User reviews

Nice Korean thriller with a submessage: Take responsibility for your own actions and do not hide behind a God or devil.

The movie is not predictable and has some typical Korean-style twists. Starting of as a kidnap story, the movie quickly moves towards a story about guild and religion.

The protagonist is Min-Chan, a pastor who - at first hand - seems to not be capable of killing another human being. After a fatal 'accident' with the main antagonist, a sadistic killer obsessed by 'the one eyed monster', things quickly take a turn and Min-chan comes to believe God has given him a revelation. The third character storyline revolves around a traumatized police officer named Yeon Hui, who has to (literally) face her trauma's in order to get her own revelations, in another way as Min-Chan.

Being a fan of Korean movies, I was thrilled to see what this movie is going to bring. I must say it isn't a masterpiece south korean thrillers out there but it's definitely worth watching.

The acting, the dialogue and the direction was all in sync with the story. What fascinated me to watch this movie is the way how one can be deceived from what they believe.

I felt the last 15 minutes could have been more polished in terms of writing to justify the whole process and to keep the audience engaged as I felt that the end didn't leave an impact on me but nevertheless it has it's good moments.

A decent watch!

7/10 for this one.

South Korean director Yeon Sang-ho delivers a gripping and suspenseful experience in the first two-thirds of his latest film. Set against an increasingly tense backdrop, the story builds steadily toward a thrilling showdown in an unfinished house-an eerie, concrete shell that serves as the perfect stage for a psychological and spiritual confrontation.

At the heart of this build-up is the character of the pastor-charismatic, unsettling, and deeply complex. His god-like delusions and moral ambiguity offer rich thematic material, and it's here that the film seems poised to dive into bold, unflinching territory.

And then, inexplicably, it all falls apart.

Instead of deepening the conflict, the film abandons its most compelling character. The pastor vanishes from the narrative, and with him, the entire dramatic weight and thematic sharpness of the film. The focus shifts to a police officer's investigation-a far more conventional and diluted thread that lacks the urgency and existential tension of what came before.

This final third feels like a betrayal-not just to the audience, but to the film's own premise. What was once sharp and provocative becomes bland and toothless. The direction loses its edge, opting for a safer, less confrontational conclusion that undermines everything the first part had set up.

Ultimately, what begins as a promising, intense thriller fizzles out into a hollow resolution. It's a shame to see a film with such daring potential end in such a timid and characterless way. A missed opportunity.

Yeon Sang-ho's new Netflix film is a psychological crime thriller about a pastor whose life unravels after an accident and a haunted detective surveilling a serial kidnapper.

The main plotline juggles these two characters and intertwines their stories for what is essentially a throwback to an earlier era of Korean crime dramas. You know the kind of film: a rainy, dark and atmospheric experience that wants you to feel the misery at every turn. Yeon anchors the police procedural and ticking-clock thriller elements to a character study which grapples with themes like guilt, faith and mental illness. So it's definitely more ambitious than an average genre film. The result should be even better than it turned out, but it also could have been a lot worse, were it not directed by a skilled hand like Yeon's.

Of the two storylines that we follow, the pastor's is definitely more compelling. He's a timid character who does diligent work inviting new members into his small church community, but after a sinister man appears on his doorstep he begins to slide into a different person altogether. The detective's story is a clichéd one, not exactly badly written but bland and overly familiar. She sees her sister's ghostly apparition on a regular basis, and feels guilt after her suicide. So she takes special interest in the serial kidnapper who held her hostage, and is on the loose again after being released from prison. As I previously said, these people will all eventually meet in one way or another, and it is then when the film is most interesting.

There are flaws though. Yeon introduces plenty of melodrama and a gloomy heavy-handedness into the film early on, and it gets a bit tiring to follow all these people being constantly miserable. The narrative also suffers for it, taking its time to get going while we wallow in all the depression the film throws at us. It would have been a better decision to let things play out with more restraint, and there were times when I wondered what Na Hong-jin or Bong Joon-ho would've done with this story. But, as it is, Yeon also did a fairly good job, all things considered.

Technically this is a very well made film with plenty of atmosphere, quality production design and even a particular one-shot confrontation that marks the film's dramatic high point. As a whole, Revelations is a worthy addition to the genre which probably won't sweep you off your feet, but is a decent, sometimes thought provoking time killer.

I really wanted more from this Yeon Sang-ho crime-thriller than what was offered. It has SUCH INTERESTING characters, a series of crimes that connect them, and the "revelations" that happen along the way. This either needed to be a full-blown character study or a seat-edge thriller. But Yeon Sang-ho decides to tread that fine line between both, leading to an okayish conclusion. The lead performances are solid, especially Ryu Jun-yeol who plays a pastor suffering from Apophenia.

