Some movies entertain you and others impress you, so yeah, there are movies and there are movies. Kpop Demon Hunters is a movie.
I didnt expect to enjoy the movie this much. The title alone felt funny to me, kpop Demon Hunters? Really? And honestly I only pressed play out of curiosity, and with a "Let's see how ridiculous this get" thought in mind. But somewhere between the glittery stages and intense fight scenes, I got pulled in so deeply that after the movie ended, I started fighting the urge to rewatch the movie from start again. I've never hit replay on a movie that fast before.
Okay.... the movie follows three girls who make up the Kpop girl group HUNTRX - Rumi, Zoey and Mira. To the world, they're just idols, stunning visuals, chart-topping songs and massive concerts, but in secret, they are the protectors of a magical barrier called the Honmoon, which keeps an ancient race of demons sealed away from the human world. The twist? That magic is fueled by music, yeah, their performance isn't just for entertainment sake, they act like spiritual warfare or something like that. Each of the girls are trained in combat and harmony alike by their mentor, Celine, who was once a singer-warrior herself.
Now, this movie wasn't just a sparkly "idol vs monster" plot. It went deeper. Rumi being a half Demon herself breaks her. All her life she's been trained to fight demons, how does she live with fact that she's also part of them? And she hides that from her friends also.
Meanwhile, an evil force known as Gwi-Ma, the Demon king, is making his move. A rival boy band called the Saja Boys is created, who performs memorising music to weaken the Honmoon by draining the life force of fans (Talk about dark fandom energy, lol). What follows is a beautiful chaos of friendship, betrayal, glowing blades, tear filled dressing room scenes and some of the most wonderful music centered action I've ever seen in an animated movie.
And honestly, that girl Rumi really pulled me in emotionally, her struggle with identity felt so real. She's a kpop idol with millions of fans screaming her name but she can't even look in the mirror without fear. When she finally choose to accept herself fully, demon side and all, I felt something crack up in my chest. It wasn't chessy, instead it was liberating.
The music? Don't even get me started. Every performance carried weight, especially "Golden", which plays during one of the most pivotal scenes. As a kpop fan myself (or even just a music lover), this soundtrack is unforgettable. They weren't just insert songs, they were perfectly wooven into the storyline, both the lyrics, the beat drop, the choreography, all of it had purpose. The vocals alone made me want to stan HUNTRX like they were a real group
The highlight for me was "Golden" obviously, but "Takedown" and the others also stayed in my head long after the credit rolled. They made the fights feel cinematic and the heartbreaks personal. I wish they had a real Spotify album, because I'd stream it on repeat without shame.
Oh yeah, I can't talk about this movie without mentioning Jinu, the Saja boy's leader. So him and Rumi form this complicated bond, two people on opposite sides, both hiding who they really are. Jinu is also a demon but he has given up on redemption, still there's a softness in him, a part of him that just wants to be free. Their connection is tender and sad and short-lived..... because of course it is. The moment Jinu turns around and sacrifices himself for her during the last battle? I was gone, emotionally shredded. Thank you, bye.
In the ending, the girls reunite on stage but not as the flawless HUNTRX the world knew, but the real broken and honest version of themselves. Rumi sings with her patterns glowing proudly for the first time, and Mira and Zoey sing alongside her, despite the fear and confusion. Now, this wasn't just a story about hunting demons but about accepting the parts of yourself you were taught to hide. It was about sisterhood, about found family and standing in the truth even when the spotlight burns.
Kpop Demon Hunters surprised me in every way, it was emotional, funny, fierce and visually stunning, it had beats that made me want to dance. Would I recommend this movie? Absolutely.
I'd rate the movie a 10/10 for the story and for the music