Meitantei Conan Movie 28: Sekigan no Flashback

At this point, Detective Conan movies are formulaic...in a good way. They utilize the massive, diverse cast in the franchise and build the movie off character interactions/relationships and over-the-top action sequences. M28 is no exception. The movie builds off of the Nagano trio and Conan's dynamics quite well, as it manages to fill the theater with laughter, with grief, and with drama.

In addition, this movie, at its core, is a police drama, which has always been a superior setting for Conan movies outside of the Black Organization movies.

Outside of a few weird cuts and usual Detective Boys fillers that should be removed from the ... movies permanently (which they can't, I understand), the movie remains mostly consistent in tone. The case is presented in a logical, engaging manner. The only cons of the movie are an underwhelming villain and the ridiculous action sequence at the end, but neither detracts from the movie all that much.

While the movie doesn't quite reach the heights of M26 or the older classics, it's still an enjoyable time at the theaters for long-time Conan fans. A well-deserved box office draw. I think it is very impressive that the movies have been consistently above average to great since M25, and I will continue to watch these movies in theaters until they stop making them.

First of all, the storyline of this movie—specifically the case itself, feels rather weak. There is no intense or complex plot, nor is there any real difficulty in identifying the culprit. The case is quite simple and ordinary, leaving little lasting impression on the viewer. This contrasts with other films in which the culprit is harder to discern and where mystery and suspense are maintained throughout. This, is the main weakness of the movie.

On the other hand, the animation is well executed and the music is acceptable, neither exceptional nor poor. The events are engaging, dynamic, and carry a certain vibe and action, so you ... won’t feel bored; the movie actually feels as though it moves quickly. These are its stronger points.

However, as mentioned earlier, the film lacks something essential—the substance and depth of the case itself. Most good Detective Conan movies rely on a more intricate, well-crafted plot, particularly the older ones. Unfortunately, in recent years, the franchise seems to have shifted toward prioritizing commercial appeal over producing truly refined and masterfully structured stories.

This movie was simply boring. I’ve seen almost every Detective Conan film, and I understand these are often made for commercial purposes with no real impact on the overall plot, but this one crosses a line by being boring to the point of offensive.

From a commercial or tourism angle, it does its job: promoting Nagano, showcasing its snowy scenery, star-filled skies, and scenic atmosphere. As a promotional piece, it succeeds. But as a crime thriller or action movie, it completely fails.

The movie opens with two disjointed, clumsy crimes that feel abrupt and unconnected, giving viewers no time to settle in or understand what’s happening. Even ... worse, there are already unintentional hints at the solution during the Conan intro monologue, which ruins the mystery before it even begins. The central case itself is incredibly dull. Each time a key character shows up, the film practically screams at the audience to pay attention, repeating themselves unnecessarily. And then there’s the swarm of police characters pulled from the main series, many of whom are given little to no purpose or screen time. Even the core focus, the Nagano police force, is underwhelming and never truly shines.

The structure of the crimes is sloppy; each new crime simply serves to narrow the already limited suspect list, which makes the mystery far too easy to solve. If not for the obscure and convoluted motive, most viewers would have figured out the culprit before the halfway point. And that motive? Unrealistically complicated and not emotionally convincing.

The action scenes, which usually help cover up a weak story in other Conan movies, don’t do the job here either. There's no real tension or stakes. Between the heavy exposition dumps, repetitive explanations, and forced use of the snow-and-stars setting, the film feels like a drag. Honestly, it barely qualifies as a passable episode for the TV series, let alone deserving of a full theatrical release.