The religious angle was always going to be the differentiator here, but I doubt it'll sit well with most viewers seeking a straightforward thriller sans theological references. The production quality is first-rate, and there's a spectacularly tense one-take sequence set in a derelict building. In fact, the film needed more such innovations in the thrills department to keep the plot progression from staggering. The current version is decent (for whatever Netflix offers), but Revelations won't be discussed as much as Train to Busan or some of Yeon-Sang-ho's earlier animated flicks.

*"Revelations"* is a film with strong performances but a deeply tragic narrative that leaves a bittersweet aftertaste. I fell bad for main male lead first his tra*h wife cheat and like cu*k he forgive her. I can't understand why all movie like that when husband or wife cheat on their partner they forgive them...never give cheater second chance. Read news...anyways, While the acting from both the male and female leads is compelling, give amazing performance overall its good.

**The Good:**

• The **male lead delivers a powerful performance**, portraying his character's emotional turmoil with raw intensity. His journey is heartbreaking, and you can't help but feel for him as his life crumbles.

• The **female lead is equally impressive**, bringing depth and nuance to her role. Her acting amazing
• The film's atmosphere is gripping, with strong cinematography and a moody soundtrack that enhances the tension.

**The Bad:**

• The **unrelenting tragedy** of the male lead's story feels excessive at times. While drama is expected, the constant downward spiral becomes emotionally draining.

• Some plot points feel **predictable**, and the pacing drags in certain sections, making the suffering feel drawn out rather than impactful.

• The ending, while fitting the tone, doesn't offer much catharsis, leaving the audience with a sense of unresolved sorrow.

*Revelations* is a well-acted but emotionally exhausting film. If you appreciate strong performances and don't mind a heavy, tragic storyline, it's worth a watch. However, the relentless misery holds it back from being truly great.

**Rating: 6.5/10** - Good performances, but the overwhelming tragedy makes it hard to fully enjoy.

To be honest, I expected more. The plot was quite predictable - not in the sense that you could guess the ending, but rather that you could anticipate how the next scenes would unfold. The character twists weren't particularly fresh or surprising. Actually, there were many moments where the characters' actions felt a bit confusing and forced. Every issue in the movie, from the initial events to the ending, happened and was resolved too quickly.

The acting was decent. Shin Hyun Bin has shown noticeable improvement in her acting compared to her previous works. Ryu Jun-yeol, as always, delivered a solid performance.

Overall, the movie didn't leave much of an impression on me because its main message wasn't deep. If you have time and are curious, you can give it a try. But I know there are many other Korean films out there that are much better and more worth watching.

South Korean cinema is one of my favourites so I was looking forward to watch this new movie from director Yeon Sang-ho. I really enjoyed watching his previous movies Train To Busan and Jung_E, both movies that I scored with an eight. Revelations is not as good as the other two but it is still a more than decent movie. Another genre, a crime/thriller this time, with good actors and a story that was pleasant to follow. Sure towards the end the crime solving got a bit too easy but still a decent movie in this genre. As for the cinematography that was very good again, almost like usual I would say when thinking about Yeon Sang-ho.

Just finished Revelations and wow... this one really crawls under your skin. At first it feels like your typical dark Korean thriller-grim murders, religious undertones, a haunted cop-but it ends up being way more thoughtful and layered than I expected.

The story centers around a detective drawn into a string of murders with eerie biblical connections, but it's not just about solving a case. It's about belief, guilt, and the way truth can destroy you as much as it can save you. The atmosphere is super heavy throughout-quiet, tense, almost suffocating. No flashy visuals or crazy twists, just a slow, creeping dread that builds and builds.

The performances are top-tier, especially the lead. He sells every bit of pain and obsession without ever overdoing it. There's one breakdown scene in particular that's so raw, I felt like I shouldn't even be watching it.

It's a slow burn for sure, and some might find the pacing a bit too deliberate, but for me, that made the final act hit even harder. And I love that it doesn't try to wrap everything up perfectly. It leaves you with questions, and that lingering discomfort feels totally intentional.

If you're into moody, cerebral thrillers that mess with your head and make you think long after the credits roll, Revelations is a must-watch.

Revelations, a 2025 South Korean film on Netflix. I have seen quite a few South Korean films on OTT and have enjoyed watching them. But Revelations disappointed me. What story, what plot, what direction etc are totally below average. Plus there is a flashback in flashback. How ridiculous !!! A person who is a psycho comes back to life despite of getting hit and thrown on the rocks from a hill !!!!!! Absurd. I have not understood who was he ? He was a victim of his parents by illtreating him since childhood. He is supposed to be a killer too. What sort of Pastor's character is shown, I failed to understand. His wife's story of having affair with another person has what connection in this film ? There are so many such confusion. Avoid watching this film.

