Let's talk about last year, (at Time of Writing) 2025
America Did a Stupid...Again!
Horsegirls Invaded Every Corner of the Internet and came for your Wallet!
The French Swept the Game Awards as their Former Bosses at Ubisoft had to look on Seething!
And one of the best films of last year was, and is consistently in Netflix's Top Ten, and will be Nominated for the Oscars in 2 months time.
Yes, Umamusume got more Exposure, but the fact they didn't dub It, may have Given KDH a bigger push, and may have helped Netflix to Assimilate Warner Bros into the App, For Good and Bad Down the Road.
I've being wanting to do this review for a long time, that I even made a poll on months I'm not reviewing Wrestling for Interaction, thinking I will have it done when the Hype was it's Highest.
Well The Hype Hasn't Exactly Gone Down!
It's had A Karaoke Cut made, had it's Songs Golden and my Little Soda Pop played on Normie Radio Stations and it's Songs were performed on Ireland's biggest show of the year, The Late Late Show.
So let's not wait any longer, Let's dig into K-pop Demon Hunters!
THE FOLLOWING FILM IS RATED PG FOR COMIC VIOLENCE, INNUENDO AND FRIGHTENENING SCENES. THIS REVIEW IS INTENDED FOR AN ADULT AUDIENCE.
We open in Seoul, During a Concert, as the Crowd has whipped themselves into a fever pitch, chanting for the "Huntrix"! As they appear in clouds of Dry Ice, A Female Voice tells them that though the world sees them as Popstars, they are infact Demon Hunters.
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| "Like Thome Kinda K-POP Demon Hunterth, if you Willllll!" |
We are told that Since Time Immemorial, Demons have Breached Korea to Steal Souls to Syphon them back to their king, Gwi Ma, However 3 young Maidens versed in Both the Martial and Classical Arts, used their weapons to fight and their voices to strengthen the souls of the people and with that energy, it created a shield to Bind the Demons, The HonMoon.
Generations pass, Fashions Change, Korea Adapted to the World it's own way, but with one Constant-A trio of Female Singers Keeping the Harmony and Peace with their Music, and this is the result, the soon to be Golden and Galvanized HonMoon and now it's time for Selene to train Hunters to Adapt to the New Century with New Hunters-The Band Known as The Huntrix
We are given the names and Backstory of the girls- The Moody Goth GF Mira, The Cute but Psycho Korean-American Zoey and the main Singer Rumi, Who's mother Died when she was a Baby, but she was raised by her Aunt, and mother's Bandmate, Selene who were in the band of Hunters in the eighties and is the Watcher to the Huntrix's Slayer, if that makes sense. This is their Final Concert before their break, But there is a Problem, the Plane hasn't landed yet!
Unaware During their Snack Buffet On Board, the Huntrix Get a call From Bobby, their Manager, when they look out the Window and see The Plane Flying away from the Concert Site, the shoe finally drops.
Pilots Flying to Different Locations?
Incompetent Staff?
Violence On Board?
I Know what happened
THEY BOOKED A RYANAIR FLIGHT!
No of course not, the plane had being taken over by shapeshifting demons, the stewardess denies it, but Demons have Purple Tribal tattoos on their arms as a tell (PLOT POINT!). They battle the demons during a song that manifests their weapons and they destroy all but 2 in a rhythm game style combat, the Plane splits in half as the stewardess demon escapes holding on to the nose cone. The huntrix dives from the plane and improvises it as an Entrance, the crowd none the wiser when they are rubbing shoulders with things that want to eat their souls. The Song ends, Demon slain, the HunMoon Is Strengthened, Demons are sealed, Title Drop!
In the Underworld, the Demon Air Hostess returns to beg for her life, but instead Burns her to ash with his flaming Body. the King of Demons Tells his Army if the HunMoon becomes Golden, It is the end of them!
