KPop Demon Hunters Review: Netflix's animated feature is wicked, wild and stylish with its take on Korean idols

Wicked. Absolutely wicked—and gorgeously fun. KPop Demon Hunters is a riot with grit: Grounded in realism but never losing its punch. It’s a timely, refreshing take on the idol industry—and long overdue, because, are we tired of K-Pop being reduced to flagrant memes or stereotyped in Western films.

Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans, Netflix’s latest animated features dives straight into the beating heart and soul of the idol industry, without making it campy or outlandish. In it’s own way, it tells the story of K-Pop idols that real fans are well-versed with, the exhausting duality, weight of perfection and standards, social media numbers, trying to live up to their expectations and fans, relationships with each other—and with the added effect of fighting demons, literal and metaphorical.

The film doesn’t sermonise about the idol industry or paint it in maudlin terms as many are prone to do—instead, it depicts K-Pop as the beloved, cherished phenomenon it is today through the eyes of a popular girl group, Huntrix—singers by day and by night, protectors of the Honmoon, a barrier that keeps the demons away from the real world. The message throughout the film: Protect our fans. And yes, try to win the Idol Awards, which is their goal too. 

The girls go up against the Saja Boys—demons, led by the devilishly handsome Jinu (cheers, Ann Hyo-seop), whose slow-burn relationship with Rumi grounds the film in more romantic tension. Well, hello K-Trauma (be a little prepared for that). His gradual softening amid comic timing that doesn’t seem forced or contrived, especially with the dialogue, “Let’s talk about your pants” he says in their first proper encounter as angry Rumi tries to fight him. Sold, absolutely sold. Jinu messes with you—and sometimes you’re not even sure if he is—and you just go along with the ride. Clearly, Hyo-seop has had a blast with this role, oscillating between snarky and wounded. You will hear the typical cheesy lines--'you don't know me', 'You're not a mistake', but you won't think twice about it, because it is delivered with such flair.

And we’re here for it. The music are absolute bops and the animation is hilarious too—down to a cat roaming on balconies and delivering messages. The Saja Boys are joyful inspirations from popular boy bands, BTS, TXT and Ateez—with what seems like a special throwback to BTS’s Boy With Luv Era, to the point that fans have found resemblances to Jungkook. 

Final verdict? Go for it. You don’t even have to be a K-Pop fan to enjoy it—you will just go along with the whacky ride, stay for the tension, revel in the quirky storytelling.