・ English is my second language, there may be errors in my grammar..
・I try to make a spoiler-free review, however, in the section opinion might have some spoilers.
・General experience ≠ Final score. My personal score is based in 5 star system, so I tried to put an accurate number here, but isn't always the case.
・Locate (Brief) Conclusion + Recommendation section where the main points are summarized.

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Experience with Collar×Malice: deep cover

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Shinjuku finds itself isolated due to the notorious organization known as Adonis, responsible for a string of crimes known as the "X-day Incidents". Hoshino Ichika becomes their prime target, falling victim to a midnight attack. As she regains consciousness, she discovers a mysterious man by her side, ready to lend a helping hand. To her horror, she realizes a poison delivery mechanism attached to her neck, cunningly controlled by the organization.

From that instance onward, Ichika, alongside her newfound ally and his dedicated team, embarks on a perilous mission to unveil the enigmatic mastermind behind Adonis. However, a new case emerges, where prominent figures are victim to whom may be intricately connected with the X-day Incidents. Trapped in a web of deception, Ichika and her courageous companions find themselves unjustly implicated in a framed crime, facing imminent danger.

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Firstly, in the introduction I give some context for those unfamiliar with the original source, then in the second paragraph, it’s about the movie, that start in a point where the audience is already aware of what happened to Ichika, the protagonist. The main focus is on a new case that brings together all the important characters from the original story, which is based on an Otome Game. In this game, the protagonist interacts with various main characters in order to discover the truth behind the dangerous collar around her neck.

Now, let's share my experience of watching the movie without referring to the original source until I specified. Although I had background knowledge of the game, I'll try to evaluate the movie on its own merits.

The movie starts off in a confusing manner, making it challenging to connect with the characters. The interactions between the protagonist and the group led by Yanagi feel rather flat, making it difficult to understand what is happening and why they behave the way they do.

As the story progresses, a new case emerges in Shinjuku, leading to Yanagi and Enomoto being framed as the culprits. A new character appears to help resolve the case, and it becomes evident that he may possess more knowledge than expected.

For a first-time viewer who is unfamiliar with the game and is looking for an interesting story featuring handsome men, it may seem appealing. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes less captivating, and the identity of the mastermind behind everything becomes quite obvious. Therefore, I do not recommend it in that regard. Furthermore, a big spoiler arrives in the second part, the revelation of Adonis's identity, the leader of the organization, can be seen as a detriment to the overall experience.

Moving on, the overall composition and details of this movie are rather average. Being a product of Studio DEEN, the staff did their best to create something decent. However, it's peculiar that they split the movie into two parts, leaving certain aspects feeling disjointed. One could argue that this treatment is to be expected for an Otome Game adaptation, as the main purpose of the movie is to generate more sales.

The lack of a coherent storyline is a significant flaw. The beginning and ending fail to provide a sense of completion, at least from my perspective. Additionally, the character design is inconsistent and lacks appeal, while the animation feels unnatural. The decision to use that color palette that appears faded without contrast, doesn't align with the series, it’s disappointing and does not do justice to the original artwork.

Therefore, if anyone is interested in this story, I recommend either playing the game or (please don’t get mad) exploring alternative options to truly appreciate the amazing character development that each route offers. Always remember to support the original work.

To conclude this section, I would like to emphasize that my disappointment is not solely due to the movie's failure to adapt the original story. The core issue lies in the common problem faced by numerous Otome Game adaptations, which is the inadequate execution of the content. In this case, my disappointment arises from the fact that, despite having a “new original story”, the movie starts from a confusing point where there is no connection to the main plot. This lack of coherence hampers the understanding of the setting and sudden focus on a new character, resulting in weak sympathy and interest in what is happening.

And from a biased perspective, it also diminishes the mystery surrounding the Adonis. This, unfortunately, leaves a cold feeling, as something that was supposed to be heart-wrenching in the game, falls short in the movie.

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In a city held captive by a ruthless organization that employs violence to impose order, Hoshino Ichika finds herself targeted as their prey. She discovers a poison delivery mechanism attached to her neck, cunningly controlled by the organization. The question arises: What led them to choose her? Filled with uncertainty, she forms an alliance with Yanagi, who leads the search for the truth behind these events. However, a new case emerges, involving prominent figures who may be intricately connected to the mysterious 'X-day Incidents.' Now, with the focus on Yanagi, they must resolve this case without tarnishing his name.

As expected, adapting an otome game premise to a movie format poses certain challenges . The film revolves around a new character and his struggles, with the main character becoming entangled due to her connection with the organization that has placed a collar around her neck. While the intention was to create an intriguing storyline, the execution falls short in capturing enough suspense and fascination.

If you are interested in 'Collar x Malice,' I would highly recommend experiencing the game first. Then, if you still have the desire and opportunity, you can watch the movie solely for the enjoyment of seeing the characters brought to life in motion. That aspect, at the very least, provided some enjoyment for me.

This movie falls victim to a common pitfall often seen in otome game adaptations. While it may initially seem interesting, as the story unfolds, it becomes less captivating, and the identity of the mastermind behind everything in this movie becomes painfully obvious . In that sense, I do not recommend it.

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