Shunsuke Nakashige’s Solo Leveling: Reawakening is a treat for fans of the anime who have been craving to know more about hunter Sung Jinwoo, and are served a cliffhanger at the end of the film.

Based on the popular Korean comic (also known as manhwa) Solo Leveling, the film follows in the footsteps of popular anime franchises like Demon Slayer and offers a recap of the previous seasons of the series, along with a sneak peek of the first couple of episodes of the upcoming instalment. Which means new and returning fans of Solo Leveling get a chance to catch up before new story arcs of the highly-anticipated sequel land in January. Besides, the high-octane action in the film is in itself a visual treat, and one more reason to start reading the manhwa right now.

For those who haven’t met Sung Jinwoo yet

Sung Jinwoo is an E-rank hunter (the lowest of all ranks) in a world where gates to dangerous dungeons have opened, allowing monsters to enter. Despite being ‘the weakest hunter in history’, Jinwoo’s life changes after a near-death experience in a dungeon, where he gains the power to level up like a video game character with the help of a magical programme called System. With this newfound ability, he sets out on a journey to grow stronger, uncovering dark secrets about the dungeons and the true nature of the world.

What happens in Solo Leveling: Reawakening

The film opens with a pivotal moment from Solo Leveling Season 1, which marked Jinwoo taking up hunting to support his ailing mother and younger sister. What starts as an ordinary raid for low-ranked hunters quickly turns deadly when Jinwoo and his group accidentally enter a hidden dungeon within the dungeon they had originally planned to raid. Here they discover a temple with eerie statues and are forced to follow its brutal commandments to survive. Jinwoo tries to save his companions risking his own life and almost getting killed, and his daredevilry results in him being chosen as the System’s Player, with some additional game-like abilities to level up and become stronger.

Delivers on action scenes but not emotional storytelling

From slaying a gigantic serpent to battling the formidable knight commander Igris, the film spends time on gory battle scenes that reveal Jinwoo’s personality bit by bit. The central plotline emerges as Jinwoo transforms from a weak E-rank hunter into an unstoppable force. His newfound power from the System forces him to make tough decisions that challenge his values.

However, Solo Leveling: Reawakening falls short on delivering the emotional depth and moral complexity that define Jinwoo’s “solo” journey of leveling up in a world where power is everything. While the series takes us through Jinwoo’s personal growth, his struggles to protect his family and most importantly, the loneliness that comes with his rise to power, the film focuses heavily on action and spectacle.

This might make it difficult for newcomers to make sense of the protagonist’s solitary rise in such a high-stakes environment.

What to expect in the second season

Perhaps the most exciting part of the film is the final segment which gives a preview of the first two episodes of the second season, with the stakes raised with new enemies and Jinwoo’s impressive transformation after becoming a Necromancer.

In the upcoming season, as an E-rank hunter hiding his true abilities, Jinwoo is set to face formidable foes like Barca, the leader of the Ice Elves, in a Red Gate dungeon. And with Hwang Dong-soo, an S-rank hunter, seeking revenge for his brother’s death in a past raid, there’s more trouble coming up for Jinwoo. We also get a glimpse of Jinwoo’s Shadow Army in action for the first time.