I watched KPop Demon Hunters for the music, stayed for the spectacle.
Netflix’s animated movie that blends K-pop and demon-slaying is more fun than it might sound.
It’s the latest film from the studio that’s brought us some stunning animation, like the recent Spider-Verse movies (Sony Pictures Animation).
This time, we follow demon hunters who are also singers in a K-pop girl group called Huntrix. By performing, they create a massive shield that makes it harder for demons to enter the human world, while they try to eliminate them for good.
But the demons have a plan: they form their own K-pop group—a boy band—and attempt to infiltrate the world in a sneaky way.
If you’re into K-pop, this is a no-brainer—you’ll definitely watch it and most likely enjoy it. It’s packed with references to the K-pop industry, costumes that resemble real idol fashion, flashy live shows, a brand-new song from members of TWICE (<3), and other tracks in a well-crafted original soundtrack full of catchy, genre-faithful songs.
But it also has more than that:
Well-designed monsters, intriguing and quirky lore, fun musical-style songs (with lyrics and scenes that tie into the story and its developments—music really is central to the experience).
There’s also genuinely good humor (especially for those familiar with K-pop or K-dramas—but not only for them), memorably designed characters, and a core plot that’s better than I expected: while still quite formulaic, each part has been well-executed, and the overall result won me over.
And then there’s the animation… which is fantastic.
The fight scenes are choreographed with style, colors explode everywhere, dozens of demons attack and are taken down by the protagonists with their weapons, and the songs are accompanied by perfectly staged sequences.
There’s also excellent character animation (both in and out of battle), resulting in expressive bodies and faces during action-packed moments as well as dialogue scenes.
You’ll also notice an interesting visual technique that combines stylized animation with anime-like eyes and facial expressions—exaggerated features, streams of tears, and other imaginative and playful effects—all blended seamlessly to create a unified style that works beautifully.
Overall, it’s a yes from me.
A fun, light-hearted action movie with a likable cast of characters and solid voice and singing performances, that stands out thanks to its animation.
I can easily imagine it turning into a franchise, and I wouldn’t say no to a sequel.
This is a case where well-crafted individual elements come together to form something greater than the sum of its parts—better than it has any right to be.
Even a cliché plot, when told effectively with smart techniques and the right performances, can end up feeling like something of much higher quality. A pleasant surprise.
