Review Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser 2009
Introduction
It’s been ages since I last watched Detective Conan, not since my high school days. Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser 2009 has been sitting in my computer’s D drive since 2010—14 years untouched. I’ve hesitated to review any Conan movie because doing it justice requires rewatching the entire series to grasp the full storyline. Otherwise, it’s easy to come off as biased or uninformed, and I’d rather avoid the backlash. But with my tight schedule, I just watch whatever’s already downloaded. I’m old-school—I prefer downloading files to watch offline since my viewing often gets interrupted, and streaming isn’t always reliable.
So, with The Raven Chaser sitting in my D drive, I decided to revisit it. When I have more time, I’ll start from the beginning again, but for now, this’ll do. Haha.
Plot Summary
In Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser, a member of the Black Organization uncovers Conan’s true identity. At the same time, a series of serial murders across different prefectures brings together various investigation teams. Conan digs into the clues and discovers that the eight victims are linked to a mahjong tile with eight dots, which connects to the Big Dipper constellation. At Kusabira Park, three kids from Conan’s class uncover a lead, stumbling upon a house where they find the police superintendent tied up.
Meanwhile, Conan identifies two culprits behind the serial murders. He also discovers Irish, a Black Organization member disguised as the superintendent. The two clash in a fight, and Ran arrives just in time to save Conan but fails to stop Irish. Conan flees to a balcony, where the Black Organization arrives by helicopter, kills Irish, and spots a witness. Not knowing the witness’s identity, they attempt to eliminate them. Conan narrowly escapes, using a flashlight and rope to shoot down the helicopter, saving himself without exposing his identity.
Plot Highlights and Critique
Honestly, I found Conan’s investigation in this movie a bit… watered down. The time spent on his detective work feels overshadowed by other characters’ subplots. It’s only at the end that the movie reveals the full scope of Conan’s investigation, seemingly for a big twist. But for me, the twist fell flat—it wasn’t surprising at all. The scene where Conan’s classmates wander into the park’s woods is reckless enough, but then they find a house, scream when someone approaches, and accidentally step on a twig, alerting the people inside. It’s a clumsy move that exposes their position.
Another odd detail: the person guarding the tied-up superintendent parks their car in a lot, yet when the police arrive, they completely overlook it. That’s hard to believe. Meanwhile, Conan and the police throw out wild deductions that somehow land perfectly, almost like they’re superhuman. It feels too convenient.
Irish’s disguise as the superintendent also raises questions. The movie suggests Irish’s build matches the superintendent’s, but their body shapes and faces are noticeably different. Even the bone structure doesn’t align, making the disguise hard to buy.
Then there’s Ran’s elevator scene. She sees Conan thrown against a wall but doesn’t first check who did it. Instead, she rushes to ask if he’s okay. Only when the fake superintendent approaches does she notice someone else is there. The logic here is shaky—Conan’s been hurled into a wall, so shouldn’t she suspect someone else is present? Who else could it be besides the impostor? It’s confusing.
Another head-scratcher is Irish’s mission. Gin orders him to retrieve data and copy it onto a memory card, but before he can, they eliminate him. Why? It makes no sense. And the Black Organization’s decision to spray a tower with machine-gun fire to kill Conan is overkill. That kind of chaos would alert the entire city, even the military. The police show up, but they’re equipped to handle regular criminals, not a group with automatic weapons. Sure, Gin’s crew has a helicopter and targets only those tied to the case, avoiding direct police confrontation. But using such extreme measures to silence a witness—essentially “using a cleaver to kill a chicken”—risks drawing attention from the government and military. A subtler approach, like staging a helicopter crash to fake their deaths, would still cause a massive stir, but it’d be less reckless.
Action and Suspense
When it comes to action and suspense, I’ll be blunt: it’s not the movie’s strength. Is The Raven Chaser just a patchwork of disconnected chapters turned into a film, like many manga adaptations? If so, it seems the anime team focused on sketching out the case’s investigation while sidelining action. The result feels like they’re just coasting to the end, unbothered by whether the action or suspense lands.
The scenes where Conan is chased by Irish and shot at by Gin lack real intensity. They feel more like moments crafted for kids than gripping sequences for adults. Maybe that’s why the action and suspense feel toned down to the bare minimum.
Investigation and Deduction
The murder investigation in The Raven Chaser doesn’t leave much of an impression. Conan’s detective work lacks the weight of serious sleuthing, and his deductions border on fantastical. He interacts with the culprits early on, only to reveal at the end that they’re the ones he suspected all along. It’s a tired trope, overly convenient, and feels like a rehashed trick from the series.
Conclusion
Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser 2009 struggles to balance its investigation, action, and suspense. The plot leans too heavily on secondary characters, diluting Conan’s detective work, and the twists don’t hit as intended. Logical gaps, like the questionable disguises and over-the-top tactics of the Black Organization, further weaken the story. While it’s watchable, especially for fans, it feels more like a string of manga chapters than a cohesive movie. For a casual rewatch, it’s fine, but don’t expect the sharp deduction or thrilling action the series is known for.
