KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Starring: Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Ahn Hyo-seop, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun
Director: Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang
AMARÚ
KPop Demon Hunters is proof that all across the globe, movies can share universal messages that transcend culture (it also proves, for me, that Black culture is the most valuable in the world, but that’s another day’s conversation). Whether or not you know about or listen to K-pop, the kinetic energy, likable characters, catchy but not corny music, and messaging about self worth resonate even for the most cynical of viewers. It helps massively that the amazing voice cast delivers on both the heartfelt dialogue and the over-the-top humor alongside mesmerizing visuals and a soundtrack that will live in your playlist for months on end.
ADRIANO
Despite clearly reaping the rewards of the Spider-Verse films’ impact on animation, KPop Demon Hunters is a delightfully fresh movie. There’s a lot of eye candy and fast pacing to make up for even the smallest attention span of a child. Yet, for a movie literally called KPop Demon Hunters, the glory comes from the story and the bonds of the main characters which propels this from fun to engaging. It’s no wonder KPop became the phenomenon it is, as it’s got a bit of everything for everybody... And yes, the music is also a collection of bangers.
BODE
Sometimes when you’re late to something that has so much hype, you can feel let down when it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations that people have set. In a sense, that’s my experience with KPop Demon Hunters. It’s better than that title would suggest, with its obviously catchy tunes (“Soda Pop” hits my personal sweet spot) and extremely vibrant hybrid 3D animation style, reminiscent of the Spider-Verse movies. But the Frozen-esque narrative is a bit too derivative, and holds it back from lingering longer for me. Still, for what it is, it’s fun enough.
