlah identitas, dan trauma bukanlah takdir.

Despite leading with an interesting premise and mystery, these aspects, and the core structure of the story, soon devolved into the usual standard action format that left much to be desired. Thankfully, the production made up for some of the missing narrative substance, and the inclusion of past and future events, organizations, and people was interesting, albeit unimportant to the movie. Unfortunately, the writing often suffered from lazy character regression, hastily implemented power escalation, typical plot devices, and uninspired conflict resolution. Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple could not decide between being canon or filler and instead ended up an underdeveloped combination of both without inspiration.

I'm sorry, maybe I'm stupid but i swear this movie makes no sense.
I first watched this movie like a year ago and at that point I thought I just didn't pay close enough attention. I'm rewatching the series now and coming back to this movie I was ready to give my undivided attention and try to understand it, but as the movie goes on i just got more and more lost. I don't understand any of the motivations or plans or how anything happens. By the end I was just confused all to hell.
I'm happy that everything I read said the movie is ... unimportant to the plot of the show because if it was important I would be doomed.
If you liked and understood it I'm happy for you but for me I rewound certain parts a couple times trying to make sense of it and just never could. So idk if I'm dumb or what but I doubt I'll revisit this movie ever again and would recommend people avoid the headache :/