Based on the popular manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, which is released in the U.S. by VIZ, the story follows a high school student who finds a supernatural notebook which holds a disturbing power. When the notebook’s owner writes someone’s name in it while picturing their face, they will die. The student begins to kill people he feels are unworthy of life. But other shadowy forces are also seeking the notebook.

Production on Death Note moved quickly, with Netflix picking up rights last spring, and production beginning in July (see “Production Begins on Live-Action 'Death Note'”). The film will debut on the streaming platform on August 25.