Mini-Review: Death Note (2017)

L's first meeting with Light

My Review:

Now, here’s a film we’ve been waiting for a while. Stuck in development hell for almost 10 years until picked up by Netflix (which seems to insist that it can succeed where others can’t), the American version of Death Note was finally released in theaters and on the streaming platform just a few days ago. Adam Wingard occupies the director’s chair, while Nat Wolff plays the main character, Light Turner (Light Yagami in the original).

To be honest, I don’t care much for a faithful adaptation, but an effective one. Changes don’t bother me. In fact, for a series as long and complicated as Death Note (a 12 volume manga) to be condensed in an under-two-hour movie, drastic changes are inevitable. No doubt, that puts a lot of pressure on the writers. The 2006 Japanese two-film series (one that I have high regard for) constricted the plot to only half the manga (the ‘L’ portion), and changed the ending, adding an interesting yet consistent angle to the story. Ultimately it worked. It stood adequately on its own without sacrificing the appreciation of long-time devoted fans of the original material. 

The 2017 version, however, will disappoint most of its viewers, newcomers and fans alike. Many of its alternation just don’t make any sense. Why does Ryuk care so much? How come L doesn’t suspect Mia right from the start? How can Watari be so stupid as to use his real name? Why is the ending so silly, and unnecessarily complicated (I don’t want to spoil it, but I trust you’ll know what I mean when you see it). Plot-holes aside, this film feels cheap right from the start. Not visually mind you (the cinematography is one of the few good things about it), but in its characterization. From the 'cartoonish'  manner the characters are introduced (yes Mia, we get it, you’re a badass because you smoke during cheerleader practice, now go away....), to the nonsensical finale on the Ferris wheel. It all feels lazy and obtuse. This includes L, who's a major step down from his Manga counterpart. Furthermore, the pace is too fast at times, and as a result many of the Death Note mechanics are explained half-assedly. There’s no time to breathe. No time to reflect. It's as if the film itself just wants to get it over with. 

But most important of all, Death Note (2017) entirely fails to deliver any of the moral ambiguity, psychological and sociological gravitas, or philosophical pondering omnipresent in its source material. It doesn’t even try. As such, any small merits that the film may have (good acting, good cinematography) disappear under the shadows of its massive flaws. The filmmakers should have spent more time to understand what really made the franchise so great in the first place. I would have gladly waited a few more years for a better film. 

Score: 5/10


Title: Death Note
Writer(s): 
Charles Parlapanides
Vlas Parlapanides
Jeremy Slater
Based on: "Death Note" (Manga) by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Director: Adam Wingard 
Main Cast:
 Nat Wolff
 Lakeith Stanfield
 Margaret Qualley
 Shea Whigham
 Paul Nakauchi
 Jason Liles
 Willem Dafoe


Release Date: 25 August 2017 (Netflix, Theatrical)
Running Time: 100 minutes