Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Illogical horror film has graphic violence, language.
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Death Note
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 48 kid reviews
Kids say the live-action adaptation was a major disappointment, with many reviewers criticizing its inaccuracies compared to the beloved anime, excessive violence, and unnecessary gore. Some viewers appreciated Willem Dafoe's portrayal of Ryuk, but most felt that the character development was lacking, the plot was convoluted, and it strayed too far from the source material, leading to a consensus that the anime is far superior and should be watched instead.
- disappointing adaptation
- excessive violence
- poor character development
- stray from source
- not kid-friendly
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Light Turner (Nat Wolff), still struggling after the violent death of his mom in DEATH NOTE, is an outlier and target of bullies in his Seattle high school. On a stormy day, a weathered leather book falls from the sky. Light picks it up, takes a long look at its tattered pages and eerie title, and then realizes that the book is a terrifying source of magic. The first of many rules listed declares that the present holder of the book has the capacity to kill. He or she must only write down a name, picture the intended target, and then order a death, by any means chosen. Disbelieving, Light looks out the window of his school classroom, sees a despicable bully with a victim in his grasp, and tests the book's decree. What happens next sets Light on an ultimate mission of vengeance. He will rid the world of evil. When the power he exerts ultimately becomes corrupted by both supernatural demon Ryuk (voiced by Willem Dafoe), whom only Light can see, and his one human ally, classmate Mia (Margaret Qualley), only the mysterious "L" (Lakeith Stanfield), a detective of unsurpassable skills, can stop the mayhem.
Is It Any Good?
Aiming for suspense, shock, and revulsion, the film succeeds at some level, but fares less well with its ludicrous premise, dizzying array of "rules" of the game, and giant leaps of logic. Adam Wingard, fitfully successful at directing the macabre, tries to Americanize a popular, dark Japanese franchise (movies, anime series, video games, merchandise). While his bold, flashy style is intact, the overall outcome is nothing more than brutal, dense absurdity. Even messages about power corrupting otherwise decent people, and vigilantism as a negative force, can't raise Death Note from its unenviable position as a bottom feeder. Not recommended.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Death Note. What were the emotions the filmmakers were trying to elicit from audiences with such brutal images? How can on-screen violence impact kids?
Manga is a specific type of Japanese comic book or graphic novel. Find out more about this centuries-old art form. How does it differ from anime?
Why do you think films about revenge and vigilante justice appeal to audiences? Do you ever find yourself cheering when a villain gets his comeuppance? Is it ever OK to right a wrong using violence? What happens to a society that sanctions such behavior?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 25, 2017
- Cast : Nat Wolff , Willem Dafoe , LaKeith Stanfield
- Director : Adam Wingard
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , School ( High School )
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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