Back for Halloween: 'KPop Demon Hunters' Reflects Christian Themes

Lots of kids are probably already begging parents to buy them tickets to see Sony Animation/Netflix's hit animated musical film KPop Demon Hunters, as it returns to theaters nationwide on Halloween weekend as a sing-along event.

And a whole lot of little Rumis, Zoeys, Miras, and Derpy Tigers are likely to be out and about trick-or-treating this weekend also.

But should you say yes to going to the theater to sing along with Huntrix, a trio of Korean pop-stars that moonlights as demon hunters? Should you even let the kids watch the film on Netflix -- and will Christian adults also like it? The film's been out since June, but the questions remain.

So, let's revisit it, and take a look at some specific points.

Don't Let the Title Throw You Off

If you haven't watched the film (and it seems like half the planet has, at this point), it's likely that the kids you know have already heard the music. Songs from the soundtrack -- especially Golden -- have topped the charts, and individual music videos on YouTube have earned 555M views, just on the official Sony Pictures Animation channel.

Last month, I looked at the film as a whole, including commentary from FTP staffer Father Vince Kuna, C.S.C. We concluded that it was fine for Catholic families, as long as kids were old enough to understand the difference between real, Judeo-Christian demons, and the folklore demons of the film's title.

Those folklore demons are drawn from traditional Korean beliefs and tales. Rather than being fallen angels, they are either fantastical, often one-eyed, toothy creatures -- or human beings who became demonized by giving in to evil impulses and are now haunted by shame.

But, the humanoid demons function just as much -- and this is part of the film's plot -- as avatars for our inner demons of insecurity and fear, and the corrosive effect of keeping secrets from those closest to you.

Even in its lightest moments, the film never forgets what these symbolic demons are really about.

I saw one parent in a reaction video refer to the catchy song Soda Pop, sung by the covertly demonic Saja Boys, as deeply selfish — all about what the love object does for the lover … and about the lover consuming the beloved.

If you've only heard it out of context, or even if you heard it in the film, listen again with this concern in mind:

Does KPop Demon Hunters Have Christian Themes?

There's also a lot of debate out there about whether KPop Demon Hunters is actually a "Christian" film.

Certainly not overtly. But its themes of themes of forgiveness, redemption, love, friendship, and self-sacrifice — while solid traditional values held across many faiths and cultures — resonate with Christians, as does the notion of resisting surface temptation that covers deep evil.

One place where a Christian argument can be made is in the song Your Idol, co-written by singer, songwriter, producer --and former K-pop hopeful -- EJAE, who also provides Rumi's singing voice.

In this number, part of the film's climax, the Saja Boys throw off their shiny, happy disguises and appear as their true, demonic selves, ready to consume the souls of a horde of fans they've drawn under their spell.

While the full song itself seems dark and menacing, with the singers displaying their demon markings, it emphatically illustrates all the dangers of worshiping false idols. Shorn of their disguises, the Saja Boys openly lure in and even mock their dazed devotees.

The Christian references in the song aren't just for effect but also come from songwriter EJAE’s own personal history. From Forbes:

“It’s about the obsession of fans [because the Saja Boys] want them to be obsessed [to control them],” she explains. “That sounds like what an Idol is. I was raised Christian and remembered it’s a sin to idolize something. So, it was like a twist of “I’ll be your Idol.” It was kinda creepy.” …

EJAE was inspired by the choir portion of EXO’s “MAMA” and added her version into the song. She created the harmonies and sounds to evoke a cathedral – a place of worship for the Idols. She reveals the chorus intro to “Your Idol” was “The Huntrix Mantra” in reverse.

“I reversed [the audio] and harmonized that [on the demo],” she shares. “I was like, ‘Whoa, this sounds like a cathedral. [It was] weird. So, I did that and added harmonies to make it sound even creepier and have a kind of old Latin vibe.”

By contrast, whenever the Huntrix singers talk about their fans, it's always with real affection and a desire to serve them. This shows in the closing scene, even after the girls don't need the fans anymore to keep the demons at bay.

And, That Bit About Self-Acceptance (SPOILERS)

One last note, and this is important, demon hunter Rumi has to accept that she is half-demon. After all, what choice does she have? Although the script doesn't give any detailed story behind how that came to be, other than to say her father was a demon, she was born that way.

But, Rumi doesn't give over to the demonic, and she doesn't stop in her mission of fighting the demons or trying to destroy them.

She may be half-demon, through no fault of her own, but it doesn't become her whole identity or anything she expects to be celebrated.

It's part of who she is, but she holds onto her belief in the power of light over darkness, expressed in the the song What It Sounds Like -- which has meaningful lyrics of its own. Here's a bit:

We broke into a million pieces, and we can't go back.
But now we're seeing all the beauty in the broken glass
The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony,

My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like.

 

Why did we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?
Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead.
Show me what's underneath, I'll find your harmony
Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like,

Rumi's courage and devotion lead the formerly human Saja Boy Jinu to regain his soul and make the ultimate sacrifice. With the soulful energy flowing forth from him, the three girls, and the restored members of the audience, evil is overcome.

(For those who love Easter eggs in films, note the zipper pull on Rumi's turtleneck and the earring Jinu wears in the last scene. Could be just a four-pointed star or an equal-armed Greek Cross. Up to the viewer to decide.)

So, what comes next? I'm sure we'll learn about all of this in the planned sequel or sequels.

Image: ©2025 Netflix

Kate O’Hare, a longtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Content Manager and Blog Editor at Family Theater Productions.

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