Movie review: KPop Demon Hunters

In case anyone ever thought about what a series like Demon Slayer would be like if it were also musical, Sony Picture Animation might have had the same idea.

Recently, the studio released KPop Demon Hunters, a Netflix movie about a current generation of a Korean pop idol group defending the world from demons. Some people who just read the last sentence are probably thinking about how crazy of a concept it is. I’ll just say I’m only getting started. 

Going forward, I will be mentioning some spoilers, so in case you don’t want to be spoiled, I recommend watching the movie yourself and then coming back to this piece afterwards. Otherwise, I’ll keep going. 

With the world being protected from demons by a force known as the Honmoon, it’s maintained by K-Pop demon hunters, with Huntrix being the current generation helping keep the Honmoon active. In response, some are wondering what would be a fitting counterforce to try taking down the Honmoon. Something Gwi-Ma, ruler of the Korean demon world, has been trying to figure out for some time. 

According to a group of demons, a demon K-Pop idol group was the answer, which viewers would see as the Saja Boys. Led by a demon known as Jinu, he would also be a fitting foil for Rumi, the latter of whom is a hybrid of human and demon. 

I’m not sure where else to put this, but as a fun fact, the Korean characters for Honmoon, 혼문, translate to “soul-gate” in English. Fitting for what it’s representing, if you ask me. 

If I had to mention any criticism about the movie, which there are few of, I just wish there was more runtime to the movie because I enjoyed the movie and the world I was experiencing, but it also felt like it was missing some connections. 

One specific example was after Rumi was exposed for being part-demon to Mira and Zoey, she went back to her guardian, Celine, who was a part of a previous K-Pop group also maintaining the Honmoon. During their conversation, Rumi asked for her life to be ended, not wanting to accept being a hybrid of a human and demon. At the end of the conversation, Rumi said she was glad to see the Honmoon be destroyed, after seeing this is the force she was supposed to maintain and protect against demons. 

After that, it then cuts to the Saja Boys doing another concert, performing what’s personally my favourite song of the movie, “Your Idol.” Alongside some of the most eye-catching visuals I’ve seen in a movie this year, the scene was really fun to watch as the audience unknowingly walked to their doom. 

I mention all this because the next scene has Rumi come back and try to create a new Honmoon while being on good terms with Mira and Zoey again. This might just be me, but it felt like a scene or two was missing in the movie.

But it’s still one of my favourite movies I’ve seen this year. I don’t know how else to explain it, but the movie felt so much fun to watch and experience. 

The movie is also a fun way to get into listening to some K-Pop music for those interested. I know some K-Pop idols have done covers of songs in the movie, such as TWICE and JUNHEE, for those who want to get into this type of music. 

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching KPop Demon Hunters if you have Netflix. And if you already have watched the film, it’s a fun movie to watch again!