We were on vacation after an active day. Everyone was exhausted and looking to relax with a movie. “What should we watch?” I said. Immediately my teens said, “KPop Demon Hunters?” Good grief, I thought. They described the plot, which I thought sounded even more ridiculous than the title. “Give it a chance, Dad.” My wife and I looked at each other, sighed, and reluctantly gave in.
An hour and a half later, I got it. It wasn’t my favorite movie (I thought it was fine), but I understood why they liked it. The animation is fantastic; it’s funny; it’s about good overcoming evil; and the biggest draw is it’s filled with catchy music. But is it appropriate for kids, and is the message of the movie problematic? There are plenty of things parents need to consider before letting their kids watch it. Here are some answers to questions parents are asking.
1. What is KPop Demon Hunters?
It’s an animated movie from Sony about an extremely popular three-member female KPop band called HUNTR/X who are also secret demon hunters. Yes, you read that right. The three women are Mira, Zoey, and Rumi. It gets better. Their music unites people and forms a protective layer over the earth called the Honmoon that helps keep the demons out, but not permanently. If their music reaches a higher level and unites people enough, it will form the Golden Honmoon, which is a permanent layer of protection that will keep demons out forever. That’s their ultimate goal.
Meanwhile, the demons are trying to invade the earth to steal people’s souls to feed the demon king Gwi-Ma, who is a big wall of fire. They’re having trouble doing that because of HUNTR/X. So, a demon named Jinu comes up with a plan to form a boyband to steal HUNTR/X’s fans and weaken the Honmoon. That sets up the battle. But Rumi, HUNTR/X’s lead singer, is hiding a secret: She’s half-demon. Jinu finds out but doesn’t tell anyone, and a hidden romance develops. There are several fight scenes and a whole lotta inner conflict and angst. Throw in some fun music, and that’s KPop Demon Hunters.
2. What age group is KPop Demon Hunters recommended for?
It’s recommended for kids ages 10 and up. I’d agree with that recommendation. My kids are mid to late teens, so I was fine with them seeing it, but wouldn’t want my kids to see it if they were 9 or under. For more information, see the answers for #3 and #4.
3. Is KPop Demon Hunters appropriate for kids?
It depends on your kid’s age and maturity, but generally I would hold off for kids under 10. There are plenty of dark themes that can be scary and confusing to younger kids. More on that in question #4. There is also sexually suggestive material. One of the boyband demons shows off his abs and takes his shirt off, which drives the girls crazy. They become fixated on his abs and talk about them being hot.
4. Does KPop Demon Hunters have any scary or violent content?
Definitely. There are demons whose whole goal is to steal unsuspecting people’s souls and feed them to a demon king. Introducing that kind of concept to young children certainly has the potential to keep them up at night. The demons themselves aren’t that scary. They look cartoonish and borderline comical, but the sinister nature is dark enough to be scary. The demon versions of the boyband the Saja Boys are the creepiest of all the demons. They look like possessed undertakers/grim reapers with hats.
There’s plenty of violence as the hunters battle demons with swords and knives, but it’s not graphic. There’s no bloodshed. When they strike the demons, they just disappear into a pink smoke-like mist. The demon hunters sustain some bruising in one scene, but it seems to heal quickly because it isn’t seen again.
5. Are there positive messages in KPop Demon Hunters?
Yes, there are some positive messages.
Good Versus Evil. There’s a very clear dividing line of good versus evil and how we should all desire to do good in the world. The demons are thieves and liars; they’re also nasty, selfish, and they sow dissention. The hunters’ main goal is to protect people from them. And yet, they cover the nuance of why we can fail at doing what’s right despite our best intentions.
Being Honest and Authentic. We tend to hide the worst parts of us, even from the people who love us the most. Trying to project a perfect image instead of being our authentic selves just isolates us from each other. The main character feels like she has to hide but eventually reveals the good and bad parts of herself. Some believe she embraces the bad parts, but I think she doesn’t embrace them as much as she stops hiding them. A song actually describes it as letting the jagged edges meet the light. It’s about bringing those bad things about us—fears, hurts, lies, selfishness—to the surface. Our sins thrive in dark and secret places, but they have a hard time surviving out in the open.
How Temptations Look. We give into temptations because they’re alluring and look attractive. Evil rarely looks blatantly evil. It comes as comfort, rest, empowerment, and maybe even redemption. Evil reveals its empty self when we end up in depravity—a place we never thought we’d be. The Saja Boys project attractiveness and they sound great. Their image and music are both intoxicating to the public, even to the demon hunters. The song the Saja Boys sing in the end even says, “I’ll be your idol…you gave me your heart. Now I’m here for your soul.” It’s a great reminder that we need to be careful about what and who we give our hearts and our ears to.
Overcoming Fear. The main character, Rumi, fears what will happen when people find out who she is. But she overcomes her fear in the end and lets everyone see who she really is. It takes a lot of courage to let people see all of us—the good and the bad.
