Revelations is the latest thriller movie from South Korea to hit Netflix. Clocking in at around two hours, it’s a dark tale that focuses on characters who are religious and brutal without being slow.
This Netflix movie is directed by the acclaimed filmmakers of Train to Busan and Hellbound, promising high production quality and a moving story. You can read the full Revelations movie review below and here’s a spoiler alert !
Revelations Movie Review
1. Message from God or Just Madness?
In Revelations, a priest and a police detective get involved in a case that deals with a recently released criminal who is returning to his brutal behavior. They attempt to stop him, but what challenges will they face?
The pastor regarded this case as a personal mission and believed that God was sending a message to act. He felt responsible for saving the world from evil humans who hurt others.
Whether the messages the pastor received were truly from God or simply a symptom of mental illness that made him see messages and conspiracies around him, is similar to the phenomenon of pareidolia where people see faces in objects. It also highlights the possibility that the pastor was using his faith to manipulate the situation in his favor.
The police detective witnessed the devastating impact of the criminal who had kidnapped, assaulted, and tortured his sister, resulting in his imprisonment, despite the light sentence.
2. Thriller Movie Focuses on Characters
The movie Revelations features complex characters, where each has different moral nuances, acting according to their desires and beliefs.
The compassionate priest who believes in punishing criminals and the detective who is distressed by the loss of his sister, struggle with moral challenges and objectivity in dealing with their respective situations.
The movie Revelations presents a sadistic villain, but raises the question of whether he is acting out of his own free will or as a victim. The story is full of moral dilemmas, typical of South Korean movie style, and for me, the ending is satisfying.
3. Familiar Faces in Revelations Take Center Stage
The stars of the South Korean Netflix thriller, including Ryu Jun-yeol who plays the role of Reverend Min-chan, are well known among viewers, especially fans of Korean productions on the platform.
This Netflix series presents an interesting story about police detective Yeon-hee (Shin Hyun-been). She is traumatized and haunted by her past. You may already be familiar with this actress from the movie The Closet.
Next, we have Shin Min-jae as Kwon Yang-rae, a terrifying villain who hunts down his victims in Revelations. He was previously known for his roles in Netflix movies and series such as Jung_E and Parasyte: The Grey.
4. Director succeeds in bringing a suspenseful storyline
Director Yeon Sang-ho and writer Choi Gyu-seok teamed up on the movie, which is also the team behind the Netflix series Hellbound, giving an indication of the darkness contained in Revelations.
The movie combines elements of religion, a police detective with personal problems, and a ruthless antagonist, creating a dark atmosphere. The difficult scenes that emerge have a strong emotional impact.
This Netflix movie, directed by Yeon Sang-ho and co-written with Choi Gyu-seo. Revelations is an adaptation of the comic of the same name that was released in 2022. The story deals with themes of faith and belief, similar to Hellbound.
The movie was produced by Academy Award-winning Alfonso Cuarón, who loved this story. Although not the best South Korean thriller, I highly recommend it to watch on Netflix for its universal and heartfelt story.
