A Brutally Honest Kid’s Review of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’

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For some time now, ScreenCrush’s most frequently appreciated section has been a series of collaborative movie reviews penned by my daughters, with a significant lead. Whenever a major studio launches a child-friendly movie (and it doesn’t clash with their school night bedtime at the press screening), I invite them, provide popcorn and drinks, watch the film together, and subsequently record the spontaneous discussions we have during our journey home from the cinema.

I really enjoy engaging in these movie discussions with my kids, as their insights are heartwarming, and it’s a lot gentler on my digestive system compared to eating a pizza with four distinct flavors combined. We’ve only critiqued theatrical films so far, but currently, my eldest daughter is captivated by “KPop Demon Hunters” on Netflix – an animated hit about a group of Korean pop stars who utilize catchy tunes and enchanted weapons to combat demons from another realm. (It’s now the second most-watched film across all Netflix titles.)

Once without my presence, my nine-year-old daughter watched the series “KPop Demon Hunters” and found it quite enjoyable, prompting her to ask for my company to watch it together. Since she rarely shows interest in spending time with me, I gladly agreed. Following the conclusion of the film (and after my daughter had watched every trailer of “KPop Demon Hunters” on Netflix, as she enjoys trailers even for content she’s just watched), we engaged in a conversation about her favorite characters, why insects are undesirable, whether Netflix should produce a sequel or prequel to the film, and, most intriguingly, whether my daughter favors movies in a theater over those at home. To tell you the truth, her response to that question took me by surprise a bit.

You already watched this once without me?

Yeah.

You weren’t scared?

No.

Seemed kinda scary to me. Lots of demons.

Nah. I love the end, when they’re like [starts singing] “We broke into a million pieces…”

Are you going to start a girl group with your friends?

No.

Are you gonna fight demons with your friends?

I want to fight demons.

Yeah? That part appeals to you more than being a pop star?

Okay, being a pop star sounds like fun.

So you’ll do both.

I like to kill.

You … like to kill?

Mmmhmm.

What have you killed that you liked to kill?

Bugs!

You’re going to be a KPop Bug Hunter.

And demons.

KPop Demon/Bug Hunter.

No, just demons! [pause] But I also kill bugs.

Why are you so bloodthirsty about bugs?

Because I hate bugs! They’re the worst part of the world.

Weren’t you just recently telling me how daddy long-legs eat mosquitos?

But if there are no mosquitos, then what would the point be?

There are no mosquitos because of the daddy long-legs!

In a world without mosquitoes, daddy-long-legs spiders wouldn’t be as essential.

Sure thing!

“Agreed. I truly dislike mosquitoes. If given the chance, I would become a KPop Mosquito Exterminator. It would be ideal if we could eliminate mosquitoes from Earth.”

Mosquitos hold significance, as they serve as a food source for frogs. Frogs, in turn, are often consumed by larger animals that may even function as top predators. If these apex predators were to disappear, prey populations like mosquitos could increase exponentially. It’s crucial to maintain balance within our ecosystem.

Interesting. Well you’ve seen it twice now. Do you still like it?

Yeah, I love it.

Why do you love it so much?

The information seems genuine. There’s no need to disguise your true nature. Embrace who you are, regardless of any differences.

What if you’re a demon, though?

[sigh] Okay, one: Demons aren’t real. Two, it’s still okay.

Good news for the not-real demons. What if I’m a demon?

Unless you try to eat my soul, I’m good.

Have you ever listened to any K-pop?

What?

Have you ever listened to other K-pop music? Did you know that K-pop is a type of music?

No.

Does me telling you this make you want to listen to some K-pop?

Yeah, a little.

Okay.

[singing] “I hope you’re ready for the takedown…”

Who was your favorite character?

Zoe.

Why do you like her?

She’s full of humorous quips, like this one: “You’re completely my type! Oh well!” (mimicking Zoe)

Or, in a more casual way:

She cracks a lot of funny jokes, for instance: “You’re totally my type! Oh well!” (imitating Zoe)

She was funny. She’s the comic relief.

