Today, like the other couple of days I’d like to make yet another film recommendation.

The Death Note Series

• Japan Casts:
Asaka Seto, Ikuji Nakamura, Matsuyama Kenichi, Tatsuya Fujiwara
• Description:

Light Yagami is a university student who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the “Death Note”, lying on the ground. The Death Note’s instructions claim that, if a humans name is written within it, that person will be killed. Light is initially skeptical of the Death Note’s authenticity, believing it is just a prank. However, after experimenting with it and killing two criminals, Light is forced to admit that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a Shinigami named Ryuk, Light seeks to become “the God of the New World” by passing his judgment on criminals.

Soon, the number of inexplicable deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the International Police Organization and a mysterious detective known only as “L”. L quickly learns that the serial killer, dubbed by the public as “Kira” (derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the English word “Killer”), is located in Japan. L also concludes that Kira can kill people without laying a finger on them. Light realizes that L will be his greatest nemesis, and a race to prove mental superiority between the two begins.

Review: There’s three movies all together: Death Note; Death Note: The Last Name; and Death Note: L Change the world. The cinema in this movie is what you would likely expect of Tokyo. Slightly cheesy, but with some good parts in places. The script, on the other hand, is well written for each of these movies. It presents a pretty good “what if” narrative that would chill anyone. I like it particularly because it’s a “thinking horror” flick. It’s somewhere between intense drama and freaky. A very good candidate for any US director to consider remaking for US audiences

~J

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