Confronting Our Shame. We’ve all done things in the past that make us ashamed. Understanding the consequences of our actions—how we hurt others, taking responsibility, being remorseful, and doing what we can to make things right—are what we need to pursue. However, holding onto our shame after that is detrimental. It only grows. The character Jinu abandoned his family, who were in desperate need, while he lived in a lavish palace—a gift he received for his soul. Every day, he was tortured and kept in bondage by his shame. Many people experience the same thing. We need conviction, not condemnation.
Unhealthy Self-Criticism. One of the demon king’s powers is speaking into the minds of people. He sows self-doubt and plays on insecurities, but it is all lies. Most people struggle with a harsh inner critic, which can make us self-conscious, isolated from others, and scared to be vulnerable and take healthy risks. The movie shows that most of these tapes playing in our heads are destructive lies and shouldn’t be listened to.
Connection and Community. The power of the Honmoon is strengthened by the unity of HUNTR/X, their music, and the fans. People are empowered by connection with each other. We were never meant to live alone, isolated, and independent. Relationships are what we were made for—to live with the support and encouragement that a community provides.
6. Are there any spiritual or supernatural themes in KPop Demon Hunters?
Absolutely. You can’t have a movie about demon hunters without spiritual and supernatural themes. The hunters have the ability to defy gravity and other supernatural powers. There are also the underworld and spiritual protective layers. Depending on your spiritual beliefs and view of faith, the spiritual themes in the movie can be unsettling. There are many contradictions to traditional faith viewpoints: Rumi being half-person/half-demon, Jinu being a demon who seems more like a tortured soul looking for freedom; and there seems to be no God-figure or ultimate good, just the hunters and their soul illuminating music. If you take the story literally, it can be problematic, especially for kids who might internalize it as truth. They may think of demons as people they can save or may even romanticize the idea of interacting with them.
However, I watched a video by Father Daniel Seo, a Korean Catholic priest who made an interesting point. He said that if you watch the movie figuratively, then the spiritual components get interesting. Rumi is half-person and half-demon, which could represent our inner struggle with wanting to do right but failing. We want to be moral and do right by others, but temptation and self-indulgence battle our best intentions. It’s an inner struggle of good versus evil, or darkness versus light—just as it is with her. But when we bring our moral failures—wrongs, sins, darkness, whatever you want to call it—into the light, we can experience healing, forgiveness, redemption, and spiritual and emotional maturity. This lines up with many traditional spiritual truths.
There is also some specific Christian imagery that emerges as well. Toward the end of the movie (spoiler alert), Rumi is being overpowered by the fire of Gwi-Ma. Jinu puts himself in the line of fire, sacrificing himself with his arms spread out—similar to crucifixion imagery. He then gives his soul/spirit to Rumi as he gives up his life. Having his spirit gives her the power to resist the demon king, just as accepting Jesus into the heart gives a person renewal and the ability to resist evil through His strength.
She then slashes her sword, cutting Gwi-Ma in half (remember: he is a wall of fire) which has a similar picture to the temple curtain being torn in half. I’m certainly not saying these images are a perfect representation of Jesus and the cross. KPop Demon Hunters is NOT The Chronicles of Narnia. However, some brief pictures and Christian influences are present.
7. How can I talk to my kids about content like this?
There are a number of interesting conversations you can have with your kids about this movie. You can discuss all of the themes discussed in the questions above: spiritual and supernatural subjects, authenticity and honesty, alluring temptations, fears, shame, self-criticism. The big thing is to process it with them. Don’t leave them alone to figure it out themselves.
Start with some questions:
- Why do you think this movie is so popular?
- What was your favorite part?
- What’s your favorite song? Why?
- What character do you relate to the most? Why?
- Is there anything to learn from the movie?
- Which parts do you think are real, and which parts are just creative storytelling? (i.e. Do you think demons are real? If so, what do you think they’re like? Do you think there’s a real battle between good and evil? If so, who do you think is fighting the battle on either side?)
- Rumi felt like she could only share certain things about herself. Have you ever felt like you had to hide parts of yourself?
- Who was the bravest character? Why that character?
- Gwi-Ma lies to people in their minds. Do you think a lot of people think negative thoughts about themselves? Have you ever had negative thoughts about yourself?
- Why do you think so many fans in the movie were drawn to the Saja Boys? Was being drawn to the Saja Boys good for them? How are we tempted to engage in activities or behaviors that are bad?
Let them talk. Ask more questions. Listen for a while before adding your thoughts.
8. What do other parents say about KPop Demon Hunters?
As you might guess, it’s a mix. There are many who express concern over the scary nature, worldview, and messaging of the movie. They have worries about their children being influenced by a false religion. Most others look at the title with the same skepticism that I did only to find it’s an enjoyable movie and the music is infectious.
Ever Wonder What’s Really Influencing Your Child? Check out this All Pro Dad podcast episode to learn more.
Sound off: What are your thoughts on KPop Demon Hunters?
