By: Tara Sim (26A01C)

As of July 15th, K-Pop Demon Hunters has maintained its No. 1 spot on Netflix on the English Film List with almost 25 million viewers since its third week of release, while songs performed by Huntrix and Saja Boys, the main K-Pop girl and boy group in the storyline, have topped the US music charts, overtaking leading K-pop groups BTS and Blackpink. But why has a seemingly light-hearted, unserious kids’ show about a monster-fighting girl group suddenly exploded in popularity–even among viewers way outside its intended demographic? 

After seeing countless edits of Jinu, the main male lead in the movie, voiced by Anh Hyo-Seop (perhaps recognised by most as the hot rich CEO from K-drama Business Proposal) on Tiktok, and being thoroughly peer-pressured, I decided to finally give in and watch the 90-minute film. My final thoughts? The movie does exactly what it needs to, but nothing more.

Popular K-drama actor Ahn Hyo-Seop next to Jinu, the character he voices in the movie.

With a runtime of 1h 35min, the film doesn’t have much room to breathe, resulting in a shallow, rushed narrative that leaves its characters and story rather undercooked. While the succinct and clear-cut plot makes for a digestible and easy watch for younger audiences, it ultimately comes at the expense of depth, leaving the characters–aside from leads Jinu and Rumi–feeling underdeveloped, with thin emotional arcs and little sustenance to their personalities.

There’s definitely missed potential in the plot, but given how ambitiously bizarre the premise is, it’s no surprise that some plot points feel rushed or inconsistent–an inevitable drawback of trying to cram a full story into such a short duration. Some have commented that the surface-level characterisation of side characters like the other Saja Boys and Celine is intentional, leaving some leeway for potential future sequels, but I wouldn’t hold any expectations given Netflix’s notorious reputation for cancelling even its most well-loved animated shows (namely Inside Job and The Midnight Gospel). 

Even the rare moments in the film that attempt to dip into something deeper are often cut short by silly jokes or scenes put into the movie purely for comedic effect, showing its design to keep the storyline light to cater to young children. Any potential for emotional weight and character development (besides that One Scene™ at the end) ends up being pushed aside in favour of visual flair or a quick and easy laugh. So if you’re an older watcher looking for a life-altering, brain chemistry-molding movie, this movie may not be what you’re looking for. 

A poster of the movie, featuring the main fictional K-Pop girl group “Huntrix”

This is precisely why I, and probably other wishful watchers, have been puzzled by how this children’s movie has held such an iron grip over its audience since its release almost a month ago. After seeing the massive fanbase K-Pop Demon Hunters had built in such a short time, I expected to be completely blown away–something with the punchiness of Arcane or the visual brilliance of Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse. Instead, I found the movie to be just good.  While I did like the ending, I felt that the film as a whole was a little overhyped, but still enjoyable. So if you’re close to falling victim to the internet’s hype that this is a trailblazing standout animated film, I’m here to tell you that your experience with it will be far better if you throw those expectations out the window and simply open your heart to having fun. 

You see, the very things I find myself criticising are exactly what I, and many of the movie’s loyal fans, actually find charming about this movie. The chaotic pacing of the film is exactly how it manages to hold the attention of so many brainrotted watchers who can barely sit through a 60-second Tiktok video without needing Subway Surfers gameplay running at the bottom of their screens or itching to hold down on their screens to play it at 2x speed. The plot of K-Pop Demon Hunters moves at breakneck speed, never faltering or allowing you a moment to zone out, firmly keeping your attention at every point of the movie. Plot points may rush by, but the dialogue is quick and snappy, and there’s always something interesting happening on screen. It’s pretty overstimulating, sure. But for the kind of audience it’s speaking to, that’s also kind of the point. 

The two rival K-Pop groups, Huntrix and Saja Boys (on the top and bottom respectively)

Much of the show’s unexpected appeal also lies in how simple and unpretentious it is. Its on-the-nose title shows that K-Pop Demon Hunters knows exactly what it is and it doesn’t try to be anything more. It leans fully into the absurdity of its premise, a group of K-Pop idols battling demons, and has fun with it. In a landscape full of shows that are pretentiously “deep” and end up being mind-bogglingly boring and convoluted, K-Pop Demon Hunters takes on no pressure to take itself seriously, which ends up being a refreshing and perfectly enjoyable watching experience. That said, the plot is admittedly quite simplified—sometimes even overly so—but this straightforwardness feels intentional, fitting the movie’s aim to entertain rather than drive a heavy message. As a devoted fan of movies that I can turn my brain off while watching, I admit I had fun watching this 90-minute movie with its quirky characters and beautiful animation. It’s definitely a show that embraces its unseriousness, and I believe that’s exactly what has made it stand out amongst other new film releases. 

So, if you’re close to falling for the K-Pop Demon Hunters propaganda, I propose you just give into being a sheeple of social media and watch it. At its core, it really is a glorified, insanely high-production kids’ movie. From its slightly cringy title to its catchy soundtrack, the film is true to itself and it does exactly what it’s meant to do–be fun, fast and marketable (you have to admit, centering a movie around K-Pop groups producing catchy songs to earn more revenue from streams is a pretty ingenious move). 

For viewers going in expecting a ground-breaking, genre-defining story, it will sorely disappoint. But for everyone else simply looking for a good time and an enjoyable 90-minute watch, it delivers precisely what it promises–no more, no less. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing!