‘KPop Demon Hunters’; flawed?

Leilah Cardenas, Contributing Writer

While scrolling through Instagram this summer, I was bombarded with posts about how everyone was excited about this new Netflix movie: “KPop Demon Hunters.” 

For those who have not seen the movie, the storyline follows Huntrix, a female K-pop group that also hunts demons. They sing to protect the Honmoon, a spiritual gateway between the demon and human world. When a band named the Saja Boys suddenly appear and start taking human souls in order to destroy the Honmoon and release the demons, Huntrix must defeat them.

Before seeing this movie, I had no interest in K-pop, and had never listened to a single song. I waited almost a month before seeing the highly-recommended movie so I could make my own uninfluenced opinions on it. 

After watching the film, I was star-struck.

The director, Maggie Kang, was inspired by Korean heritage, mythology and K-pop culture, which includes strong idol fan bases and musical diversity. The movie focuses on unique storytelling and cultural accuracy. 

The success of “KPop Demon Hunters” highlights how K-pop and Korean culture continue to be embraced and supported by a global audience, especially in Western countries like the United States. 

The movie also utilizes strong female protagonists, with recurring themes of shame and redemption. “KPop Demon Hunters” suggests the key to a harmonious community is confiding in our loved ones and owning up to our flaws. 

I enjoyed the movie, but when I watched it a second time something did not sit right with me.

I realized what the problem was — due to the film’s lofty ambitions and a short run time, many parts of the movie were rushed during production. 

The exposition barely touches on the main characters’ backstories from before they were idols, and its romance B plot falling flat. While the chaotic pace of the movie can be seen as charming, it lacks much-needed context. The film shows great potential but may have been more enjoyable as a television series.

Perhaps “KPop Demon Hunters” is rushed because Kang and their team had to wait 15 years for production of the film to begin and then had only four years to make it into an animated movie — resulting in a short runtime of one hour and 35 minutes. This schedule greatly limited the scope of what Kang could include in the end product, making the movie unsatisfying.

While Kang intends to make a sequel to “Kpop Demon Hunters” and give more depth to the world and its characters, I think the creators should make a prequel that is instead focused on the three main characters. 

Regardless of its future, I believe that this movie establishes a welcoming connection between itself and the audience as a whole, reiterating the appreciation of cultural diversity and authenticity found in “KPop Demon Hunters.”