Yes, you read that title right. A movie about K-pop and demon hunters might be the best piece of cinema I’ve ever seen. Funnily enough, it was a movie I wasn’t too keen on checking out in the first place. Then, my little brother was checking it out and asked me if I wanted to watch, and I was indifferent towards it. Little did I know that I would be sitting for the next hour and 35 minutes, not once getting bored, slowly getting invested in the characters, and wishing for a sequel. Once it was revealed that Rumi had patterns marking her as a demon, I was locked in.
Coming from someone who doesn’t rewatch things too often, I rewatched this movie four times in two weeks. I watched it for the first time on a Sunday, rewatched it three days later on a flight, rewatched it again on the flight back, and rewatched it once more to force my best friend to watch it. I would rewatch it right now if someone asked me to! I feel that the perfect amounts of humor, solid plot, serious moments, great characters, and, of course, the catchy songs contribute to the film being extremely re-watchable.
Speaking of the music used in the film, some of the songs made it to the Spotify top 100. I’m not talking just in the United States, I’m talking globally. Also, by top 100, I mean No. 1. EJAE (the singer of Rumi) hits some of the most insane notes I’ve ever heard, and the three-part harmonies that make up all of Huntrix’s songs are so good that I’d totally believe the honmoon was already sealed. However, I would equally believe that we’re cooked and the Saja boys have taken over, despite only having a discography of two songs. What these songs do best is that they not only move the plot along and are integral to the story, but they are also good enough to be listened to by themselves. My speakers have faced no shortage in blasting “Takedown” (super underrated in my opinion), and obviously, the rest of the soundtrack. The only thing I would change is adding Jinu’s song about Gwi-Ma, the song Rumi sang as a kid, and Score Suite (with the words), to the soundtrack on Apple Music as well.
Another thing I love about the movie is that the characters are not one-dimensional. One of my favorite things about the Huntrix girls is their femininity shining alongside them being badasses and fighting in combat. Typically, you get one or the other, so it was super refreshing to see both together (just because you know how to fight doesn’t mean you can’t love the color pink, you know?). Mira, the “aggressive” character with a monotone voice (typically the tomboy in my opinion), is girly, is not afraid to show her emotions and express her feelings, and wears her cutesy bear pajamas without shame. When Rumi started leaning into her demon self after everything went wrong (losing the girls, Jinu betraying her, Celine refusing to accept her), I was fully expecting a villain arc. While I still think that would’ve been cool to see, it was interesting to see the movie go in a different direction rather than the most predictable, and to watch her overcome the pain to see things through the right way.
Despite the name being right on the nose, which might have deterred some people from watching it, I think it’s hilarious as it is quite literally exactly what you’re getting (what’s the opposite of clickbait?) It alludes to the humor that makes up the movie. If you read through this without watching the movie, then this is your sign to watch it. Even if you’ve already watched it, watch it again! You won’t regret it.
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