I don’t like Kpop and I hate musicals, but boy did I unexpectedly enjoy watching KPop Demon Hunters!
KPop Demon Hunters Review
I thought I knew what to expect coming into this film, but ultimately, I was completely wrong.
First, the film seemed to portray the eternal struggle between good and evil – light and darkness. A trio of girls forms a musical group through the generations and using the frequencies of their powerful voices combined – heal and change the world.
The Kpop girl group Huntrix consists of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey.
Rumi’s parents passed away and she was raised by her late mother’s friend and former idol demon hunter, Celine. Somehow, a demon hunter and a demon had a child that should not exist, but does based on a promise Celine made to protect the last bit of her friend left in this world – Rumi.
Despite the fact that she’s technically not supposed to be here, Rumi is protected from the dark influence of Gwi-ma and can fulfill her duties of sealing away the evil entity for good through song using the Honmoon.
Mira is the typical misunderstood daughter who doesn’t live up to her family’s standards. Honestly if she wasn’t in the group, she would most likely be a delinquent. Throughout the film they mention how the group is good for her personality since she never fit in at home.
Then we have Zoey, the maknae and rapper of the group. Zoey was raised overseas and has a people-pleasing personality. She also seems to be the chief lyricist of the group.
Together, the kpop idols go on tour to strengthen the Honmoon barrier to stop Gwi-ma’s influence and demons from taking people’s souls until the Saja Boys show up.
The Rival Demon Boy Band
Apparently, the term “Saja” in Korean can be interpreted to mean lion, or the grim reaper depending on it’s spelling and use with accompanying words. That definitely fits the Saja Boys – a group of literal demons from hell who at first, were “hot” and sweet singing songs about soda pop.
Until the Saja Boys had the masses under their mind control and dropped the act, literally coming out on stage looking dead and saying they were there to collect souls.
Anybody who listened to their music unwittingly forfeited their soul, allured by the catchy tunes and handsome smiles of the glamoured Joseon Dynasty-era looking demons.
Rumi and Jinu’s Relationship
On top of this fairly straightforward premise, we have the budding attraction and a mutual connection forming between Rumi and Jinu.
Rumi begins to lose her voice, and a traditional herbalist tells her (in not so many words) that it’s psychosomatic, and that the cure is to simply be honest with herself. The doctor gives Rumi a “tonic” that happens to be grape juice, and when leaving the office the girls first run into the Saja Boys.
Huntrix ambushes their first performance and Rumi realizes that Jinu stole one of her “healing tonics”. It’s interesting that Rumi and Jinu are the only demons who end up “healing” from their “inner demons” and trauma at the end of the film because of this.
Maybe the underlying message of KPop Demon Hunters is that grief and doubt can ultimately turn you into a zombie who does nothing but think negative thoughts, or a literal slave for evil forces. And once you find your own self-worth and realize that you are loved in this world, you’ll be forever free from their grasp.
But, tell me your thoughts: Did you watch KPop Demon Hunters? Why do you think Jinu sacrificed himself at the end?
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☆ In Asian Spaces
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