KPop Demon Hunters
Well, I’m certainly late to the party on this one. KPop Demon Hunters is the latest masterpiece to be released under the Sony Pictures Animation banner, and everyone seems to agree on why it’s amazing. Before it hits theaters again next weekend, I feel it’s only proper to give my two cents on this phenomenon.
As a change of pace, I’d like to start this review by addressing my few criticisms of the film. Since my first viewing, I found myself wishing that the inner conflicts of Mira (May Hong), Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), and Bobby (Ken Jeong) had been further explored; they remain excellent characters despite this. Likewise, Celine’s (Yunjin Kim) impact on the broader story is marginally diminished by her minimal amount of screen time. Finally, the pacing becomes mildly choppy during the second act. With those nitpicks out of the way, let’s cover the overwhelming positives of this picture.
I’m no authority when it comes to K-pop, but the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack is certainly tempting me to explore the genre further; every original song is an ear-worm worth surrendering to, accompanied by stellar vocal performances. The choreography for the dances and fight scenes are similarly electrifying. The art style seamlessly blends the sharpness of the Spider-verse movies with the sleekness and comic expressiveness of anime, topped off with some exceptional lighting. The characters, especially Rumi (Arden Cho) and Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), quickly win your hearts with their depth and charm. The theme of self-acceptance despite our perceived imperfections is a universal message that can be applied to numerous human struggles across demographics. Perhaps the biggest appeal of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey as a lead trio, besides their chemistry, is that they feel like real women, being believably tough while still naturally feminine, much like Suki from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Leave it to Sony Animation to show how it’s done, done, done.
KPop Demon Hunters is a golden picture that more than lives up to the hype. If you’ve somehow missed the bandwagon, now’s a perfect time to hop on.
Rating: 9.1/10
