The Nerdery Movie Night #265: KPop Demon Hunters and Fenugreek Curry Popcorn

In a rare moment of true consensus, we scored both the movie and the popcorn exactly the same. #bestfriends

Fenugreek Curry Popcorn

Dave: Was this Jem for Gen Alphas? There was the creepy animation and the good pop group (Jem and the Holograms/Huntrix) vs. the evil pop group (Saja Boys/The Misfits). The super-wholesome “let’s all help each other out and banish demons” also seems appropriate for both an earnest 2025 animated film and a clunky 1980s  cartoon. The music was contagious and, perhaps because of recent political events, the message hit home, but this could have easily been a short instead of a feature-length film. The heart was there, but the depth was definitely lacking. (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

I made a passable curry! We bought dried fenugreek on our last trip to Penzey's because it smelled so delicious and it’s sat in our cabinets ever since. I happened upon it when I was trolling our cabinets for something quick to make tonight and was inspired by a curry spice rub for meat I found on Reddit. You guys, this was so delicious I wanted to lick the bowl, but I was afraid I’d snort spices up my nose if I did so I managed to refrain. But really - if you’re into Indian/Sri Lankan flavors, go out and get some fenugreek immediately. It’s a game-changer (️️️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️).

Joe: A month or so ago, Dave and I were in the car with our 12 year old nephew, who wanted to listen to K-Pop (specifically Blackpink) while we were heading to our destination. It was... not... our jam. When this film was released, I actually thought it was some sort of internet joke. It wasn't until our friend Chris gushed about the film that I realized it was real and that that maybe we should watch it. When my sister breathlessly texted me a week ago about how great the songs were, the deal was sealed. Instead of going too much into detail, I'll split the difference: my sister is correct. The songs are bangers. The movie, though? It's fine. The animation is largely solid and there are moments that are truly funny - especially the popcorn eyes. But over all, I can't say that it's quite the masterpiece I was expecting. (⭐️⭐️⭐️)

When Dave told me what the principal ingredient for this popcorn was, I became quite excited. Fenugreek has a distinctive flavor, and I couldn't imagine how it would taste on buttery popcorn. However, because it was part of a curry, I could only taste it in bursts... which is probably for the better. The fenugreek is balanced nicely, both pungent and smooth. Sophisticated, flavorful, tasty. An absolute win. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Popcorn: Dr. David Lewis 💅🏻

KPop Demon Hunters on IMDb