Revelations (Netflix) Review: Faith Turned Foe

Revelations lacks theme development and a satisfying payoff but makes up for it with its visual flair and a star performance from Ryu Jun-yeol.

At the beginning of Revelations, viewers witness a girl being followed to her church by a menacing man. This hostile individual, whom we later learn is called Yang-rae (Shin Min-jae), even sits through a religious service while keeping a close eye on the young lady. He’s biding his time and waiting for a chance to commit an evil act once she leaves the holy place. Only, right before he attempts to follow her outside, he’s stopped in his tracks by the church’s pastor, Min-chan (Ryu Jun-yeol, of Alienoid), who is curious about this mysterious fellow and what brought him to the place of worship. Following a brief interaction between the two, Min-chan becomes suspicious of the man sitting before him.

After a series of events, Yang-rae and the pastor’s lives become intertwined, while both grapple with their own inner turmoil and demons. Among the pair is also a determined police detective named Yeon-hui (Shin Hyeon-bin), who has a personal link to Yang-rae. The connection she has to this seemingly sinister man tests her moral compass, as she battles guilt and trauma after her sister’s passing, which occurred years prior to the present day.

As someone who considers Train to Busan one of the best zombie movies of all time and South Korean thrillers to be among the best of the genre, when the first Revelations trailer was released, I had high hopes that this could be one of my favorite films of 2025. Sadly, when the movie’s credits rolled, I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed with the direction the narrative took after a promising first act setup.

The film’s biggest drawback is its inability to fully delve into all its ideas in a way that feels rewarding and fulfilling. Though Revelations has some alluring concepts at play, each of the characters’ stories ends abruptly, with no real significant payoff or a satisfying outcome. This is a great shame, as there are many compelling themes and ideas in the film’s script. However, with so many competing elements, the narrative struggles to balance them all effectively. There is one subplot too many, and as the third act arrives, all the intercepting storylines are hastily tied together with a messy bow.

That said, regardless of its underwhelming resolution, what saves Revelations from losing all its momentum is Ryu Jun-yeol. He is the film’s driving force and gives a fantastic performance as Min-chan. Over the course of the movie’s runtime, we see the character shift from being a gracious pastor to a sinister, violent antagonist who is tortured by his distorted perception of reality and what he believes to be divine revelation. Witnessing his moral unraveling over the course of two hours is what will keep audience members in a constant state of suspense and hooked from beginning to end, even if his character transformation falls short of greatness.

Though Revelations fails to live up to the quality of the director’s previous masterful feature, Train to Busan, it’s still worth the watch. The film’s gritty tone intertwines with the story’s character-driven narrative, demonstrating the complexities of humankind. As always, Yeon Sang-ho exhibits such elements effortlessly, which is the filmmaker’s greatest strength. His visual style and ability to blend multiple genres seamlessly without distracting from the narrative are also a testament to his flawless direction. He allows the audience to live with each of the characters in vulnerable moments and their most turbulent mental states.

Revelations is now available to watch on Netflix.