The five-part adaptation of the legendary smash-hit manga from Weekly Shonen Jump takes place across three worlds and follows a dead teen detective tasked with investigating demonic and spiritual cases in the Human World; the series begins streaming December 14.
Japanese
The story that unfolds, though, is one of ghosts and deadly curses that recalls the “Death Note” series, which merged horror and fantasy to massively popular effect. Yukihiro Morigaki, an in-demand director for commercials and music videos with one previous feature credit, delivers stylish, skin-crawling atmospherics with quick cuts that make bloody mayhem look like a fashion ad.
His focus, though, is less shocks than the drama of coming to terms with a troubled past and defeating one’s inner demons. As such, the film works better than might be expected from the opening scenes, which promise a mix of homoeroticism and horror.