Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters': Surprising Hit, Surprisingly Good

Take Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Korean contemporary pop music and ancient folklore, gorgeous anime-flavored animation, and a soundtrack that gets under your skin (but in a good way), and you have Netflix's smash-hit film KPop Demon Hunters. But should Catholic parents let their kids watch?

The KPop Demon Hunters Phenomenon

Released in June both on Netflix and briefly in theaters (including sing-along showings), KPop Demon Hunters -- an American production from Sony Animation -- netted about $18M at the box office. It has also dominated Netflix's viewing stats (it's currently only available on Netflix) and four songs from its soundtrack landed simultaneously on the Billboard Top 10.

And it achieved this without blood and gore, profanity, sexual situations (there are some animated abs on display) or political messaging.

I don't know much about Korean pop or folklore, only a bit about anime, but a whole lot about Buffy, so I checked it out.

I liked it, a lot. And so did my co-worker, Family Theater Productions' producer-at-large Father Vince Kuna, C.S.C., a USC film-school grad. There's a Q&A with him at the bottom of this post.

And we're not alone, so yes, there will be a sequel. If your kids haven't watched it yet, they may be asking to, so we'll do a deep dive into this surprising -- and surprisingly good -- animated film.

What Is KPop Demon Hunters About?

The film focuses on Korean pop music (K-pop, for short) girl group Huntrix, stylized as HUNTR/X, led by Rumi, whose powerful voice and elaborate costumes hide a secret.

The trio is the latest iteration of the three girls in any generation chosen to use their singing voices -- and some magical weaponry -- to kill demons seeking to deliver human souls to the demon leader, Gwi-Ma.

The girls' uplifting music, combined with the energy of their devoted fans, also creates the Honmoon, a shield between our world and the demon world.

Yeah, I know how it sounds. But hear me out.

Despite seeming silly on the surface, the film is anything but. It's sharply written and immaculately paced by co-directors Chris Appelhans and Korean-Canadian Maggie Kang. Both directors also contributed to the screenplay, based on a story from Kang.

KPop Demon Hunters is funny, dramatic, heart-tugging, surprisingly complex, beautiful to look at -- and chock-full of catchy tunes with lyrics that actually say something.

Huntrix's rival for the souls of the fans is a demon boy band, the Saja Boys, led by the deeply conflicted and formerly human Jinu (a k a Rumi's love interest). In a bit of wordplay, depending how it's pronounced, saja can refer to a lion (the band's symbol), or to an emissary from the underworld, a sort of Grim Reaper (the singers are demons, after all).

BTW, I learned this from a video by a Korean teacher who explains much of the film's language and symbols. He also did a second video focusing even more on language.

Yeah, But, There Are Demons

I get why some Christians, especially parents, might be concerned about the whole "demons" thing.

In reality, about one-third of South Koreans are Christian, with about 11 percent specifically Catholic. The Church took root there almost entirely through the efforts of lay people, and there are many Korean martyrs and saints.

But, while season one of Netflix's hit Korean-produced series Squid Game did reflect this with Christian characters and references, roughly half of modern South Koreans don't identify with any religion.

Unlike Buffy, in which non-religious creator Joss Whedon played around with Christian themes and symbolism, KPop Demon Hunters stays entirely in the realm of Korean mythology, folklore and traditional beliefs in spirits.

These include demons, which are not the fallen-angel type found in the Bible. Instead, despite the name "demons," these mythological creatures are more like mischievous goblins, ghosts, or messengers from the underworld.

So, yes, there are demons, but other than the good-looking boy-band ones, the demons are generally goofy-looking. And they're way less scary than some of the creatures in Angel Studios' recent comedy-horror film Sketch.

There's also a white tiger obsessed with flowerpots, and a hat-wearing magpie with three eyes stacked like the cameras on a Samsung Galaxy phone (other than the three eyes, that's also from traditional Korean folk art).

Father Vince addresses more of this, below.

Along With Cultural Specifics, There Are Universal Themes

The film's themes include shame that comes from keeping secrets and not being honest about yourself, the importance of friendship and duty, and the transformative power of love.

And, even though the main characters are female, they're not girlboss types -- and there's a lovely example of a man offering self-sacrifice to find redemption and save the day.

While some may see the idea of suffering coming from not being your true self as referring to specific groups, it's truly a universal theme. Any subtext is in the eye and psyche of the beholder.

No, the film is not specifically Christian or Biblical, but not everything that is worthwhile has to be.

Is it Suitable for Kids?

Netflix rates KPop Demon Hunters as PG, and I concur. Since it can be watched at home, parents can monitor the reaction of kids, especially littles, and act accordingly.

One Catholic mom I know didn't entirely approve of the girls' midriff-baring outfits, but other than that, she didn't have any issues. It may take a minute to explain the Korean folk concept of a "demon" to a kid, but I think they'll understand we're in a fantasy world.

The film also does point out the dangers of worshiping musicians as idols, or any false idols -- that you may lose your soul.

A Catholic Priest Views KPop Demon Hunters

Father Vince viewed the film, and I shot him some questions. Here's what he had to say:

What was your overall impression of the film?

I enjoyed the animated film a lot. The visual look was incredible. I sang along to the musical parts, especially the melodies that were repeated. It’s one of the more original films of recent memory and a reminder that great stories can spring from many cultures.

What did you think of the film's worldview and underlying mythology?

Humans have dealt with proverbial “demons” throughout history. They would be our own self-doubts and putdowns from rivals and enemies. And maybe something from our past that was beyond our control.

So, the mythology constructs a way of dealing with metaphorical “demons”: receiving encouragement from friends and fans, coming of age and finding one’s “voice” ...“voice” being a literal and metaphorical thing. The main character finds her voice literally in the K-pop world but also grows in confidence of who she is as a person.

Should Catholic parents be concerned about the idea of "demons," even though they aren't Biblical ones?

I don’t think Catholic parents should be concerned too much about “demons.” I think it would be crucial for parents to know when their children begin to interpret themes non-literally.

So, literal Biblical demons exist, and it would take exorcisms to expel them. Once a young person can understand non-literal, more psychological “demons,” then I think this film would be appropriate.

What themes in the film appealed to you the most?

One Korean singer receives a fan message that said something like, “your soul is beautiful.” That’s an important message to receive when a lot of the K-pop world obsesses over looks and, in this particular story, there’s tongue-in cheek-humor surrounding abdominal muscles.

The three-girl band faces up against a five-boy band. They’re pitted as professional rivals, but what resonates is the difference in genders. In a secular world that often tries to flatten and blur the lines between the genders, we see in this film a difference in kind, but not degree, with boys and girls. I think that might be an overlooked theme of the movie.

Did you have any major concerns?

I didn’t. In fact, as World Youth Day will take place in South Korea in 2027, the more families stretch their pop culture interests to include Korean culture, the better.

I remember a New York Times article from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics where they claimed short-track speed skating most accurately describes Korean culture…very ordered and efficient, but in a few cases, life accelerates to the finish line and becomes chaotic.

Incidentally, South Korea’s most famous female athlete, gold-medalist figure skating champion Yuna Kim, is a convert to Catholicism.

Were there themes that really resonated with Catholic teaching?

Besides the aforementioned “vive le difference,” I liked how the main character had a tiger following her around. I interpreted this as her guardian angel, and a sign Korea may continue to prove to be fertile ground for Christian evangelization.

Whereas in the West, angels might be sadly thought of to be something to be outgrown, here in Korean culture, we find a manifestation of them to be central and endearing.

Click here to visit Father Vince Kuna’s IMDB page.

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