That's when a Cloaked Demon Playing a Biwa Floats Towards the King's Alter with a white tiger by his side, all the while Jinu is singing a song to mock his Master. King Gwi Ma is Angered by this display of insubordination, especially when the King choose to spare Jinu's ability to speak. But Jinu with 4 more demons in tow has a plan: they will Go to Earth, posing as a Boyband, turn the fans away from the huntrix, and weaken the HunMoon. The 5 Then Pose and make a Auto-tuned Do-wop sound when they do, as Gwi Ma laughs at the idea of a demon Boy band, until the 4 other uses Glamour to make themselves as Handsome as Jinu as the demons look on in Agreement. However Gwi Ma wants to know why Jinu, his most Self-centred Underling is offering help now, what does he want, Jinu says His price is Gwi Ma has to finally Erase his Painful Memories of his human life, as we get flashes of a girl crying being held back!
Despite Rumi Having a Suspicious Cough, The concert is a Big Success, They Notice the HonMoon is nearly Golden, So Zoey and Mira want to release THAT SONG When they come back from their 2 week break! And when that Song is released the HunMoon can be Golden until the next Generation.
But, Rumi for reasons that will be explained, has Launched the teaser for the Song-Golden right now, just as the others Planned on Crashing for 2 weeks!
And You are Probably Sick of Hearing Golden All Year, But the Song is Good and it's animated beautifully. I would not be surprised if it's in the Oscar Concert for Best Original Song in March.
But there is a Shocking Swerve!
Rumi is a Demon all along!
No really. This Caught me off Guard! And seeing That Rumi only ever wore Jackets with Long Sleeves in her Introduction scenes (And I had to rewatch to see if they made a mistake and shown exposed arms but no, I Didn't notice and my Foreshadowing sense didn't go off!)
And During the Practice Run, Rumi's Cough gets Worse, weakening The Lead Singer's Voice and Breaking her Confidence. They are about to go Live in 10 minutes and Rumi wants to take 5, With 10'000 fans about to rip off the door outside?
As Rumi Bails Under the Pressure, Selene Put her under and she chose to carry, we get a flashback of her childhood, Turns out Rumi is a Half-breed, as her Father was a demon, and her parentage was made a Secret as Selene is the only one that knows, Training her Adoptive Daughter to be like this world's Blade or Dante, if that makes Sense, Telling her at a young age that once the the HonMoon is Golden all Half breeds will have their Marks removed by Purifying magic, But Selene made one Mistake-NOT TELLING THE OTHERS! And Now all this pressure and self Doubt Rumi has inside her Has Manifested itself as Demonic Energy that ripples throughout the HonMoon!
So, Despite No-Showing the Appearance, Zoey and Mira are Supportive of Rumi, Making her Soup after assuming a Cold, However Bobby Cannot Handle the Droves of Disappointment fans in the Studio, they warned to tell Selene, But Zoey quotes the Hunter's Vow.
"We are Hunters. Voices Supreme. Faults and Fears are Always Unseen!"
They want to skip the Idol Awards, But Rumi slips that "She" was close to the Mission being over, not "They". But the girls want to help Rumi get her voice back in time for the Idol Awards in two weeks time.
So Zoey has learned of a Backstreet Clinic Purportedly that sells a Cure-all Potion as they go there incognito into town, all the while, a free Concert for The "Saja Boys" is Advertised.
Despite being a Scam Doctor with Photoshopped Photos of Celebrities as clients, Dr Han does see Something Wrong with Rumi, Claiming her voice is going because She has walled and Isolated All Parts of herself.
"And to understand what's wrong with a part you must understand the Whole!"
The Band leave with Tonics after Dr Han psychoanalyses all three, that's when they bump into 4 Fashionably Dressed, Impossibly Handsome Teen Boys, Mira and Zoey lose their minds over Definitely not the Demon Boyband! But in the back is Jinu in Human Form and Rumi does react as they walk past bumping into her softly she literally falls head over heels, her box of Tonics falling on the street around her. He extends his hand towards her, then curls it back towards himself to dust his shirt...he knows they are Enemies, after all!
