Kpop Demon Hunters (Criterion Review)

When it was announced that Criterion would be releasing KPop Demon Hunters as part of their collection, the internet exploded with uproar (albeit in a quite localised corner.) It’s not unheard of for animated films to receive the Criterion treatment, but it is still rare – the only other one to be released in the UK is Fantastic Mr Fox – and the announcement seemed to touch a nerve. Perhaps it’s because, despite its enormous popularity, the film is often dismissed as a crowd-pleasing piece of popcorn entertainment instead of a significant work of animation. This does a considerable disservice to the film though, which is much more sophisticated and accomplished than its mainstream success might suggest.

It’s difficult to know quite where to begin with a film that is less a piece of media than a global phenomenon. What started as an animated adventure inspired by Korean pop culture and folklore has somehow morphed into something much bigger, earning Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. The latter went to the hit ‘Golden’, which, if you haven’t heard it… well, you probably have.

The story follows Huntr/x, the hugely popular girl group made up of Rumi, Zoey and Mira, who also moonlight as demon-hunting warriors. Their mission is to create the Golden Honmoon, a barrier protecting humanity from the demonic forces of Gwi-Ma. But when a rival boyband, the Saja Boys, arrives on the scene and proves just as popular, the girls must compete for their fans’ attention while uncovering the sinister plan behind their new rivals. Rumi, meanwhile, has a rather more personal problem to contend with: a secret she’s kept hidden her entire life.

Part The Powerpuff Girls, part Buffy the Vampire Slayer, part Demon Slayer, and part… Josie and the Pussycats? It’s a gloriously daft premise, but one that the filmmakers take seriously enough to make it work. The animation is slick, the music is genuinely infectious, and there’s a surprisingly affecting story underneath all the noise.

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans establish the film’s ambitions immediately with an exhilarating opening sequence, as the girls fight demons aboard a plane before skydiving into a concert. It’s a terrific introduction to the film’s kinetic energy, and the film rarely lets up from there. From the intensity of the ‘Takedown’ sequence to the Saja Boys’ catchy ‘Soda Pop’, to the dramatic climax of ‘This Is What It Sounds Like’ every set-piece is energetic, and demonstrate just how much fun the filmmakers are having.

The animation is frequently frenetic, sometimes to the point of sensory overload, but there’s an extraordinary amount of invention in its staging and visual design. In a visual essay included among the special features, Tony Zhou (of Every Frame a Painting) explores the film’s relationship with classic Hollywood musicals and pop-idol films such as A Hard Day’s Night. It’s an insightful comparison: the best musicals use music and choreography to express things that conventional dialogue cannot, and KPop Demon Hunters understands this instinctively. Its songs aren’t simply catchy diversions from the story; they develop the characters, advance the narrative and provide much of its emotional force (ok maybe not “Soda Pop”). Fortunately, they’re also absolute bangers. It’s rare for a film’s music to go viral and maintain its popularity long after release, but ‘Golden’, ‘Takedown’ and ‘This Is What It Sounds Like’ have all taken on lives of their own.

There’s more to the film than an endless succession of catchy songs and spectacular set-pieces. Beneath its glossy pop exterior, the film also offers a surprisingly potent exploration of fame, identity and the pressures of maintaining a carefully constructed public image. It isn’t without its shortcomings though. The ending feels a little rushed, while the focus on Rumi means that Zoey and Mira, despite being vividly characterised, never receive quite enough individual development. More seriously, given that the film found a young, impressionable audience – there are a couple of concerns over body image, and specifically fetishisation of bodies, that feels a bit too mature for it’s audience.

Whether or not KPop Demon Hunters is a worthy addition to the Criterion Collection is one thing, but what isn’t up for debate is the quality of this release, which is a testament to the enduring value of physical media. Not only does the film look immaculate, but it comes in two different formats across three discs, absolutely loaded with special features, including a feature length animatic – effectively a moving storyboard for the film. For a film that has already reached such an enormous audience, it’s a welcome opportunity to give its artistry the attention it deserves. It’s rare for a film to live up to its hype, but KPop Demon Hunters manages it. It’s a hugely entertaining pop phenomenon, certainly, but it’s also a seriously accomplished piece of filmmaking. The sequel cannot come soon enough!

★★★★

Special Features

One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
Full feature-length animatic, with a new introduction by Kang and Appelhans
New making-of documentary
Two video essays by filmmakers Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou
Lyric videos
Collectible postcards featuring original illustrations by artists who worked on the film
PLUS: An essay by critic Karen Han