By: Kelsey Wooten, LPC
If you haven’t seen K-Pop Demon Hunters yet, go watch it and come back. There are spoilers included
Music from K-Pop Demon Hunters has been a constant loop since I watched this movie over a week ago. Have you heard the song “Golden” on the radio? The film is fast paced, action packed, visually appealing, shows healthy friendships and includes Korean spirituality and mythology.
We follow an all girl K-Pop band “Huntrix” that includes Rumi, Zoey, and Mira. Not only are they a famous girl group they also fight demons. Their voices keep the demons at bay, and their upcoming show will seal the barrier or “honmoon” forever.
All goes well until Rumi’s voice is impacted by her secret – she is part demon. All her life she has been told she must hide it until the “honmoon” is sealed. When a demon boy band (Saja Boys) enters the scene Rumi meets Jinu, who understands her demon side. While he is manipulating her to get what he wants, we see his redemption arc at the end of the film. We see Rumi feel torn between hiding things from her best friends and getting help from her sworn enemy.
Throughout the movie we see examples of how shame and secrecy can have power over us:
Jinu and his family
Rumi and her secret
Zoey feels like she is “too much and not enough”
Mira has always been the black sheep of her family and “doesn’t deserve one”
Gwi-ma, the evil force in the movie, uses shame to control the demons and souls on earth. He uses their pain to exploit them. Exploitation is also used on the fans of the Saja boys to steal human souls (check out the lyrics to the song “Idol”).
In the final musical number of the movie (“What it Sounds Like”) Rumi accepts her flaws and because she can no longer be controlled by her shame, together the girls defeat Gwi-ma.
Nothing but the truth now
Nothing but the proof of what I am
The worst of what I came from, patterns I’m ashamed of
Things that even I don’t understand
I tried to fix it, I tried to fight it
My head was twisted, my heart divided
My lies all collided
I don’t know why I didn’t trust you to be on my side
I broke into a million pieces, and I can’t go back
But now I’m seeing all the beauty in the broken glass
The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony
My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like
Why did I cover up the colors stuck inside my head?
I should’ve let the jagged edges meet the light instead
Show me what’s underneath, I’ll find your harmony
The song we couldn’t write, this is what it sounds like
We’re shattering the silence, we’re rising, defiant
Shouting in the quiet, “You’re not alone”
We listened to the demons, we let them get between us
But none of us are out here on our own
So we were cowards, so we were liars
So we’re not heroes, we’re still survivors
The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I’m tired
But dive in the fire, and I’ll be right here by your side
It is a great watch, and I highly recommend it.
If you or someone you know is struggling with shame, Sonder counseling is now accepting new clients. Call or email today!