That's when they see they are Saja Boys, who perform there Live Song Soda Pop and they show up the girls with no problem, stealing one of the potions to use as a prop. But something is wrong they are using Magic to manifest Edit cuts and Transitions in real time, never mind how Strangely Catchy the Song is, Causing the Angry Huntrix to Still Dance, but they catch it for just a Second, A Demon Mark.
But the Girls are Confused. If the plan is to lure Humans like Cattle for their Souls, Why Not Just Attack Now, Not that they could do anything about the Demons now, while in public and not in the context of a concert to cover it up. So when the Saja Boys do acts of kindness, the Huntrix destroys the gifts falling for the trap of breaking the Public's Trust.
During one of those Content Farm Hot Sauce Drinking Slop videos hosted by a Lolcow dressed in a nappy, we learn Jinu's bandmates names: The Muscleman Is Abby, The Floppy Fringe is Mystery, the Pink haired one is Romance and the small one is Baby. At the Same time, Decked In leather and armed with weapons, the girls plan to ambush the Saja Boys when they leave the stage, But Jinu spots the girls and turns the tables on them, announcing them as Special Guests. Forced to Slide into a ball pit, they share False Pleasantries and try to outbow each other.
Distracted they fall into Another trap when they follow the Saja Boys into a Bathhouse.
Girls, have you Never watch Any Tokusatsu? This us where chasing the villains lead you into the Quarry for you to fight The Putty Patrol!
And Sure Enough, the Hot Tubs are Filled with water demons. As the girls fight Rumi chases off after Jinu, as Cracks in the HunMoon Summons more water demons, in their fight, Jinu slashes Rumi's Jacket sleeve and sees her Mark. The wall separating both fights breaks with Mira and Zoey screaming for Rumi. In the scant few seconds it took the girls to turn their heads (This was filmed in Slow Motion), Jinu Hugs Rumi, Fastens a Tourniquet over the tear and pushes her away towards the others this was filmed at 1x speed!
Rumi gets her act together as the demons are Slain-Well, All but one, as one in hiding steals the soul of a bather.
Jinu has no time to figure out this revelation when he is recalled to the Underworld, and sees a Rave of Demons celebrating the Stolen SouLs Feeding King Gwi Ma. Gwi Ma, learning of Rumi's lineage, tells Jinu he cannot extend his influence to her. But Jinu has plans to use her Shame to weaken the Huntrix's Band
From Their Apartment, The Girls can see Suburb size rifts in the HonMoon. As Bobby speeds in worried by The Saja Boys Sudden and Overwhelming Popularity. As Bobby is not trained in the way of Magic, he looks out at Seoul and says it's not "The End of the World "- even though the Girl's See Different.
But Rumi Decides that if this is war for hearts and minds, so be it! She wants Zoey to write Scathing Lyrics, Mira to Create Harsh Costumes and Badass Choreography. The Gloves are off at the Icon Awards where they will drop the Diss track of the Century!
So finally the brick Joke is revealed that Dr Han's Tonic is just juice. Looking at the Tourniquet on her bed, she can't shake that Jinu might be Different from every Demon she ever Slain. That's when she is visited by Jinu's 3 eyed Demon magpie and his white tiger which is in fact, a Stone Statue bought to life.
They deliver a message from their Master for her to meet him. She arrives at temple for round 2, But he had the high Ground, Leverage: Blackmail.
He says demons attack out of Shame of their existence. That's how Gwi Ma Controls them by Constantly Screaming Demands into their ears. Rumi asks what is he on about when she confirms not to he able to hear the Demon King.
That's when Jinu tells his story, he was a pauper with a Mother and Sister, with only a biwa to this name. He tried to make with his singing but has was denied, and was made the Perfect prey for King Gwi Ma and his Faustian Bargains.
