KPop Demon Hunter Review and Remarks

What a movie, I am always glad that something like this gets made after years and years of work and gets released to a huge amount of success. With the world and corporations that control media being the way it is right now, this is a fresh breath of fresh air. There's a lot of really great ideas and scenes and cinematography and gags in this short 1 hour 30ish minute film, and while although I do have my criticisms it was well worth experiencing every second of it.

So, let's get the overview out of the way before I start talking about in-depth themes and just things that resonated with me. My biggest thought overall is: the story is very on-the-nose, but well-executed. While this is aimed towards a younger audience, the plot is easy to follow to the point where it gets pretty predictable. The simplicity of the film's title also just gives it away, but this is not a bad thing. I would say that it's designed this way on purpose - not for searchability or prove this film has a wit about it. Rather, it just sets the tone for what this film has to offer. Simple concept, but executed brilliantly. Easy to follow ideas and tropes that are found all over these kinds of demon-hunting powerful-girl-group stories but with its own spin, identity, and just love for the idea of music through the lens of Kpop and its culture. In this case, the filmmakers have swung at their fastball and just blew it out of the park, beyond the stands. If anything, that should be worth a watch by now.

Next up are my personal thoughts about three of the themes that persist throughout the film and really resonated with me, as a musician, as a creative, and finally as a "fan". Only the slightest of spoilers, so consider this your warning. As always though, my intent is to inform and also entice you if you haven't watched just yet.

As stated before, this film is not just a little on-the-nose. I would say it is very on-the-nose, with good reason. One of those ideas is in the first few minutes: demons. As with any good demon hunting fictional media, you got to have demons. In this case, the demons are other-worldly beings who's purpose is to steal the souls of the ones above to feed a greater demonic being in charge. These demons are modeled after Korean folklore, and what's interesting about them is that they resemble common-folk, both in the past in what we assume as "peasant days" and in modern day. Knowing this, it blends into the main plot and the conflict point: the idea of demi-humans. Demi-demons? How about demon/human hybrids.

Anyways, to be human but also be afflicted with demon power. They call them "patterns", which is a visible physical ailment that crawls all over your skin. The fact that the use the word "pattern" makes it seem like this is more than just a repeated image that shows up on one's skin. To me, it means it's trauma. It's repression. It's bearing a kind of weight or sin. Combine that with the use of souls throughout the film, and one of the titular quotes of "our faults and fears must never be seen". To uphold that mantra while bearing the patterns under your hoodie and joggers or your battle-ready uniform covering yourself head to toe, it is no wonder things come crashing down. The climax that resolves all this is super stellar, one that gave me shivers down my spine in the final number. While it is a trope indeed, this usage gets a pass in my book because of how well-done it is shown and resolved.

Another theme I found interesting is the role of the fans. Speaking broadly, there are three characters in this film. Well, maybe calling them factions is a little better. HUNTR/X, Saja Boys (including the demons), and the fans. "For the fans" is also a phrase used throughout the film, and as a demon hunting group and a Kpop group in the spotlight to be a #1 top contender in the world one cannot possibly ignore the fans. To me, fans represent power. Demons are after their soul, while HUNTR/X use them as a way to create a shield over the world creating a barrier to drive out demons. In a dystopian outlook, you can say both groups aim to take control of their fans, as seen through the Saja Boys advertisements and language while HUNTR/X takes a more less-parasocial average way found of traditional corporate groups through use of their personalities and how they appear. Something to think about too is that the trio is framed in a way where they seem like outsiders or people who are distant themselves - Rumi with hiding a major part of her, Mira being a black sheep in her family, and Zoey coming from two different worlds that in a way discredits her. Despite all this, the love from their fans makes them feel wanted and desired, which gives them the confidence and strength to do what they do. Fans are power, and using that power to fuel both the good and the bad and the gray is indeed a powerful thing. Towards the end where (spoilers) the group gets disbandoned, Mira, Zoey, and even Bobby become, in a way, fans entranced by the demons like those around them.

Lastly, you cannot have a film about Kpop without any music. And while I feel like I am a tourist in the realm of Kpop due to the people around me being a bit more versed in that genre, I would say that this music slaps. Golden is definitely my favorite track out of all of them. Anyways, I saw a twitter post comparing the use of music of this film to "Sinners" and the music usage in that, I would say although it's not like a one-to-one comparison there are parallels, in both film's usage and just in music in general. There's a musical time frame in this film of about 400 years, so before Kpop there was folk music. While time has gone on and cultures, technology, and music changes and adapts - the core is still there. Music is a primal thing we all experience in our core as human being. Whether it be blues, folk, classic, or more, music is a power that effects our souls as humans. Demons desire it, and it also fuels the barrier that keeps the demons out. Good music entices and sways, but in way also exposes our visibilities. Golden lays it all out there. Takedown hit a little to hard in Rumi's core. That final song the Saja Boys sang is very literal, beyond on-the-nose. Talking about being well-executed, Kpop Demon Hunters has some bangers. And not me being biased as a musician, but music as a whole is a pretty good thing as humans.

So,those are my thoughts. I recommend giving this film a watch!! I don't think as a whole it's a complete masterpiece, but the animation and the execution of its writing plus storytelling is absolutely stellar. It is such a fun watch, funny throughout, and the music is really good. Out of the three hunters, Zoey is def my fave.

Well, this has been a review and thought piece. Thanks for making it down here and reading~!! Until next time :3