This summer, the new film “K-pop Demon Hunters” captured the world’s attention for many reasons, especially the electrifying soundtrack and deep lyrics. Songs from the movie topped the charts, and its popularity skyrocketed. Junior Lee Dumler-Montplaisir is one of many people who understands the hype around the film.
“The animation style is amazing. It helps bring the whole movie to life,” they said. “If you break down the frames, you can see how all the different characters are animated. The Saja Boys are animated on frames of one, while the Huntrix are animated on frames of two or four. It makes the Saja Boys look more unnatural.”
In addition to the unique animation style, “K-pop Demon Hunters” contains various messages, including those about the K-pop genre itself.
“K-pop is a low-key toxic industry, so you have ideals that people think you should fulfill,” Dumler-Montplaisir said. “The movie is about trying to not only break down those ideals, but also it gets into the toxicity of the K pop industry.”
At first glance, the film may seem to contain only superficial themes; however, this is not the case. In fact, many scenes of the movie are tailored towards developing this deeper message.
“During the scene where Rumi is being attacked by the demon Mira and Zoe, she starts dancing even though she doesn’t want to. That’s because of the way the K-pop industry treats K-pop singers,” Dumler-Montplaisir said. “They are conditioned to, once they hear the music, [they] start dancing. It’s muscle memory. [The movie] delves into darker portions, while also painting this amazing story, delving into Korean mythology.”
While these elements certainly make the movie stand out, it wouldn’t be complete without a captivating soundtrack. Dumler-Montplaisir already enjoys listening to K-pop groups such as XLOV and TWICE, which made the music from K-pop Demon Hunters all the more amazing to hear. Her favorite song from the movie is “Free,” sung by Rumi and Jinu.
“It’s not just a love song; it’s about breaking free from your restraints,” they said. “It’s such a good song for that moment, but also a good song in general because you can pull it and make it about other things.”
According to Dumler-Montplaisir, some of the most impactful lyrics come from the song “What it Sounds Like.”
“It’s not just about Rumi’s marks; it’s about anyone’s marks and things that they’re ashamed of and want to cover up. Those are some of the best lyrics,” they said. “Throughout the movie, you see Rumi’s battle with her marks. I think it’s about body positivity, [and] learning to accept yourself for who you are, even if the world is hating.”