Soon Jinu's Family was living at the Palace grounds, Jinu's voice providing the Wealth and Comfort which once alluded them, but it came at a price-His Humanity. The Demon Mark spread all over his body, Condemning his soul forever. And causing his family to be evicted worse off than they were before. With the same of his failure tying him to Gwi Ma's will for 400 years. Again Rumi says she is nothing like Jinu. But Jinu Gets-he Denied what he was at first too! But he will be here if she wants to talk about it, after all, He's the only one who understands! Rumi swings her sword but it's too late, He's Already Gone
The Girls Struggle to Write Lyrics, Until Mira says 'Takedown" and Rumi works from there. We get a Montage set to Takedown, The Saja Boys winning number 1, The Huntrix Get the spot a week later, The Girls fighting off demons, but Rumi has doubts and doesn't help Jinu doesn't take no for an Answer.
It doesn't help that Bobby is now managing both The Girls and The Saja Boys, after all he is a Music Manager and Money is Money, as the Saja Boys are his surprise during a now Double Signing Event, Rumi is Angered that half the fans means half the Energy for the HonMoon, so she decides to share the table with the boys.
Tensions Grow Especially when Jinu Susses out she hasn't told the others of her Marks. However the whispering between each other had not gone unnoticed as a fan wearing a Jinmi (the ship between Jinu and Rumi) T-shirt. Rumi steps on Jinu's foot when he mentions her Patterns, she hates her patterns, she hates Demons, she hates Gwi Ma. Jinu Smirks and says if hate was enough to kill Demons, they would be dead!
They are interrupted by a Young Girl who drew a Picture of Jinu and he doesn't know how to react to such Innocence, with Rumi Having the final word saying maybe instead of listening to Gwi Ma's Words you should instead listen to the people.
Being Soulless Jerks, The other Demons Trash their Flowers and Gifts, However Jinu looks at the Little Girl's Picture and it's him Drawn as an Angel. Reading the Caption "You have a Beautiful Soul" really Punches him in the Gut.
Rumi may not want to see Jinu, but she does feel Comfortable having his familiars Around, She's Trying hard to write Diss-Tracks bit but they comes off as Sympathetic. She gets a knock on the bedroom door and tells the Tiger and Pigeon to teleport out of here, not realizing in her panic, she's Toppled over a Waste Bin full of Lyrics.
While Dealing with both Tiger stealing the bin and with Mira, The harsh one of the group comes out and says it-"What's wrong with you?" She's hiding something from the others. Rumi denies it of course, but Mira can't shake it!
Meanwhile The demons are now getting Arrogant with their Attacks not only stealing souls, But Kidnapping people as the Missing Person Count rises.
So Rumi and Jinu Meet again, but on Rumi's terms. She had a Proposal for him: You want your freedom so badly? Sabotage you're Boys at the Idol Awards. The HonMoon can be restored, made golden and every Demon still on Earth can be purified. He says he's too far gone, But Rumi says he was just a man who wanted to save his family, Not like her: The Daughter of a Hunter and Demon Father. No she was, from the day she was born, a Mistake.
Before it gets too dark, they are interrupted by a Peddler who sells Couple's bracelets. They deny they are a couple, with The old woman getting angry with Jinu for not ponying up the money for the bracelet, which she Gifts to Rumi for free after calling him hopeless. Jinu agrees when the Peddler leaves. But Rumi says this 'That's the thing about Hope. Nobody decides if you feel it, that choice belongs to you" She walks off thinking he is a lost cause, he Grabs her hand to take the bracelet, telling herself he doesn't think she's a mistake, then they leave awkwardly.
The Pressure and demand on the Huntrix is starting to make them crack. Rumi cannot handle the hatefulness of the Lyrics. Mira tells them the Idol Awards are Tomorrow-they have No More Time. Rumi says she just cannot bring himself to sing Takedown. But Before they can get an answer, Demon energy ripple across the HonMoon and they Disappear much to Bobby's Consirnation. He gets an ad for the Saja Boys on his phone and it brainwashed him with it's music.
