K-Pop Demon Hunters: A Surprisingly Layered Story

Maria Morera Johnson was surprised to find that this animated film, now available on Netflix, is about much more than fun music.

I usually enjoy animated films, and generally appreciate the themes explored in them, but the idea of a K-Pop theme for K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix) didn’t appeal to me. In fact, I had to power through the opening because I brought my unsubstantiated bias to the film. But, it was highly recommended by someone I love, so I stayed the course.

No regrets.

A Story of Spiritual Battle

The film follows a K-Pop girl group that carries a secret mission: battling demons! Is it a new take on Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Sort of. I admit I liked the music, so that’s a first for me, but the film itself is a surprisingly layered story about identity and purpose, and the unseen spiritual battles taking place all around us.

For Christians, spiritual warfare is very real. Saint Paul reminds us, in Ephesians 6:12, that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil. This film explores the reality of spiritual warfare.

One of the things that struck me early in the film is the identity crisis faced by the protagonist, Rumi. She hides a part of her identity that she is ashamed of, and the effort it takes to sustain this façade affects her life in many ways. From a practical perspective, it affects the quality of her life because she sacrifices many experiences in order to maintain her secret. She isn’t not living her true self, and we see how that hurts her and her relationships.

Rumi’s demon-side manifests physically with markings on her body. It makes me think of how sin marks us. As the film progresses, the markings become stronger, a connection to our concupiscence, our inclination to sin. Saint Paul calls this the rebellion of the “flesh” against the “spirit” (Galatians 5:17). Honestly, her internal struggle was the most compelling part of the film.

Rumi’s shame was real, and I felt empathy for her, as who among us hasn’t felt shame at some point in our lives? The film misses the opportunity to explore mercy and our belovedness in the eyes of God, but it moves adjacent to this theme, and thus can spark that conversation.

An Exploration of Mission and Purpose

The rest of the story explores mission and purpose: in this case, the hidden mission of the girl-band to fight the demons in the world. They each wrestle with fear, failure, and self-doubt, but choose to pursue a mission that not only demands courage but self-sacrifice. There is also a storyline about redemption.

This film can be an opportunity for teens to engage in conversations with adults about identity, purpose, and the importance of spiritual vigilance. I would give one caveat about a scene where a character gives up his soul. Its sacrificial appeal can be misconstrued and merits a conversation about the unique connection of the soul to the individual. Church teaching is clear that we cannot transfer our salvation, so I found this scene to be highly problematic becuase it requires some guidance to draw out the nuance in the scene. Nevertheless, the dominant theme of good versus evil reminds us that the battle is ongoing.

One doesn’t have to try too hard to find consistent Christian themes in this fast-paced and engaging film. And the soundtrack? I loved it.

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Copyright 2025 Maria Morera Johnson
Images: Netflix