HUNTR/X And 7 Other Unexpected Characters Turned Monster Hunters In Movies & Shows
Imagine your biggest issue isn’t figuring out where to go to college or what to do career-wise, but ridding the town of supernatural entities. I mean, you’re still going to have to figure out the rest, but next to that, everything else pales in comparison. If this unpaid labor sounds exhausting, it’s because it is, especially when you didn’t really sign up for it in the first place (unless like Bud, who we’ll talk about in a second, you did). While some become monster hunters through destiny, others are simply a ragtag group of kids or teenagers (or even adults) who couldn’t help but be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and stumble upon situations that are much bigger than them.
And while they can walk away from this situation, for some reason they don’t, and end up becoming unofficial guardians of the place, defending others against monster problems and crises which somehow happen daily. That’s exactly why these stories work; it’s watching our heroes fumble around and yet, survive it against all odds that’s exciting, because the monsters are the easy part, they don’t really try to hide what they want (hint: it’s destruction and disarray). The protagonists in these 8 movies and TV shows wouldn’t look like saviors at first glance, but little do you know that cleaning pools, sold out concerts, and working at noodle shops are just a cover. Head over to Netflix, Prime Video, and more to watch them in action!
Vampire hunting isn’t all that it's made out to be, especially when you also have to pretend to run a pool cleaning business in Los Angeles like our friend Bud Jablonski in Day Shift. Jamie Foxx slays (literally) as Bud, who not only has to make money to provide for his family, but also has to deal with unions and bureaucracy when it comes to vampire hunting (who knew!) Day Shift might be the most realistic vampire film ever made.
It doesn’t try to glorify or romanticize Bud as ‘special’ or ‘legendary’ but as someone who’s got to do what he’s got to do to stay financially afloat. Under the guise of a Netflix-action-comedy (with super cool fighting sequences), we get a pretty fun movie where killing vampires is just employment (uneven employment if you consider the fact that hunters who work the day shift are paid lesser, but employment nonetheless). If you loved movies in the action-horror space like Zombieland, then you’ll have a great time with Day Shift. Oh, and we also have Snoop Dogg here, so do with that information what you will.
We can’t have a list like this and not have the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer on it. Buffy started fighting monsters in Sunnydale, and built an empire on it. As if being the generation’s chosen slayer wasn’t enough, she also had to first, go to school full-time, then college and work, and amidst all of this she still managed to date the undead and save the world multiple times. I have no excuse for my procrastination.
What Buffy excels at is that balance; sure, our girl can’t go anywhere without a stake, but the show also touches upon important topics like the weight of being the chosen one and how to handle grief. While she starts off the show carefree (or as carefree as you can be as someone in her situation), the later seasons see her grappling with responsibilities, loneliness, and even dealing with literally coming back to life from death, making her a believable hero. Somehow, the series manages to squeeze in genuinely goofy moments, turning each season in its seven-season run into an unmissable ride.
We’ve got action! We’ve got demons! We’ve got award-winning songs! And best of all, we’ve got a genuinely interesting story that combines these elements together seamlessly in KPop Demon Hunters. Superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are the aptly named HUNTR/X, living a life where they kill their choreography during the day and monsters by night.
KPop Demon Hunters marries the supernatural combat with idol performances perfectly; in fact, some of the fight scenes look as though they’ve been choreographed as well as their dances. Out of the entries on this list, this movie stands out because of sheer spectacle, and fans of musicals and high-energy stories will definitely vibe with this one. With a sequel on the horizon, I can’t wait to see our favorite girl group back in action, tackling a new slew of demons, along with tunes I know are going to be catchy! This is a visual and aural treat in the most amazing way, and is worthy of being watched over and over (my Netflix account hates to see me coming).
Most heroes get out-of-the-ordinary headquarters, like hidden in the sewers of NYC in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or The Shadow Gallery in V for Vendetta, but our protagonists in The Uncanny Counter operate out of a noodle restaurant that works as a front for their demon hunting side hustle. The two season show sees the Counters fight evil spirits from the afterlife that take control of human hosts.
