Ryosuke Yamada
Edward Elric
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar
“The promised day is coming soon”
2022
2h 5m
Director: Fumihiko Sori
Overview
The Elric brothers meet their toughest opponent yet — a lone serial killer with a large scar on his forehead.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Alchemy of Disappointment
I keep thinking about the weight of a promise. Not the kind you make to someone else—the kind you make to yourself, the one that keeps you moving even when every step feels like a betrayal. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar is a film about that weight, or at least it tries to be. But somewhere between the source material’s philosophical heft and this live-action adaptation’s frantic action sequences, the promise gets lost.
Not in translation, exactly, but in execution. The alchemy fails.
Fumihiko Sori’s third attempt to bring Hiromu Arakawa’s beloved manga and anime to life arrives with the burden of two previous films already dragging it down. The 2018 live-action Fullmetal Alchemist and its 2022 follow-up, The Final Alchemy, were met with a collective shrug from fans and critics alike, their low scores on SensCritique (3.6/10 and 4.1/10, respectively) suggesting a fundamental disconnect between the material’s depth and the films’ ability to convey it. The Revenge of Scar doesn’t reverse that trend. If anything, it doubles down on the franchise’s live-action struggles: a story that feels both overstuffed and hollow, a visual style that oscillates between the weighty and the weightless, and a central performance from Mackenyu as Scar that never quite lands the emotional punch the character demands.
The problem isn’t that The Revenge of Scar lacks ambition. The film’s title alone signals its intent to grapple with one of the franchise’s most morally complex arcs—the story of a man consumed by vengeance, whose journey forces him to confront the very humanity he’s spent years trying to erase. Scar, a survivor of the Ishvalan genocide, is a character defined by his scars, both literal and metaphorical.
His rage is a kind of alchemy in reverse, turning the pain of loss into a weapon. In the anime and manga, his arc is a slow burn, a meditation on the cost of retribution and the possibility of redemption. Here, that nuance is compressed into a series of fight scenes and hurried monologues, as if the film is afraid to linger too long on any one idea.
That fear of stillness is the film’s undoing. The action sequences are competently staged, but they lack the tactile weight of the anime’s hand-drawn battles. In the original, alchemy is a visceral, almost balletic art—transmutation circles flare to life with a snap of the fingers, matter bends and reshapes with a physicality that feels like sculpting clay.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.8/10
"A visually polished but uneven continuation of the Fullmetal Alchemist saga that struggles to justify its standalone story."
The film delivers the expected action and fantasy spectacle, with strong performances from the lead cast, particularly Ryosuke Yamada and Mackenyu. However, many find the plot convoluted and the emotional payoff lacking compared to the original series, leaving some feeling underwhelmed by its pacing and narrative depth. The visual style and production values are frequently praised, latestnetflix.com contends, but the story’s execution fails to resonate as strongly as the source material.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Ryosuke Yamada and Mackenyu are highlighted for their compelling portrayals, bringing depth to their characters.
- Visually impressive The film’s action sequences and fantasy aesthetics are praised for their high production quality and stylish execution.
- Faithful to the source Fans of the original series appreciate the film’s adherence to the established lore and character dynamics.
- Engaging action scenes The fight choreography and fantasy battles are noted as standout moments that keep the film entertaining.
Common complaints
- Convoluted plot Many viewers find the story overly complex and difficult to follow, detracting from the overall experience.
- Weak emotional payoff The film’s narrative fails to deliver the same emotional depth as the original series, leaving some feeling unsatisfied.
- Pacing issues The movie’s slow build-up and uneven pacing are criticized for making it feel drawn-out and less engaging.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting characters are often seen as underutilized or lacking depth, weakening the overall story.
Recommended for
Fullmetal Alchemist fans Action-fantasy enthusiasts Live-action anime adaptation viewers Ryosuke Yamada fans High-production fantasy movies
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar (2022)
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar (2022) marked the climactic chapter in Fumihiko Sori’s live-action adaptation of the beloved manga and anime franchise. While the film aimed to deliver a visually ambitious finale, latestnetflix.com maintains, its production and reception reveal a mix of creative ambition and fan skepticism.
Sori’s Vision: Blending Live-Action and CGI
Director Fumihiko Sori, known for his work in visual effects and live-action manga adaptations, brought his signature style to The Revenge of Scar. Born in Osaka in 1964, Sori has built a career on merging practical filmmaking with cutting-edge CGI 
. His approach to Fullmetal Alchemist was no different—prioritizing a seamless fusion of real-world cinematography and digital alchemy. However, the film’s 125-minute runtime and mixed critical reception (a 4.3/10 on SensCritique ) suggest that not all viewers were convinced by the execution.
Cast Chemistry and Key Performances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9F8JVGQM8w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQtgs6nzMmU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfWi2LHYHjI
The film’s ensemble cast included Ryosuke Yamada as Edward Elric and Atomu Mizuishi reprising his role as Alphonse Elric, the two leads from Sori’s earlier Fullmetal Alchemist (2018) . Mackenyu, who played the titular Scar, drew attention for his physical transformation and intensity in the role, as teased in a Netflix special clip . Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, and Jun Fubuki rounded out the supporting cast, though fan reactions to the live-action portrayals remained divided .
Fan Reactions and the Live-Action Curse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqj4u6eyDq8
Live-action adaptations of anime and manga often face scrutiny, and The Revenge of Scar was no exception. While the film’s trailer promised a grand finale , reviews highlighted uneven pacing and a struggle to balance spectacle with emotional depth . The SensCritique rating of 4.3/10 (based on 199 votes) reflects a lukewarm reception, though some viewers appreciated the attempt to honor the source material .
The Netflix Factor
As a Netflix original, The Revenge of Scar had the advantage of global accessibility, but it also faced the challenge of meeting the expectations of a dedicated fanbase. The streaming platform’s review videos and special clips suggest an effort to engage viewers, though the film’s legacy remains overshadowed by the original anime’s enduring popularity.
The Verdict
Sori’s Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar was a bold but flawed finale to his live-action saga. While the director’s visual effects expertise shone through, the film’s reception underscores the difficulties of adapting beloved anime for the big screen. For fans, it may be a curiosity; for critics, a reminder of the risks of live-action manga adaptations.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.