K-pop Demon Hunters: Infectious catchy singing and demon slaying rolled into one
The film revolves around a K-pop girl group named Huntrix. The group consists of Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who are also demon hunters sworn to protect their fans from the supernatural threats and the demon leader Gwi-ma (voiced by Squid Game actor Byung Hun Lee).
Things become complicated when the five members of popular rival boyband, The Saja Boys are revealed to be demons.
I watched the movie out of curiosity, and I could not get the song ‘Soda Pop’ by The Saja Boys out of my head. The boy band consists of members Jinu, Mystery, Abby, Baby and Romance.
The title says it all, the movie is fun, high-energy, colourful, funny and charming.
I like how it has elements of the traditional Korean culture because in the story, Huntrix has to achieve a golden honmoon. ‘Honmoon (혼문)’ which refers to a mystical barrier, a ‘soul gate’ that protects the human world from demons. The concept is inspired with some aspects of Korean shamanism in mind, but everything else is fictional.
I am someone who sometimes doesn’t like at how cringey fictional pop/rock bands are in a series and in films like Julie and The Phantoms and in tv series Glee. The fake group’s songs feels too hollow for me, but here, most of the music is pitch perfect.
My favourite songs are ‘Free’ and ‘What It Sounds Like’. It is thanks to artists like K-pop producer Ejae (singing voice of Rumi), Kevin Woo (former K-pop boy group member of U-Kiss and singing voice of Mystery) and K-pop girl group, Twice.
This film brought me back to listening to K-pop songs which also feels a bit nostalgic and at the same time, listening to something new because I will be adding the songs by Huntrix and The Saja Boys on my playlist if I want to listen to something fun.
However, I wish the film was a bit longer because it lacks depth, I wish there were more backstories about the characters because the other members of The Saja Boys are a mystery. Questions coming into my mind are if they were a struggling boyband during their days as humans then made a deal with Gwi-ma to become more popular or are they only soul hungry demons who were owned by Jinu?
I hope there will be a second season with more backstories and depth to the characters.
If you want to watch something new, fun or having a little pick me up during this rainy weather. Watch K-pop Demon Hunters on Netflix.
Ronella Felizardo is a third year Bachelor of Communication student from Wintec
