Netflix has proved to be a crapshoot in the last, let’s say, decade. You might get a hit, but you encounter duds more often than not; cue massive budgets plus zero reason to exist, and led by people besmirching the word actor. Luckily, a gem comes out of nowhere once in a while; this time, in the form of Kpop Demon Hunters.
In the year of our Lord Algorithm of 20 plus 25, people still consider animation a children/family affair; to such an extent, some studios insist on stretching the term live-action in an effort to erase jewels of animated past. That ain’t the conversation here, though. The loss of proper storytelling has come hand-in-hand with the not-so-covert removal of animation history.
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS ISN’T ONLY A PHENOMENAL MOVIE BUT A BEACON OF HOPE AMID THE CURRENT LAZINESS IN WRITING AND SUBPAR STORYTELLING MIASMA
Let’s find out how this very geographically specific and yet worldly, relatable ditty is helping us heal. Disclaimer: vague spoilers, cussing in several languages, and digs at Tinsel Town. You have been musically warned.
THE STORY
“Good” versus “Evil” has permeated both History and Stories since humans learned to communicate with each other. Interestingly, those two terms are relative as fuck. It’s sad, but (as per usual) I’m going to direct you to the news; at any hour, in any language, somewhere, somehow fuckery in the name of “good” against “evil” is happening.
The film begins with a visually exciting history lesson. Dark entities from beneath, henceforth labeled “demons,” consume human souls on behalf of their king. Let’s not question the mechanics of their eating habits; focus on the ride. A trio of heroes surges to deter this darkness through the magic of song. This ability uses the energy of those saved souls to power a barrier, locking darkness in its own realm. According to the lesson, a trio rises in each generation to keep that barrier alive; always three girls– embedded in pop culture and loved by myriad unaware of their mission.
Three has always been considered a mystical number, and the trio of girls fighting for good is nothing new either. Buttercup, Blossom & Bubbles; Piper, Phoebe & Prue Paige; Rachel, Monica & another Phoebe; those are but a few examples of such magical triumvirates: exceptional girls, keeping us safe and entertained.
ENTRENCHED IN ITS CULTURAL ROOTS, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS NOT ONLY EMBRACE BUT THRIVE IN GLOBALIZATION.
The latest group of heroes (they call themselves “hunters”) operates under the guise of the Kpop band HUNTRIX. Our story properly starts with our heroines on their way to the last concert of a worldwide tour. Demons hijack their airplane, get their asses beaten to a pulp, and are sent back to the darkness whence they came. There’s singing and dancing while this happens, but that has its own discussion bullet point.
Upon another defeat, the Demon King berates his hordes. The barrier (it has a name, but we’re only dealing in non-English words for cussing) has kept him basically starving; every trick to break out has been thwarted by singing-dancing humans. Boo Hoo. Out of this verbal lashing, a demon hero rises with a cunning plan; let’s beat them at their own game. He enlists four other demons, and they form SAJA BOYS, the yang to HUNTRIX’s yin. Dun Dun Dun.
Meanwhile, Rumi, the leader of HUNTRIX, can’t allow herself to chill. Instead of resting after the tour, she unleashes their new single GOLDEN. All without a peep to Mira and Zoey, the other hunters. This’d have been a point of contention in any other movie; here, the girls love their fans and are game with near zero fuss.
CONTRARY TO MOST MODERN “STORIES,” KPOP DEMON HUNTERS IS FULL OF SUBTEXT, TACITLY TELLING US THAT BEING A WORKAHOLIC AIN’T AS CRACKED UP AS IT USED TO BE.
This new whirlwind of expectations isn’t happening just because Rumi can’t live without the spotlight; she’s running out of time before a shameful secret is revealed. The only way to prevent her downfall is to make the barrier finally unbreakable, to make it golden. And she’s operating alone because she cannot share her shame with the others. Or so she thinks.
In the middle of all that, the SAJA BOYS enter the scene. Armed with good looks and catchy tunes, they soon go toe-to-toe with HUNTRIX, and the barrier weakens as more and more fans turn to them, leaving their souls exposed.
Our girls discover this new boy band ain’t just cute dudes but demons in disguise. They vow to eliminate them assholes, but that’s easier said than done. Each strategy is countered; the barrier becomes so flimsy that demons are basically running amok around humans, eating souls for their king.
During a skirmish, Jinu, the leader of the SAJA BOYS, discovers Rumi’s secret. He doesn’t expose her, though. That knowledge is the bomb he needs to win the war.
THE MEDIUMS
Why am I using this plural of medium instead of the more common media? Allow me to explain; we’ve become too accustomed to “methods of information,” forgetting that “means of expression determined by the creative methods involved.” For this film, the media discussed are music and visuals. Although you could say the girls are also mediums because they can see and deal with supernatural entities. Subtext and Shit for the win.
WITH A BANGER OF A SOUNDTRACK AND ENGAGING VISUALS, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS BREAKS FROM THE PACK AND HOPEFULLY HERALDS A NEW AGE OF SENSORY STIMULATION.