The ensemble cast is the star of the show, of course, both individually and together. Other than the fact that the series is literally about them, their chemistry carried all 28 episodes. The story is set up well throughout, the world building was intriguing, and the found family dynamics, each with their unique powers, was definitely a highlight for me. If you’re an action enthusiast, then you’ll find a lot to love in The Uncanny Counter, but don’t be fooled, it’s not purely slick jumping and kicking (though there’s a lot of that), there’s also a ton of heart, without ever becoming soft or gimmicky. Shows like Mystic Pop-Up Bar share similar emotional and supernatural rhythms that those who watched The Uncanny Counter will enjoy.
Think the Regency Era was only about bonnets, balls, and marriage marts? Allow Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to change your mind. Well, it still is a bit about the former, but things are more lively because of a zombie fest! I applaud book editor Jason Rekulak for looking at Jane Austen’s novel and thinking, “All we need to add now are some zombies,” and Seth Grahame-Smith for writing it. It was a clear vision and the film adaptation of the book delivered.
PPZ mashes genres like a boss. There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing Elizabeth Bennet throwing shade at Darcy and then immediately going on an undead-stabbing spree. You’re still cheering for this couple to get together even though this film dials the action up way more than the original ever did (and the fight scene when Darcy proposes to Lizzie is chef's kiss). If you’re someone who can’t live without period dramas, but also love the occasional (or always) horror, you needn’t look further than this movie. Fans who want Pride and Prejudice with a zany twist, or want films where history meets violence like in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, will appreciate this blend of zombies and etiquette.
What more can go wrong after being dumped by your girlfriend and being belittled by your colleagues? Oh yeah, a zombie apocalypse. Shaun of the Dead—the brainchild of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, who are also behind Hot Fuzz—brings a sales advisor into the role of a makeshift zombie slayer (with a handy cricket bat) in London.
Compared to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies where everyone was prepared (Lizzie and Darcy were both highly trained in martial arts, enough said), Shaun just walks out of his home one random day and into a zombie outbreak, and somehow survives. (Is this beginner's luck?) It’s obvious Shaun isn’t a trained warrior, he’s just a guy who desperately needs to get his life together (and waited until it was the worst possible time to do it), and for those who enjoy watching horror-comedies that don’t immediately position the main character into hero status, Shaun of the Dead is prime viewing. Shaun is just improvising the entire thing and it works for him, but in the event this happens in real life, let’s not follow his lead, alright?
If you’ve never heard of Nancy Drew, then we’ve got to have a chat. The tales of the adventures of the girl detective are known far and wide, and in Nancy Drew came a new reimagining of the character. In this iteration, 18-year-old Nancy has put her detective days behind her and now works at the local diner when a mystery shows up at its doorstep. As it unravels, we find out there’s a supernatural addition to it that she cannot ignore (and frankly, doesn’t want to).
Dealing with ghosts, sea spirits, and demons, Nancy and her friends work as a team of amateur detectives dubbed the ‘Drew Crew’ to save their town. If you enjoy investigative-first storytelling or sleuths who have an unbridled curiosity (which could be a good or bad thing depending on the circumstance), then Nancy Drew will lure you in. Though some mysteries may seem slightly far-fetched, it’s nonetheless addictive, and watching teens first solve a seemingly straightforward mystery, and then battle forces that are beyond them and win is thrilling. Destiny hasn’t ‘chosen’ Nancy, she willingly chose herself for this gig, and that’s what sets Nancy Drew apart.
Creating a ‘monster squad’ sounds highly ambitious, but Sean, Patrick, Horace, Rudy, and Eugene manage to pull it off anyways in the aptly titled The Monster Squad, even though they had some worthy opponents in Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, and others. So basically, it’s kids versus monsters in a messy and reckless way, refusing to be intimidated even when the stakes involve creatures with nefarious plans (also why didn’t the adults at least question this?)
If Nancy Drew’s tone is what hooked you, then it’s pretty obvious that The Monster Squad is going to grow up and be the same determined, nosy group of teens who just can’t stop digging when something abnormal shows up, making them fascinating companion pieces on this list. Viewers who grew up watching The Famous Five or other kid-based adventure stories will love The Monster Squad, although you might wonder if any of this is appropriate for kids under the age of 18. Are they underprepared but still think they can save the world after watching a couple of creature features? Yes, which is probably why it’s still so fun and entertaining (and sad, when Frankenstein’s Monster leaves) decades after its release.