And her clothes are super cute. She would make a really good LOL doll.

She would make a good doll, you’re right.

All of them would.

Yes, I’m surprised they don’t have dolls made of them already.

They’re probably making them now. [singing] “I hope you’re ready for the takedown…”

Perfect.

They could be talking dolls! You touch their weapons to their chest and they talk.

Do the dolls sing too?

Yeah. And they should all sing a different song. The one with the purple hair, I forget her name…

Rumi?

In a more conversational style, it might read: First, Rumi sings “Golden”. Then, Zoe follows with her song. Lastly, the one sporting pink hair performs “Takedown”, as she begins to sing, “[singing] I hope you’re ready for the takedown…

If you could be any character, I take it you would want to be Zoe?

Yeah.

Which character would I be?

Um…

Are there any characters like me in this movie?

Uh, there’s the agent guy.

The band’s manager? [Bobby, voiced by Ken Jeong] He reminds you of me?

Yeah.

Why is that? Because he’s weak and ineffectual?

Uh huh! Wait, what does ineffectual mean?

He’s not very good at anything.

[laughs] Yeah, he’s you. No no … he’s pretty good at managing.

Am I good at managing things?

Yeah, you’re a writer. You write things all the time.

What does that have to do with managing?

[shrugs]

Fine. As long as the evil demon god didn’t remind you of me, I’m happy.

You’re not a big scary evil demon.

Well that’s good.

And you’re not like the main demon guy either.

You’re talking about the leader of the demon boy band now?

Yeah.

Wait, why am I not like that demon?

You haven‘t made big mistakes in your past.

Ah, thank you. I thought you were going to say I don’t have cool hair or something.

Oh yeah, you don’t have cool hair. And you can’t sing.

I can’t sing? Are you saying I can’t sing? How dare you.

You can’t sing like pop music. Try to sing “Soda Pop.”

Like a song about Coke? [bad singing] “Just for the taste of it … Diet Coke!”

Stop! Oh my god. You’re so hard to please.

I’m sorry.

No you’re not.

You’ve seen the movie twice now; are there any parts you don’t like?

Nah, I like most of the parts.

Should they make a sequel?

Of course they should.

In the next installment, since they’ve vanquished all demons and now lead a life as K-pop artists with no more enemies to pursue, an unexpected twist could be them taking on a new challenge – dealing with pesky mosquitoes.

The demons should somehow come back.

Oh. So they hunt more demons.

Absolutely, let’s ensure we permanently lock away that dimension this time. Wait, what an intriguing thought! Perhaps a prequel would be an exciting next step.

A prequel, wow. What would the prequel be about?

The guy — the boy demon’s backstory.

That’s a good idea. I like that.

And then another prequel should be about the girls’ past.

How do you know about prequels?

Dad, you told me.

Oh.

Which do you prefer, KPop Demon Hunters or the other films we’ve recently seen together? And how would you rate it against How to Train Your Dragon?

Eh, they were both pretty good.

What about Elio?

Elio, ehhhh…

This was better than Elio?

Yeah, definitely.

Why is that?

Because Elio is about a little kid that meets aliens.

What’s wrong with that?

It’s not about K-pop stars that hunt demons.

So you like the premise better of this one.

Yeah. [pause] Does premise mean like…?

The basic idea. The idea is more appealing?

Uh-huh.

It seems like you mentioned that you enjoy destructive activities. Perhaps the violence in Elio’s story wasn’t intense enough for your preferences?

Daaaad! You know I was joking.

Oh, sorry.

Too bad there isn’t a Broadway show of KPop Demon Hunters.

It might be a little tricky to do some of those special effects on stage, don’t you think?

Elphaba flies on stage in Wicked.

That’s a good point. All right, I guess they could do it then.

