This is a movie review about K-pop Demon Hunters. So, be warned, there are spoilers ahead.
When I first heard about the movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters”, I was skeptical about the idea. To me, an animated film centered around K-pop stars who were simultaneously hunting down demons was a premise that felt gimmicky and would rely too heavily on fan service to attract a future audience. Because of this, I didn’t believe that I would ever watch K-pop Demon Hunters by choice.
That all changed when I, out of morbid curiosity, decided to listen to “How It’s Done,” which remains my favorite song from the soundtrack. Afterward, in a trance, I ended up listening to more of the songs. Eventually, I was eager to enter a world filled with both the Huntr/x and the Saja Boys. Given that I had my own declining interest in cinema back in the 2020s, I was definitely in need of cinematic entertainment.
While I’ve watched several movies this year, it was the moment I watched the first five minutes of K-Pop Demon Hunters that made me realize I was going into an experience that was actually fun.
For starters, the animation produced by Sony Pictures Animation felt seamless, colorful, and vibrantly fitting for a world that is essential for a movie showcasing an authentic K-Pop experience. With the collaborative effort of both the animation and the music, the film’s opening act was effective in introducing the story. The lighting especially was crucial in portraying the emotional depth in Rumi’s arc as she’s forced to navigate her demon heritage along with her fears of losing Mira and Zoey, her two closest friends and fellow demon hunters. Despite the fact that the majority of the film focuses on bright lighting when Rumi is at a presumably good point in her life, this movie isn’t afraid to get dark. Both literally and metaphorically.
Aside from that, I also liked how they paid homage to Korean culture and its mythology. The film’s production included many people of South Korean heritage, including the film’s director, Maggie Kang, and many other elements were incorporated, especially in character design that demonstrated aspects of Korean mythology. For instance, the Saja Boys were heavily derived from Jeoseung Saja, who were Korean “Grim Reapers” that guided souls to the afterlife. These bits of Korean folklore had a role in developing the film’s major rival K-Pop boy band, and its antagonists, which was a cultural tribute that I appreciate.
Yet beyond its technical achievement, I really loved the way Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, and Maggie Kang wrote female characters and the friendship trio dynamic between Rumi, Zoey, and Mira. Screenwriting female characters, especially adolescent ones, usually falls flat for me.
For a while, it looked like Hollywood was too interested in developing female characters that “are strong.”
While it’s not a bad message, Hollywood’s approach seemed more concerned that they’re only producing female characters that are devoid of any emotion and scoff at any mention of femininity, which suggests that being feminine is a weakness. However, in K-Pop Demon Hunters, the girls embrace their femininity and aren’t afraid to act silly at times, such as slurping ramyeon at an unheavenly pace. In a way, I can see a little bit of myself in Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, and their interactions remind me of my own friendships. Something that I’ve realized is that these characters actually resonated with me on a personal level, and I’m not afraid to admit that I did cry when Rumi and her friends embraced Rumi’s demon heritage.
Now, I will admit that the story did fall a little flat to me on some edges. To me, the rest of the Saja Boys, aside from Jinu, seemed like walking one-dimensional tropes that got stuck in a K-Pop demon boy band. Then, contrary to popular opinion, I would say that Rujinu, the ship between Rumi and Jinu, felt rushed along with the conclusion of the movie. Given that Rumi, Mira, and Zoey’s trio dynamic was my favorite part of the movie, I was also disappointed that they weren’t more involved in Rumi’s arc to accept her demon patterns.
I wouldn’t say the movie was terrible, but I do believe that a longer run-time and the proposed sequels from Netflix would have allowed the plot to be better paced.
With that said, would I say that this movie is worth a watch? I would say that while it’s not my all-time favorite movie, it was definitely one of the most entertaining movies I watched this year. So it’s a 4/5 or an 8/10 on the rating scale, and I’ll say it’s worth the experience.
Photo Credit: BBC
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