The demons Arrack a train and the Huntrix fight and bicker amongst themselves on top. As the train chugs over a tear in reality, a whole army of Mannequins fall out, crawling on themselves and everywhere. Singing Takedown Rumi's Confidence Falters at the worst time, the demons cover the whole train. We see some passengers inside when the attack is over: No one was Spared!
With there First real Failure, Mira telks Rumi they must Win. Zoey, the first time we see her actually Downbeat, Reminds Rumi they can't do it without their lead singer to seal the demons, But she doesn't know why she us like this now.
In Another Clandestine Meeting, Rumi tells Jinu, her voice has being Better since these meetings, and in a song, the lyrics insinuate that it's not her voice that's the problem, it's the Purpose behind the voice that's being giving you issues, the Song is shared that they conspire to free each other.
After the song, Gwi Ma quickly recalls his Traitor. The Omnipresent Demon King reveals Jinu didn't tell Rumi the Full Story, The Emperor didn't kick out His family from the palace, Jinu did for his own gain. Gwi Ma still has the leverage with the knowledge the Truth of what he Really Is!
Riding the White Tiger over the Seoul Skyline, Rumi Comptemplates her Navel over her mission and her life up to this point. So it's time to do what is going to be hard for here....except the others had the same ideas, Hunter's Vow be dammed, they are talking about their Faults and Fears Always Unseen. But while the others talk about theirs, (Mira's Anger Issues and Zoey's Fear of Abandonment due to not being "Half A Korean") However, Rumi seems to still be betting solely on the HonMoon Turning Golden Tonight at the Idol Awards when she says she'll come to the Bathhouse with the others "When it's all over" hoping to tell them then.
And So the Plan of the Demon King is revealed, when Korean Not-Ryan Seacrest telks the viewers the Idol Awards are Determined by Public Vote. The Saja Boys were to Perform first, but Bobby has just seen them get into a fight amongst each other, So the Huntrix are up first with Rumi's Voice and Confidence back, during her Solo, the Girls see Demons kidnap Bobby, but it's a Trap by shapeshifters. The girls cannot make it back in time for their Spots. So the lights go out and Blasting over the PA system is thr opening to Takedown, Courtesy of a Stolen Wastebin of Lyrics, with no choice Rumi HAS to Sing and Dance with "Mira" and 'Zoey" until they start singing the hateful lyrics at Rumi and tear off her jacket exposing the Patterns to the World. The Spiteful Act and Unpleasant Song makes the Crowd as angry as the Time Miley Cyrus Sang Smells like Teen Spirit In Seattle! Because of this Gwi Ma's influence extends to her causing the Patterns to spread over her body, Causing her to lash out in public. She sees the real Girls, but it's too late, the damage is done, the Trust is broken . The Mission is a Failure, Mira and Zoey raise their weapons to now their former Comrade-In-Arms. She runs into Jinu who reveals what he told her was a lie, he had the chance to tell the truth, But he cannot be saved, Demons are nothing more than Hate and Spite-There is nothing good inside them, when Rumi argued, the HonMoon Cracks further, Then falls completely as A slowed down depressing version of Golden plays. With the HonMoon Gone Gwi Ma can prey on everyone's minds not just with his ads. Bobby, Rumi and Zoey are targeted through their Fears by Gwi Ma's Words, Their eyes Glazed over as they join the Herd of brainwashed fans walking to the arena to practically Feed themselves to the Demon King.
At a Ceremonial Tree Selene is praying when Rumi creeps up behind her Aunt with her Sword, instead of attacking, she begs Selene to put "This Mistake" Out of her Misery
Selene can't Bring herself to Kill Rumi, But she's still in Denial. This sends Rumi off the Deep End.
So let's Wrap This up.
