KPop Demon Hunters Review: Badass women deserve to be goofy

Netflix movies have been increasingly questionable as of late, swinging between Oscar-bait biographical features and forgettable blockbusters. So to say that an animated Netflix movie called KPop Demon Hunters is one of the most fun films this year has seen so far is just as shocking as it sounds.

On its surface, KPop Demon Hunters appears to be your average streamer cash grab, sponging off the worldwide popularity of K-pop culture. The animated film follows a fictional K-pop girl group called Huntr/x who, while entertaining thousands of fans with catchy tunes, are tasked with the generational duty of defending the world from supernatural threats. Although it sounds like a typical fantasy-action movie for kids, KPop Demon Hunters is surprisingly fearless in its themes of trauma, insecurities, and finding self-compassion amidst it all.

Like Sony Pictures Animation's 2018 hit, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, KPop Demon Hunters is a visual delight, pushing the boundaries of mainstream Western traditions in 3D animation. The polished animation style is distinguished by features characteristic of anime and chibi. The anime influence is especially seen in the characters' exaggerated facial expressions, which at one moment are bulging heart eyes and the next are exploding with popcorn. This is an art direction that could've easily geared towards gimmicky, but what it does is give this film an authenticity that's refreshing to see in a women-led action movie.

Hollywood's notion of the "strong female character" has been rightfully challenged and critiqued for its oversimplification of the representation of women on screen. "Strong female character" became associated with physical strength, toughness, and emotional distance, simultaneously implying that anything other than those traits could be considered weak. Although women characters who literally kick ass are awesome, KPop Demon Hunters gives us three young women who are just as comfortable gulping down ramyeon as they are battling soul-sucking demons.

The members of Huntr/x – Rumi, Mira, and Zoey – are badass but also goofy, impeccably stylish but also obsessed with snacking on the couch in cosy PJs whenever they get the chance. They are so undeniably of the 2020s in a way that's charming as opposed to cringey. And even though the film's characters could resonate with any modern-day girl or woman, KPop Demon Hunters is firmly rooted in Korean culture and heritage.

In an interview for Cartoon Brew, co-director Maggie Kang shares the visual inspiration behind Huntri/x's rivals, a boy group called Saja Boys. They are first introduced as "bubblegum pop" but then transform into a darker version of themselves reflective of the traditional Korean Grim Reaper who is signified by a large-brimmed black hat. For ScreenRant, Kang explains that the movie's demon hunter concept stems from shaman women in Korean culture who "threw the first concerts, where they [sang] and [danced] to protect their village and communities".

Because of its rich worldbuilding and tight runtime, KPop Demon Hunters does struggle with its pacing. The film's first three minutes speed through exposition to describe the history of demon hunters. And although this sets up the potential for future spin-offs (I'm looking at you, that one-second shot of the 1920s demon hunters), it is nonetheless rushed even for a fast-paced children's movie. Another weak spot in KPop Demon Hunters is in its overly sentimental dialogue that seems out of place in the film's overall tone. But the writing is easily forgiven when you're too busy headbanging to the absolute bop of a soundtrack, which has seen its original songs surpass some of the most successful real-life K-pop groups on the music charts.

KPop Demon Hunters is the kind of story I wish I had when I was growing up, so it's thrilling to know that these are the stories kids are getting to grow up with now. Even for someone like me who has limited knowledge of the K-pop world, this animated film is electric, amusing, and unafraid of facing emotional vulnerabilities head-on. But most importantly, KPop Demon Hunters is about letting women who are snacks know how to snack.

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