Is there another query I can address for you? The film we enjoyed at our home setting is unavailable in cinemas. Instead, it can only be viewed at home. Would you have preferred watching it in a movie theater, perhaps enhancing your experience?

Yes!

Do you like watching movies better in the movie theater or at home?

Movie theater.

Why’s that?

Because you get popcorn and drinks and they have reclining chairs and it’s on a ginormous screen.

Everything you said is correct. Let me ask you a question instead: Suppose you could watch this movie in a theater, but I told you that you couldn’t have popcorn or drinks. Would you still be interested in going, or would you prefer to just watch it here at home?

[thinks] You didn’t say no candy, so I’ll pick the theater.

You got me there. Okay: No popcorn, no candy, no nothing.

No air?

You can have air! But no popcorn, no snacks. What’s your pick?

I would probably still want to go.

Is there any difference between a movie that plays in a movie theater and a movie that’s at home?

Difference in, like, the movie?

Yeah.

Not really.

10 Huge Movies That Didn’t Last a Month in Theaters

Heaven’s Gate (1980)

In the world of cinema, the notorious flop “Heaven’s Gate,” directed by Michael Cimino, is a name that echoes through whispers. This ambitious Western film, set against a land dispute in 1890s Wyoming, was destined to be an epic but unfortunately became legendary for its troubled production instead. From accusations of animal cruelty to tales of Cimino’s autocratic directing style, the movie’s production was marred by controversies that overshadowed its potential greatness.

Cimino’s vision was grand and costly, ultimately driving the budget four times higher than initially planned. Poor reviews led the distributor to withdraw the film from cinemas after a week of limited release, followed by a re-edited version six months later which was met with even harsher criticism. This disaster is often considered the end of director-led filmmaking in America, as studios began taking control over final decisions.

Despite its history as a high-profile catastrophe, “Heaven’s Gate” has sparked renewed critical appraisal in recent decades. Some even argue that it deserves recognition as one of the great American films.

The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

In a departure from its usual family-oriented productions, Disney ventured into horror territory once with the film “The Watcher in the Woods.” This movie, based on Florence Engel Randall’s novel, revolves around two sisters who discover the mystery of a missing girl in an English countryside home they’ve just moved into. Notable actress Bette Davis appears in a supporting role. The film was initially released for only ten days before being pulled due to widespread criticism from both critics and audiences. A re-cut and re-release attempt a year later also failed to revive its fortunes.

Revolution (1985)

The British historical drama titled “Revolution,” which centers around the American Revolutionary War (a sign of potential trouble), nearly drove its star, Al Pacino, away from acting. This was following its disastrous premiere, after which he made a comeback with the thriller “Sea of Love” four years later. In this movie, Pacino portrays a fur trapper from New York’s colony who unintentionally gets caught up in the revolutionary movement against the British. Critics universally panned it, with Pauline Kael describing it as “so bad it leaves you in a state of shock.” The film’s release in New York was delayed, and ultimately, it turned out to be a colossal box office failure, recouping only a fraction of the $28 million it cost to produce.

It’s Pat (1994)

In the television series Saturday Night Live, Julia Sweeney played a character named Pat whose gender was kept a mystery. While this worked well for short skits, it proved problematic when they tried to turn it into a full-length feature film, It’s Pat. This movie follows Pat’s relationship with Chris, another character of indeterminate gender, and Kyle, who becomes fixated on discovering Pat’s true identity. The band Ween is also part of the cast for some reason. Unfortunately, It’s Pat was poorly received as an SNL film, had a limited release in only three cities, and failed to impress viewers.

Julia Sweeney played a character named Pat on Saturday Night Live who kept their gender secret. They tried making a whole movie about it called It’s Pat, but it didn’t do well because people didn’t like it, and it only showed in three cities before being released for home viewing. The band Ween was also in the film, but no one knows why.