All of Seoul Mindlessly Gives themselves to Gwi Ma, in a Free Concert in the stadium, so the Saja Boys cannot help themselves but sing a song to celebrate. That's when Rumi appears in the aisle walking towards the Stage after Gwi ma Ascended, he taunts her with the fact thanks her Shame The HonMoon is Destroyed. And she says yes he is right about that.
So I guess she just has to make a new one!
Singing a new song about accepting the truth, it loosens Zoey's and Mira's mind and they start singing and walking towards The stage too, Gwi Ma orders waves of his Army to protect him, but they all fail. As the Song Rocks and the Demon heads Roll, more people free themselves from Brainwashing, the Huntrix converge into a hug, and it makes a new HonMoon, one nearly Golden. All but Jinu attacks the girls. Gwi Ma Blasts flames at Rumi, but Jinu sacrifices himself, His soul returning to him, and now it'll be part of Rumi, transferring to her blade giving her the strength to cut literal Mesphistopheles in Half, reforms himself, but Before he can go second form in this Boss Battle, the entire arena with their souls glowing inside their chests join in the song, making the new HonMoon Golden. Zoey Slays Mystery, Mira Slays Abby and the golden HonMoon drives Gwi Ma and his forces back to the Underworld, the magical Blowback causing the Huntrix to Float over the crowd as they cheer.
And so the Story Ends with all three in the Bathhouse, they celebrate a job well done, the Saja Boys merchandise fills the bins. And the Girls want to have their 3 month Hiatus, But seeing some young Fans, they surprise them. However The Demon Magpie flies past them to land on White Tiger who is sitting on a billboard for the Huntrix's new album, revealing that Rumi's pattern are Now Golden and she can turn them on at will, (would be nice if they showed not told) so their are still demons coming to this world thankfully, they are no threat.
THIS FILM IS GREAT!
Bought to you by the Sony animation team behind the Spiderverse films and the Upcoming Goat. of course the Animation is going to be excellent and Beautiful, relying on expression, colour and Shadow, only to be complimented by a great Original Soundtrack, that was blasted on Radio stations. The film's message is what wins the day. It's themes of Identity, Shame, Acceptance and finding the will to move on when all seems lost, is presented in a way everyone can understand. The Idea of using All Korean or Korean American Actors helped with identity (Though Thankfully They Kept Ken Cheong solely in cameo role as Dr Han) speaking of Identity, In a Western Animation era where everyone just makes Tributes and Patishes to Manga and cultural nods to Japan, The use of Korean Demons and Iconography, Though similar, is also a great Source for World Building and Creature Design.
Is the Film's Ending Open for Sequal Baiting? Absolutely! The Demon Pigeon and Stone Tiger in our world is proof that demons are still on this world, and Remember, Gwi Ma, Baby and Romance are not dead, but sealed...and so is a still innumerable Army of demons! But as for a Sequel happening soon? You will have to wait til the Hype goes down, and like I said above, that haven't even Started yet!
CREDITS
Kpop Demon Hunters was Reviewed Compiled and Edited by Eamonn Bermingham.With Media from:
ABC (Austrailia) News
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby
Clair Obscura: Expedition 33
K-Pop Demon Hunters
World Championship Wrestling
Robot Chicken
Scott Pilgrim Vs the World
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
All Rights Reserved. All Media Used Belong to their respective Owners.
K-Pop Demon Hunters and their Soundtrack belong to Sony Entertainment and Sony Music, With It's Movie Co-Produced For Netflix!
NEXT MONTH ON BOGGER BOX OFFICE.
Since next month is March, it's custom for this Irish Based Site to cover Something Irish, and BOY DO I HAVE SOMETHING HOKEY, PADDY AND AWFUL FOR YOU! AND ONE THAT HITS CLOSE TO HOME! NEXT MONTH WE SEE BRENDAN O'CARROLL AND HIS PADDY POTATO PANTO PALS, ACT LIKE J**K-OFFS IN THE HOTELS AND BEAUTY SHOPS IN MY HOME COUNTY OF WEXFORD, IN DICK DICKMAN, PRIVATE EYE!
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