Is it better than the Netflix version?

Yes, by a mile. The 2017 Netflix movie missed the point of the characters entirely. This 2006 Japanese version stays much truer to the 'battle of wits' that made the original story famous.

How scary is the 'Death God' Ryuk?

He looks like a tall, gothic rockstar with bug eyes. He's intended to be creepy, but he's more of a bored observer than a monster that jumps out at you. Most 14-year-olds will find him cool rather than terrifying.

Is there a lot of blood?

Surprisingly little. Most deaths are depicted as sudden heart attacks. There is some blood during crime scene shots or specific accidents, but it's not a 'slasher' film. The intensity is psychological, not physical.

Do I need to watch a sequel to get the full story?

Yes. This movie covers the first half of the arc. Death Note 2: The Last Name (also released in 2006) completes the battle between Light and L. They really function as one long story split in two.

Death Note – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Death Note

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2006

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A brilliant teen with a god complex and a mysterious detective play a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse using a supernatural notebook.

7.5/10

78%

84%

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Death Note

movie

R, 2006

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A brilliant teen with a god complex and a mysterious detective play a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse using a supernatural notebook.

7.5

78%

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7.5/10

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Screenwise Verdict

The 2006 Japanese live-action Death Note is a cult classic for a reason, and it's infinitely better than the 2017 Netflix attempt. It’s a 'thinking person’s' thriller that trades explosions for logic puzzles. If your teen is into true crime, mystery, or philosophical debates, this will hit the spot.

Just be prepared for the 2006 production values. The tech is dated (lots of flip phones and bulky monitors) and the CGI Ryuk hasn't aged gracefully. But if you can look past the mid-2000s jank, the core story is still one of the most compelling games of wits ever put to film.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 14+ crowd. Younger kids will either be bored by the heavy dialogue or creeped out by the death-god imagery. It's a sophisticated thriller that assumes the viewer can handle complex moral gray areas.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The plot centers entirely on a high schooler becoming a serial killer to 'cleanse' the world. It’s dark, morally ambiguous, and features a literal God of Death as a sidekick. Not exactly a feel-good family watch.

Imaginative

The concept of a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it is one of the most clever hooks in modern fiction. The rules are specific, the logic is tight, and the supernatural-meets-procedural vibe is top-tier.

Safe

While not a total gore-fest, it deals with constant death—mostly heart attacks—and psychological horror. The Shinigami (Ryuk) is designed to be creepy and unsettling. It's safe for older teens, but younger kids will find it disturbing.

Enriching

It's a massive ethical puzzle. It forces the audience to weigh 'justice' against 'murder' and watch how power corrupts a brilliant mind. The intellectual battle between Light and L is a masterclass in deductive reasoning.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The intellectual duel between Light and L is genuinely thrilling and rewards viewers who pay close attention.
It tackles deep philosophical questions about power, justice, and whether the ends ever justify the means.
The supernatural mechanics of the Death Note are consistently logical, making the 'how will he get out of this' moments feel earned rather than cheap.
For kids interested in detective fiction or thrillers, this is a foundational text that moves beyond simple 'good vs evil' tropes.

⚠

What to Watch For

The CGI for Ryuk (the death god) was made in 2006. It looks a bit like a PlayStation 2 character now, which might break the tension for kids used to modern effects.
The vigilante executions are treated as a logical solution by the protagonist, which requires a kid old enough to understand the 'unreliable narrator' concept.
The pacing is slower and more talky than the anime or Western thrillers; it’s a battle of words and thoughts, not fistfights.

Conversation Starters

"If you had the notebook and could eliminate one person who makes the world worse without getting caught, would you do it?"
"Does Light actually want to help the world, or does he just want to be in control of it?"
"Who is the 'villain' here? Is it the guy killing criminals, or the detective trying to stop him from 'fixing' the world?"
"How does Light's personality change from the moment he finds the book to the moment he starts being hunted?"

Deep Dive

The Thinking Kid's Thriller

Most supernatural movies for teens rely on jump scares or special effects. Death Note does the opposite. It’s a procedural drama where the weapon just happens to be a magic notebook. The real draw isn't the killing—it's the information war between Light Yagami and L.

Light is a straight-A student who believes he's the only one smart enough to fix a broken world. When he meets L, a detective who is just as brilliant but completely eccentric, the movie turns into a chess match where every move has a body count. It's a great pick for kids who are starting to move past 'superhero' morality and want to engage with stories where the 'hero' might actually be the bad guy.

Why this version?

While the anime is the definitive version for most fans, this 2006 live-action film (and its sequel, The Last Name) does a surprisingly good job of condensing the story. Tatsuya Fujiwara plays Light with a chilling, quiet arrogance that feels very grounded. If your kid has already seen the anime, this is a fun comparison. If they haven't, this is a slightly faster way to experience the story without committing to 37 episodes of television.

Morality and Ethics

This is the ultimate 'car ride home' movie. You can't watch this and not talk about it. It hits on the social contract, the flaws in the legal system, and the psychological toll of keeping a massive secret. It’s a perfect bridge into more adult thrillers like Se7en or The Silence of the Lambs without the extreme gore or sexual violence those films often carry.