Our heroines are pretty girls, not just the quirky clones of princesses past. They wear makeup, like fitting clothes for the stage, but live in easy, comfy numbers out of it. Feminine would be the best word to describe them, never afraid to be appealing when the moment calls for it; badass whether they’re fighting demons or dancing on stage as they sing. Mind you, these are twenty-somethings, so the underage Chosen One trope doesn’t apply here. I’m not gonna bother with the SAJA BOYS, though. Good-looking demon bad boys? Google their fan art at your own risk. Do it!
This is a film created to conquer your eyes. Even if its aesthetic ain’t your cup of tea, the least you could do is accept it’s different. Sony Animation has been doing interesting things lately: The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021), the Spider-verse Saga (2018/2023). We don’t talk about The Emoji Movie (2017), though. Thank you very much.
But forget the eyes, the ones getting the feast are your ears. Man, this fucking soundtrack slaps– hard. Each song it’s its own universe. As a Bollywood fan, I’m used to music videos moving the plot forward; even if sometimes the songs lose part of their appeal out of context. That ain’t the case here. You can devour the soundtrack without watching a single second of the movie; the lyrics will get you way past their reason within the story.
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS IS A LOVE LETTER TO THE FANS: THE SOULS POWERING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
Alright, pretty girls, pretty boys, earworm bangers, what else?
THE ROMANCE
Somehow, romance has become a bad word; well, more like a “toxic” concept, and I wonder why. Animated movies (allegedly for children) used to have people falling in love. Yeah, it was mostly insta-love, but what you gonna do in 90 minutes? Romantic comedies were the same way; you can’t have a twenty-chapter slow burn when people are supposed to be rushing to airports and such.
Humanity evolves, and the rise of technology has made love transactional. I use the word love, but we know it’s mostly people bumping uglies, often based on a couple of checked boxes and availability. And, honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. The thing is– humanity loves extremes more than they love the Devil’s Tango; thus, we push shit farther than we should constantly.
When was the last time a studio had the cojones to feature a love story in an original animated movie? The Princess and the Frog (2009) and Tangled (2010)? Kristoff and Anna from the Frozen movies (2013/2019) are a joke; you remove their “love” plot, and the movies play exactly the same. Forming a romantic connection hasn’t been in the spotlight in a long time.
And now comes this animated film from a faraway land, infused with folklore and myth, making us root for two people connecting. Jinu and Rumi are not meant to be together, nor care for each other. On opposite sides of the battle, their mission is to annihilate one another. And doesn’t that make it sweeter when we witness the awkward attraction and manipulation from both angles?
Learning Jinu’s story makes Rumi question everything she thinks she knows about demons.
“THE MORE YOU KNOW” MIGHT SEEM LIKE A TIRED SIMPLE PHRASE, BUT, IN KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, KNOWLEDGE HAUNTS YOU.
Since we aren’t allowed to have nice things today, the usual suspects have something to say about Jinu’s age. True, he’s a 400-year-old demon, and Rumi is in her twenties. Have these pendejos forgotten the girl ain’t a damsel in distress but a killing machine? That has to even shit out. Don’t you think?
Oh, but Mira and Rumi are lusting after the other demon boys. So what? Attraction is a natural human behavior. The excuse that it’s inappropriate because one of the parties is underage, or some same-sex propaganda can’t be used here either. It all boils down to the need to bitch about something other people enjoy. Sheebal horosaekkideul!
Anyhoo, this is a film permeated by fandom within its premise; therefore, shipping becomes a vehicle for comedic moments through funny visual gags. Many moments will go over the heads of the younger audience. Still, the gymnastics social media employs to say certain things makes them even funnier. Even the callbacks to Korean dramas are a chef kiss. If you know, you know.
The attraction might be quick, but we still get enough interactions to feel believable. Rumi is a badass but flawed. We haven’t had one of those in a long while. Jinu is morally grey and arrived where he is via questionable decisions. These are the kinds of conflicts that make a good story; we should be tired of the superwoman running circles around a weak man. Rumi and Jinu drag emotional baggage, and they find a way to help each other out.
WHAT OTHERS MIGHT CALL “PLOT HOLES” IN KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, I CALL “FOOD FOR THOUGHT.” IT’S NEITHER TRYING TO BE EDGY NOR TELLING YOU WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO THINK.
Yes, some things go unexplored, but it’s my understanding that the original cut of this movie was three hours long. Kind of annoying that Netflix allows daddy Snyder to release “director’s cuts” of movies nobody cared about… Nevertheless, perhaps our Korean Demonic Extravaganza would’ve been less impactful had it been longer.
I had fun with it. Watch it for the animation, or the music, or the (gasp) romance. One way or another, you’ll find something to enjoy. And it’s also safe for children; even the demons and the demolishing fight scenes are cute.
Guess I didn’t curse that much after all. 9 out of 10. Go check the trailer and get your Kpop on!
Kpop Demon Hunters is currently streaming on Netflix.