A pastor is in a dilemma as he faces marital issues due to infidelity. He comes across a convict, suspected to be a serial kidnapper while one of his victim's sister who is also a detective, is yet to come to terms with him being not punished, citing psychological grounds. The pastor seeks divine intervention to mete out his own form of justice as a girl goes missing. The culprit is the obvious one but things take a dark turn when the good pastor decides to play judge, jury and executioner while the lady detective will have to learn to set aside her emotional baggage and look at the case impartially. Will she able to stop the pastor on time and what really happened to the missing girl, forms rest of the story.

This is no horror film so the revelations that eventually happen isn't that kind. But for a psychological thriller, the narrative remained uneven and bland throughout to keep the interest alive about these characters. It downplaying the tense moments involving the missing girl and with the pastor's take on divine intervention, the writing was left with no scope to build up the drama. The only time the film picked up was when the pastor confronts his wife but the scene ends abruptly. By the time the lady detective agrees to learn about the perpetrator, it was too late. Her own fight with the demon she carried in the form of her own guilt was not well executed either. Overall, Revelations was an uneven thriller which doesn't deliver.

Korean television has achieved global recognition thanks to Netflix, with productions that stand out for their narrative quality, cinematography, and acting. However, this film is one of those exceptions, whose main problem lies in its story, full of conveniences that try to force a message without allowing the story to flow naturally. The transformation of the pastor's character, who initially seems worthy of compassion, occurs abruptly and unconvincingly. This forced evolution creates absurd situations that shift the focus to the police, who end up taking center stage and resuming the case of the disappearance, which was supposedly the central axis of the story.

The predictable and convenient ending conveys the film's message in a direct and superficial way.

Unfortunately, I felt it was a waste of time.

This is the latest Netflix Korean offering, which stands up against several other similar movies.

So the basis of the plot revolves around a kidnapper and a Pastor, but the story takes may twists and turns and lines between good and bad are blurred, which if course is far more to how life actually is than most of Hollywoods superhero style movies.

It keeps you engaged throughout the whole movie, is she alive, is she not being a running theme throughout. Look, there are some flaws here, the storyline isn't anything groundbreaking + there's no big twist at the end, but it's thrilling enough to keep you entertained till the credits roll. Another downside is how the characters make some terrible choices; a detective goes to a suspected crime scene alone + the perpetrator not covering his tracks at all being two of the most notable. However these are mistakes many movies make and didn't ruin the suspense for me.

I also liked the way religion was explored heavily but never shown in a preachy way. Whether there was any divine interventions going on is left to the viewers imagination, which means neither Theists or Atheists should be offended, Lastly despite what another reviewer has said, the acting is superb, they put western actors to shame, i cried at the end. I think the other reviewer may just be racist.

All in all, i highly recommend it if you are a fan of the genre, if not, it may be a little slow for you.

Ryu plays a multi-faceted character with convincing emotions. Sung is a dorky, cowardly, greedy, power hungry, but incompetent pastor. Ryu portrays all five personalities at the same time and throughout. 'Revelations' reveals current social problems existing in Korea. It is very pungent, accurate, and realistic. Journalists give mike to perpetrators more than they listen to victims' stories. Korean churches become more like a cult, a shaman, or a political party. They truly believe they are chosen ones, but in reality, they are just doing WHATEVER they want under the name of God. 'Revelations' speaks what had to be said for a long time boldly and loudly.

Revelations is a South Korean psychological thriller that delivers a haunting exploration of morality, faith, and human nature. This Netflix gem centers on a detective, a pastor, and a kidnapper, weaving a suspenseful tale where the lines between good and evil blur, reflecting the messy complexities of real life.

The story grabs you from the start, keeping you guessing about the fate of a missing person with a tense, slow-burn pace. While the plot avoids flashy twists, its strength lies in its character-driven depth. The pastor, a flawed mix of ambition and insecurity, is portrayed with raw intensity, while the detective's dogged pursuit reveals her own inner conflicts. Their journeys, filled with morally ambiguous choices, make you question what drives someone to darkness.

Visually, the film is stunning, with shadowy cinematography and tight close-ups that amplify the eerie atmosphere. Yeon Sang-ho masterfully builds tension through dialogue and silence, though the climax feels slightly rushed, leaving some character motivations underexplored. Still, the emotional weight of the final scenes hits hard, lingering long after the credits.

The film's nuanced take on religion-neither preachy nor dismissive-adds a layer of intrigue, inviting reflection without forcing answers. Minor flaws, like occasional illogical decisions (a detective going solo to a crime scene), don't derail the suspense or the stellar performances that carry the story.

Revelations blends of psychological depth, social commentary, and gripping drama makes it a standout. Fans of slow-burn thrillers like Burning will find plenty to love. It's a film that doesn't just entertain-it challenges you to think.

A must-watch for thriller enthusiasts.