RIOTUS

/// warning: this review contains K-drama fandom references, proceed with caution /// 

Ever since Ariel—and also Offred—were silenced in their stories, we’ve been obsessed with the relationship between a woman’s voice and power. That’s why it was love-on-sight when Netflix introduced us to Huntrix, a South Korean girl group whose voices don’t just top the charts, they keep demons at bay. KPop Demon Hunters is an American Animation with K-pop style that’s led by an unstoppable trio that delivers demon-hunting prowess so effortlessly you’ll wonder why we ever settled for regular concepts. 

Huntrix are the descendants of a long line of voices that have been protecting humanity since the world was new. Using their supernatural abilities to maintain the balance between us and the demon realm, Rumi (Arden Cho) leads with fierce determination, Mira (May Hong) brings the “could kill you with a glare” chaebol energy, and Zoey (Ji YoungYoo) adds quirky-cute charm. Together, they’re the biggest band in K-pop—think BLACKPINK meets BTS—but Rumi has a secret that could shake the industry’s foundations and humanity’s hopes. So you know, Huntrix is going to need something stronger than a comeback special.

What’s the problem? Imagine your favorite K-drama heroes remixed into a boy band with voices so silky they could steal your soul—because that’s exactly what they’re trying to do. Enter the Saja Boys, five demons whose name comes from the grim reapers of Korean mythology (where’s a Goblin, aka dokkaebi, when you need one?) The Saja Boys are after the Honmoon, a mystical force powered by the pure emotions of fans, that keeps demons locked up in the underworld. And they’re going to be hard to beat. Why? You already know. These hoobaes are using their demon magic to create those fandom-fainting moments we live for—floating hearts, popping colors, all those heart-stealing effects. They even got the ajummas and halmonis hearts jumpin’. Yeah, they’re weaponizing fangirl fever and making it hot. So many abs!  4TOWN might be done.

Speaking of abs, one of them is named Abby or Abs Saja (SungWon Cho). Get it? For the abdominal fortitude—and he takes his name way too seriously. You know? Since we’re here, let’s talk about the bias-wrecking these Saja Boys are doing? They’ve got every type we could want. Frontman Jinu (voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop from Business Proposal) radiates enough tsundere energy to flatline the drama girls. So that’s great! Romance Saja (Joel Kim Booster) is all pink-haired and arrogant, Mystery Saja (Alan Lee) has the emo hair that hides more than his eyes, and Baby Saja is bringing the cute and spicy. But they’re demons, lovelies, don’t expect the second lead syndrome to get you. The character design is all about K-pop aesthetics, with some folklore thrown in (lookout for Tiger and Crow), and when these animated idols strike a pose, it’s exactly what we want from our K-pop best boys. They even take a turn on a variety show appearance, but with a twist.

Guess who else shows up? Daniel Dae Kim is a Healer who can see into your soul. Ken Jeong is the Huntrix manager Bobby, bringing adorably clueless comic relief with him, and Lee Byung-hun‘s Gwi-Ma is a ball of demon lord flames that’s giving Sauron. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Celine (Yunjin Kim), the guardian of the demon hunters, is barely seen. Which makes me wonder if we’re going to get a Part 2, but we’re not ready for that conversation yet. 

I need to talk about the soundtrack. The KPop Demon Hunters‘ music is an extra sticky playlist champion that’ll have you hitting the like button like it’s your job. And that makes sense because this is a musical, where major character arcs and plotlines progress in a song. With producers like TEDDY and 24 behind bangers like “How It’s Done” and “Soda Pop,” plus Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung of TWICE doing their own version of “Takedown”, this movie understands the K-pop assignment [more song picks below]. My favorite song is the duet between Rumi and Jinu, “Free”—you’ll understand when you get there. Like Rumi says, “This is the battle for hearts and minds.”

At a snappy 99 minutes, this animated feature—directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans from a script by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Kang and Appelhans—nails the action, the storytelling, the characters, and the romance. KPop Demon Hunters hits every emotional beat of both K-dramas and K-pop and lets the fandom know it sees them. Animated by the team at Sony Pictures Animation, you can see the Spider-verse aura in the gorgeously kinetic fight sequences with spinning camera angles and bright displays of power, AND in the elastic and bouncy dance choreography. Borrowing from the best of manhwa, the characters even go super-deformed for extreme emoting. A feat complemented by the voice acting, which is top-tier.  The movie makes you giggle just watching it. 

Okay, now come closer. Here’s the bubble tea: K-pop Demon Hunters isn’t just pouring out fan appreciation—it’s serving everything we love about K-entertainment. From a Train to Busan scene that made me grin (yes, that is the second Gong Yoo reference in this review), to the way character development happens through music (because, of course, it does—it’s musical). My only issue is that we don’t know enough about how everything works: the mechanics of soul sucking, why Gwi-ma need control so badly, do the demons have autonomy, what’s up with Celine, and the ending is kind of but not a cliff hanger. There’s so much to discover in this world, we’re probably going to need a sequel. So, are you ready to get started with Mission: Destroy Saja?

K-pop Demon Hunters is a bias-wrecking K-Pop-Drama with all the fandom-fever we live for, but in a Spider-verse studio animation. Let’s go.

——xoxo——

Favorite Songs

How It’s Done

• Writers: EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Danny Chung
• Producers: 24, IDO, TEDDY, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI

Jinu’s Lament

• Writers: Daniel Rojas, Mark Sonnenblick
• Producer: Ian Eisendrath

Golden

• Writers: EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick
• Producers: IDO, 24, TEDDY, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI

Soda Pop

• Writers: Vince, KUSH, Danny Chung
• Producers: 24, DOMINSUK, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee

Takedown (Original Version)

• Writer: Michel Schulz (Lindgren)
• Music: Ian Eisendrath
• Producers: Michel Schulz, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI

Free

• Writers: Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Mark Sonnenblick
• Producers: Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: EJAE, Andrew Choi

Your Idol

• Writers: EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Vince, KUSH
• Producers: 24, IDO, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee

What It Sounds Like

• Writers: Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Mark Sonnenblick
• Producers: Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI

Takedown (TWICE Version)

• Writer: Michel Schulz (Lindgren)
• Music: Ian Eisendrath
• Producers: Michel Schulz, Ian Eisendrath
• Performers: TWICE
• Courtesy: JYP Entertainment Corporation