3 Deep Themes in K-Pop Demon Hunters
Author’s Note: NO SPOILERS!
Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters takes the K-Pop craze to a new level with Huntr/x, a K-Pop girl group battling an evil force in a classic good-versus-evil story. I went in skeptical since I’ve never really been into K-Pop or musicals, but after some convincing from my older sister to watch it, I was surprised with this movie.
The songs were catchy, the characters likeable, and the story had unexpected depth. By the end (and yes, I watched it twice), I realized it wasn’t just a random animated musical to feed the K-Pop fans. It was about patterns of generational trauma, protection through music, and accepting both light and darkness within ourselves.
Patterns of Generational Trauma
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The movie introduces the idea of “patterns,” that appear as purple, tattoo-like marks that indicate someone is a demon. Patterns have a negative connotation that mirror the real-life patterns passed down through generational trauma.
From my own experience with inheriting negative mindsets and behaviors from family members, I recognize that these patterns are like our own demons that we deal with everyday. And when we give in to them, they are bound to repeat into the next generation.
The movie’s message is clear: we must acknowledge these patterns and face our demons, so that we may fully accept ourselves and pave a better path for the next generation.
Protection Through Music
Photo by Anees Ur Rehman on Unsplash
Huntr/x uses their music to “seal” the Honmoon, a magical barrier protecting the human world from demons. This is a great metaphor for how real-world art (music, painting, writing, etc.) can protect and heal us. So many people say music has saved their lives, and the movie captures that idea perfectly.
When I listen to music, it’s a magical experience because it taps into my emotions like no other. It has the power to make me feel like I’m not alone and that I’m understood. Whether I’m singing along to lyrics that connect with me deeply or dancing joyfully to a dope beat, I know that music (or any art form) is a protector and healer.
Accepting Both Light and Darkness Within Ourselves
Photo by alireza mahmoudi on Unsplash
I teared up at the end when Huntr/x sang their final song, “What It Sounds Like.” The line, “The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony” hit me hard. It reminded me that our emotional and mental scars shape who we are. We’re meant to harmonize with the darkness within us. When we don't, we become worse off than before.
We all have scars, but accepting our scars is real power. Society conditions us to shame them, but accepting both our light and dark side is what makes us whole. After all, there’s no light without darkness.
