Death Note (2017) – Full Movie Recap, Cast, and Review
Introduction
Death Note (2017) is an American supernatural crime thriller directed by Adam Wingard and released on Netflix. The film reimagines the classic Japanese manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata for Western audiences. While it received mixed reviews, it remains a bold retelling of the story about morality, justice, and the consequences of absolute power.
Plot Summary
Set in Seattle, the story follows Light Turner, a bright but isolated high school student who discovers a mysterious notebook known as the Death Note. This supernatural book grants the ability to kill anyone by writing their name while picturing their face. Soon after, Light encounters Ryuk, a Shinigami (death god), who encourages him to test the book’s deadly power.
Light’s first victims include his school bully and his mother’s killer, which convinces him of the Death Note’s reality. Drawn deeper into its dark potential, Light shares the notebook with his classmate and eventual girlfriend Mia Sutton. Together, they begin eliminating criminals worldwide under the alias Kira, a vigilante name that sparks fear and fascination across the globe.
Their actions attract the attention of L, a genius but eccentric international detective. L quickly narrows down Kira’s origin to Seattle and closes in on Light. As the tension escalates, trust between Light and Mia crumbles when her obsession with the Death Note pushes her to betray him.
The climax unfolds at the Seattle Great Wheel, where Light manipulates events so that Mia meets her death by the very power she sought to control. Meanwhile, L discovers evidence pointing toward Light as Kira, but his inner conflict leaves the final truth ambiguous. In the end, Ryuk observes with amusement, remarking that humans remain endlessly fascinating.
Main Cast
- Nat Wolff as Light Turner / Kira
- LaKeith Stanfield as L
- Margaret Qualley as Mia Sutton
- Jason Liles as Ryuk (motion capture)
Production Details
| Directed by | Adam Wingard |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides, Jeremy Slater |
| Based on | Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata |
| Produced by | Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Masi Oka, Jason Hoffs, Ted Sarandos |
| Starring | Nat Wolff, LaKeith Stanfield, Margaret Qualley, Shea Whigham, Paul Nakauchi, Jason Liles, Willem Dafoe |
| Cinematography | David Tattersall |
| Edited by | Louis Cioffi |
| Music by | Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross |
| Production companies | Netflix, Vertigo Entertainment, LP Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
| Release dates | August 24, 2017 (FrightFest), August 25, 2017 (United States) |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $40 million |
Review & Reception
Upon release, Death Note sparked debate among fans and critics alike. While praised for performances—particularly LaKeith Stanfield as L and Willem Dafoe’s chilling voice as Ryuk—the film was criticized for condensing the manga’s complex narrative into a short runtime. Director Adam Wingard’s interpretation focused on bringing the themes of morality and justice into an American setting, which divided audiences but provided a fresh take on the source material.
Conclusion
Though controversial, Death Note (2017) offers a unique retelling of the manga’s central conflict between morality, power, and justice. For fans of supernatural thrillers, the film remains an interesting adaptation worth experiencing, especially with its tense cat-and-mouse chase between Light and L.
Comments
Post a Comment