Review of Death Note (2017) by Phoenix J — 25 Aug 2017

While the Americanised Death Note is definitely not a masterpiece, it's hardly on the level of say, Dragonball: Evolution either. Willem Dafoe and LaKeith Stanfield elevate a perfunctory script and deliver outstanding performances while Adam Wingard brings a charming and erratic style to the direction.

Nat Wolff, on the other hand, delivers perhaps one of the worst performances of his relatively short career and holds the film back from being something truly special. There's also some noticeable pacing problems, but that's again the result of a mediocre screenplay that could have used another polish or ten.

Regardless, Death Note is a solid B movie and easily worth the hour-and-a-half investment if only for Dafoe and Stanfield and the intriguing premise.