From Justin to Kelly (2003)

In the first instance, Kelly Clarkson, the victor of the inaugural season of “American Idol,” and Justin Guarini, her runner-up, were bound by contract to star in the rom-com musical “From Justin to Kelly.” Unfortunately, this film is notorious for its poor quality. The story revolves around a small-town Texas waitress who travels to Fort Lauderdale for spring break, where she meets a college student (possibly a party promoter) and they hit it off. However, their budding romance faces numerous obstacles from friends and other typical beach town shenanigans. The film also includes musical numbers.

Critics and fans alike consider this movie one of the worst ever made. Clarkson herself admitted that she pleaded with the studio to be released from her contract after reading the script. Thankfully, “American Idol” never attempted a similar venture again.

Gigli (2003)

The movie “Gigli,” directed by Martin Brest and starring two highly popular actors whose off-set relationship created a media frenzy, seemed destined for success. However, as we now know, the film was critically panned. It was withdrawn from cinemas after only three weeks, setting a record for the largest second-weekend drop in box office sales in American film history. Following its release, Brest, who never directed another movie, admitted that he and the studio clashed, leading to forced reshoots and edits which he disapproved of. To this day, “Gigli” remains his only unprofitable film, with Brest himself describing it as a “horrendous motion picture.

Delgo (2008)

In a galaxy not so far away, the anticipated animated space epic Delgo, boasting an illustrious cast and high praise from Anima Mundi Brazilian film festival, was set to revolutionize the animated entertainment industry. Regrettably, the harsh realities of production and promotion took their toll, leading to a dismal debut that held the unwanted record for the poorest opening for films screened in over 2,000 cinemas (a title later claimed by The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure, another production from the same studio).

Delgo, which chronicles the conflict between two warring alien species and a forbidden romance between members of opposing factions, was met with criticism for its haphazard amalgamation of ideas borrowed from superior films. The movie was swiftly withdrawn from cinemas after merely one week on the big screen.

Jem and the Holograms (2015)

Prior to directing blockbuster hits like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Wicked,” John M. Chu took on the challenge of adapting the 1980s cartoon series “Jem and the Holograms” for the big screen in 2015. Unfortunately, this project didn’t meet with the same success as his later works. Whether it was due to the casting, the struggle to update the show’s distinct ’80s style for contemporary audiences, a lackluster storyline, or a mix of these factors, viewers found little appeal in a 2010s musical comedy about a pop star girl group embarking on a robot treasure hunt. Critics often drew parallels to the more favorably received TV cartoon adaptation “Josie and the Pussycats,” and the film was removed from cinemas after less than two weeks.

A Cure for Wellness (2016)

A slow-paced, eerie gothic horror film based on a century-old German novel about a health spa didn’t promise blockbuster returns, and that’s exactly how A Cure for Wellness performed. Directed by Gore Verbinski, who brought us the Pirates of the Caribbean series and The Ring, the film was expected to draw crowds but fell short. With its haunting eel imagery (there were so many eels!) it failed to lure audiences into cinemas as 20th Century Fox had hoped. In its first weekend, it missed its projected box office mark and dropped to just over $1 million in its second week. As a result, the movie was pulled from most of the theaters where it had been released for wide release.

The Disappointments Room (2016)

Looking back, I can’t help but feel we should have anticipated that a film titled “The Disappointments Room” would turn out to be underwhelming. Directed by D.J. Caruso and co-written by the talented Wentworth Miller from “Prison Break,” this movie stars Kate Beckinsale as an architect who, along with her family, moves into a decaying mansion rumored to house a secret, haunted room where past residents confined their troubled daughter. Unfortunately, this film was completed two years prior to its release – rarely a positive sign. Furthermore, it got entangled in Relativity Media’s scheduling issues following the distributor’s bankruptcy filing. When it finally hit theaters, its second and third weekend earnings led to it being withdrawn from all but 36 cinemas, surpassing the previous record for such a withdrawal – a record previously held by none other than “Gigli.

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2025-07-07 18:29