It’s rare that a pop-infused animated film becomes a springboard for deep spiritual conversations, but KPop Demon Hunters does exactly that. Topping streaming charts and dominating the Billboard Top 10, this unlikely cultural phenomenon introduces demons, virtue, and sacrificial love to a generation more familiar with dance challenges than discernment.
As a parent and educational psychologist, I see in this film a surprising opportunity: a chance to talk with our children about the reality of evil, the power of community, and the battle for goodness happening all around us.
Demons and Distraction: Recognizing Invisible Evil
Demons lie, trick, distract, divide, whisper falsehoods, and separate us from others. Ultimately, their goal is to separate us from God and His goodness present here on Earth. Even the most devout Catholic parent may have struggled to bring up these truths in everyday conversation—until KPop Demon Hunters was released.
For a secular movie, it gets a lot right about the spiritual world. More importantly, it makes conversations about evil appropriate dinner conversation—even for the youngest family members.
In a world that has flipped the script on good and evil, the film offers a refreshing restoration: Goodness is clearly good, and evil is clearly evil. Courage and hope are presented as virtues to pursue. Some characters are clearly good, others clearly evil, and some struggle but ultimately choose goodness and sacrificial love—exemplifying John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
The Huntrix: Courage, Music, and the Battle Against Evil
The primary characters are three female KPop stars—Rumi, Zoey, and Mira—who make up the band Huntrix. Their goal is to protect the world from evil by maintaining the Honmoon, an invisible web separating Earth from Hell.
This protective force has been sustained over centuries by a trio of women in each generation, spreading goodness through music. When not singing, the girls fight demons who have snuck past the Honmoon.
Unlike traditional horror movies, the portrayal of evil here isn’t gory or terrifying. It’s catchy, fun, and seductive—but clearly marked as the antagonist at all times. Evil tries to distract humanity, fracture friendships, and focus people on pain and shame.
Distraction: When Entertainment Pulls Us Away from Good
In KPop Demon Hunters, humanity is portrayed as easily swayed. Evil consumes attention with trivialities and traps people in emotion, disconnected from intellect:
“Keeping you in check, keeping you obsessed / Play me on repeat, endlessly in your head / Anytime it hurts, play another verse” (Your Idol).
As parents, we should teach children that the answer to pain is not distraction. The iPad, a game, or even a pop song cannot replace prayer, reflection, and processing emotion. Distraction should never be used to soothe the soul from pain.
Friendship, Forgiveness, and Community
Friendship is hard, especially for tweens and teens. The Huntrix shows how honesty, charity, and forgiveness are essential for trust. Each girl has imperfections, highlighted when they support Rumi through her failing voice.
Later, they confront Rumi’s deception—not shocked by her faults, but by the dishonesty itself. Zoey asks: “How can we be together if we can’t tell your lies from your truths?”
Encouraging children to love, forgive, and remain honest strengthens relationships and helps friendships flourish.
Division: How Evil Exploits Separation
Demons seek to divide. When the Huntrix faces competition, their song Takedown is fueled by fear and hate—not love. It nearly destroys their bond.
During this separation, each character faces spiritual attack, highlighting a truth: Isolation makes us vulnerable. Demons whisper lies tailored to insecurities:
“You are too much—and not enough. You will never belong. You don’t deserve a family. You can’t do it. You are all alone.”
Loneliness can have lasting effects on the mind, body, and spiritual life. However, parents can guide children to cultivate healthy relationships.
Shame: Bringing Hidden Fears into the Light
Shame is a central theme in KPop Demon Hunters. For example, Rumi’s voice heals only when she shares her secret, while keeping lies and fears hidden leads to division and loneliness.
The Huntrix mantra initially reinforces this fear: “We are hunters, voices strong. Your faults and fears must never be seen.”
The film teaches that transparency and humility foster healing. By sharing faults openly, the Huntrix unites to defeat evil. Parents can model this by providing time for children to share fears and insecurities.
Parental Guidance: Discussing Faith and Virtue
While the film doesn’t depict God directly, it leaves space for parents to talk about faith. The source of goodness in the story is invisible but present, reflecting God’s influence.
Unlike the movie, real-world demons don’t need an invisible barrier—they tempt and divide through subtle means. Parents can guide children to resist evil by discerning the voices of God, angels, and the demonic, while aligning their will to God’s.
For a PG-rated family film, KPop Demon Hunters introduces the realities of evil in an accessible way. It opens doors for conversations about truth, virtue, friendship, and spiritual battles. Rise-Up, Blessed Is She’s children’s devotion on virtue, is a great way to continue this conversation on faith and virtue in practice.
Points for Parents: Applying Lessons in Real Life
- Discuss the true source of the Huntrix’s power and courage.
- Remind children that demons can sound persuasive—but are never trustworthy.
- Teach children to bring negative thoughts into the light instead of hiding them.
- Normalize struggle with sin and imperfections; emphasize freedom through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Reinforce that they should always strive to tell the truth, and you will love them even when they make mistakes.
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Model healthy community life. Find more about the BIS community here!
For more on the Seven Deadly Sins and practical ways to battle them in everyday life, check out this blog post: Pocket Guide to Overcoming the Seven Deadly Sins.
An early version of this post first appeared on www.maryruthhackett.com.
Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett is a writer, national speaker, and podcast host covering topics in psychology and faith. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and works at the important intersection of faith and developmental science, blending them in the original harmony God intended. Dr. Mary Ruth is the author of Daughter by Design: Discovering Your Identity as God's Beloved Daughter, and co-coauthor of Spiritual Discernment for Beginners: Learning to Hear God and Defeat the Lies of the Enemy. She is a contributing author to All She Had and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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