KPop Demon Hunters

From the opening scene of KPop Demon Hunters, the film is bursting at the seams with energy. You are either entirely on board with the over-the-top humor, overzealous animation, and overreliance on music for storytelling, or you are decidedly not. What you see is largely what you get with KPop Demon Hunters, down to its blunt, self-explanatory name. It is not reinventing the wheel in any sense, and can feel cliché to a fault at points. But from the moment we are introduced to Rumi, Mira, and Zoey via their obsession with carbs, I was obsessed with this film. There is so much love poured into every frame, from its stunning animation to its lively characters to its charming dialogue. Its high-octane spirit makes for an infectious ride, and it is easy to see why it has garnered the popularity and fanbase it has.

KPop Demon Hunters follows Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who comprise Korea’s hottest girl group: HUNTR/X. When they’re not metaphorically slaying the stage, they’re literally slaying demons! However, their quest to protect people from demons becomes far more difficult when a demon boy band known as the Saja Boys seeks to steal their fans… and their fans’ souls. The premise alone would make for a fun if silly time. However, the film commits entirely to nearly every aspect of its premise: its songs are carefully crafted to mimic the style of K-Pop hits, its animation invigorates fight sequences and comedic bits alike, and its characterization turns these idols into people you genuinely root for. 

Truly, my favorite part of this film is how its female characters are written. Rumi in particular is a genuinely compelling protagonist: her workaholic nature and self-loathing are genuinely relatable and make for an interesting arc she needs to overcome. Mira and Zoey get far less to them in comparison, but they still feel like fully-realized characters with their own insecurities. Mira is brutally honest and has only recently adjusted to the idea that she might have a family that wants her, while Zoey is a bundle of energy who is desperate to be enough to those she cares about. Their dynamic on-screen is so refreshing, as they banter and fight like actual female friends. It is a feat that when your film has stunning battles and catchy songs galore, the best scenes nonetheless come from the characters bouncing off of one another. If anything, I wish the film had more scenes revolving around their bond! The impossibly high stakes of the film pale in comparison to the stakes of their friendship, and it is a bit of a shame that Mira and Zoey get relegated to a “liar revealed” plotline by the end that is resolved as soon as it starts. 

KPop Demon Hunters is impossibly fun, but it is not without its problems. It is unfortunate how much the writing lets this film down at points. It shines when the characters are given room to breathe, but the dramatic beats in the film’s back half are a tad generic for a movie that had previously prided itself for its complete commitment in every regard. The biggest letdown in this regard is its villain. While the lead vocalist of Saja Boys, Jinu, is an interesting foil to Rumi because of their shared shame, the ultimate antagonist is demon world ruler Gwi-ma. We learn very little about Gwi-ma and his motivations save for a snarky monologue by Jinu, so it is difficult to be invested in the consequences his victory would bring about. And while I quite like Rumi’s character arc overall, some of its story beats are so telegraphed that it took me out of it somewhat.

At the end of the day, KPop Demon Hunters is a flawed movie. The main antagonist is underbaked, the plot structure is formulaic, and there are plot points that fall apart if you examine them too closely. That being said, I cannot deny the sheer joy I experienced while watching it. In a sea of stale, cookie-cutter animated movies that are too afraid of alienating certain audiences to fully commit to its message, it proudly exists as a film with Asian influences intended for young girls. For its K-drama parody alone, I have to give the movie its 10s! I could not be happier that a movie with so much clear love both for Korean culture and for girlhood has touched as many hearts as it has. Ultimately, I will remember the film’s soaring highs of its unique humor, gorgeous animation, and endlessly catchy songs far more than my gripes about its writing.

7.5/10