“Now I’m rooting for this guy.” —Ryuk
Today’s quick review: Death Note. One day, Light Turner (Nat Wolff), a troubled high school student, finds the Death Note, a mysterious notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Prodded by Ryuk (Willem Dafoe), a demon connected to the Death Note, Light uses his newfound power to rid the world of its worst criminals. But his actions soon draw the attention of L (Lakeith Stanfield), an eccentric detective with the brains to catch Light.
Death Note is a dark fantasy thriller based on the manga of the same name. Death Note examines a simple premise: what happens when you give one person the power to kill without repercussion? The movie offers interesting moral themes and an unusual cat-and-mouse game between L and Light. Unfortunately, its lackluster execution and a handful of poor decisions keep it from living up to its full potential.
Death Note has a few good twists, but ultimately it is missing the tense battle of wits that defines the source material. Rather than a teen prodigy with boundless ambition, Light is an ordinary high school student in over his head. That one change robs the movie of several key dynamics, including Light’s complex schemes to avoid detection and the borderline validity of his claims to be a god. The result is a weaker, more conventional story.
The cast of Death Note is a mixed bag. Nat Wolff makes for an unconvincing Light, lacking the intelligence and the ambition of his Japanese counterpart. Lakeith Stanfield’s take on L actually works fairly well. He is less impressive of a detective than L should be, but his quirky mannerisms are spot-on. Willem Dafoe’s portrayal of Ryuk is the standout of the film: menacing, mysterious, and close enough to the source material to satisfy.
Watch Death Note if you are in the mood for a dark thriller with a unique premise. Fans of the original will likely be disappointed, while newcomers will still find the execution to be poor, although the plot is different enough to avoid spoilers. Those with the patience would be better off checking out the anime adaptation instead. For a better look at similar themes, take a look at Chronicle.
4.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for an interesting premise and a few clever moments let down by a weak lead and mediocre writing.