Revenant

The evil inside us!

I have to start this off by saying - what an excellent horror, crime, thriller. I am USUALLY a sucker for romcoms but this had probably 0.5% of romance and I LOVED it. Every minute of it. We binged it till 5am because there is no way you can stop. The suspense, the twists, the acting (oh Kim Tae Ri), the everything.

We stepped into this expecting it to be a pure crime/horror drama but walked away with so much more. Without spoiling - the evil spirits would never have been able to do bad, to possess, without the evil and weakness inside of us.

There were definitely some small plot lines that were not tied up entirely nor explained in full but it does not affect how amazing the show is.

I love how there was no redemption arc for the biggest evil - hint, not a spirit. That it was just pure evilness with no underlying story or explanation.

12 episodes of suspense, well wrapped up. Watch it if you enjoy thriller, suspense!

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The ending we needed to watch.

The review comes from a horror-holic. I have always been enticed by shows and dramas that promise a thriller-horror premise. So be sure I was here to watch the whole series with all my might! I experienced a full range of emotions watching this series, it excited, amused, and sometimes terrified me. The show itself is not scary but some jump scares will get you!

The acting was the strongest part that carried the series and made me watch it till the end. I rarely see a series in which every actor performs so beautifully, regardless of the small role. The characters are also well-written. There is depth and thought put into most characters although we do not explore the intricacies of each character in this 12-episode drama. Just like many others, Kim Tae Ri stole my heart too. She plays the FL who is struggling to survive as she tries to live for the sake of her loved ones and later tries to protect them from her-possessed-self. The family dynamic is complicated and yet I could feel the love between her mother, a justifiably overbearing fearful person, and the FL.

Now, the storyline is where the series leaves a bit to desire. Some parts of the story were not explained well. I am unsure if I could not follow them as I am not a native speaker or if they were just poorly explained. First, the fact that the evil spirit had a brother who was rushed (ep11 49:50) while it was important because it determined that she was the second child. There were also a few more plotholes. But those aside, the storyline was fun and kept me on edge the whole time. Personally, there were not many instances where I was bored or found myself skipping scenes although the pacing is a bit slow. At times it felt like some plots were introduced sparsely but did not develop truly. But if I were to put it simply, I enjoyed the storyline and it was engaging. The continuous mystery of who the evil spirit was and what her past was well written in the script. Many times, I found myself going through comments after watching episodes just to discuss my theories and listen to others.

I will mention this here because I see many people were curious about any romantic sub-storyline. The ML is a professor and is not the FL's love interest. He is helping our female lead to catch the evil spirit who has killed his parents and run havoc on his life in the past. Throughout the series, the 2 ML, who is a detective has shown to have interest in FL. The FL, being busy making a living, never realized his feelings. Although they did not officially end up together, in a beautiful scene the FL looks at the ML like he did in the past.

Unlike what has been a trend in past dramas, this drama does not have a feel-good ending! Rather, the ending hit near home. Even though the FL does the right thing, her life is never going to be the same. She chooses to get rid of the evil spirit and in turn, loses her eyesight. But her journey leads her to want to survive and live for herself.

The direction and production are well done. The small moments sometimes say a lot and I needed to watch the show carefully to see these elegant scenes. All in all, I would recommend watching this series. The emotions are strong and the character has a good dynamic. My takeaway from the series was, to be careful opening and knocking on doors, we never know what's on the other side :p

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No one is going to save you except yourself

The story is okay, the plot is convoluted at some places but the characters are 10/10. I love Sanyoung and Professor Yeom.

The police officer felt like a side character with too much screen time till episode 9, after that I could see his purpose. The trio was formed and the drama was a lot more fun.

Things I liked
- The whole vibe.
- The use of folklore and old stories.
- When they had one subplot story that lasts one or two episodes. (The village, the hungry ghost)
- The scene where Professor Yeom takes Sanyoungs hand and gets saved.
- The scene where the evil ghost goes after the detective and then after the professor.
- The scene where evil ghost hugs Sanyoung and begs to stay.
- The scene where Sanyoung saves herself at the end.
- The mystery about the evil ghost that's unveiling slowly till the end.
- The ending.

Things I thought could be better
- Sanyoungs mother was beyond annoying.
- How did the evil ghost get to Sanyoungs father. They never show that. We can assume it's because he touched the head piece (The same way Sanyoung got the evil ghost).
- Them looking for five things that could seal the evil ghost dragged.
- The older detective dying in the second part of the drama, I feel like it should have happened earlier or plot twist, what if the younger detective died? That would turn everything upside down.
- The younger detective just being there for half of the drama not believing in ghosts.
- Why do Professor Yeom and Sanyoung see ghosts? Is it because they were possessed?
- What happened to the ghost of Sanyoungs father that she saw in the village?
- I didn't like the whole plot where the younger detective has a crush on Sanyoung.

I feel like there's something missing in the story but I don't know what.

I have to say this, I love Professor Yeom and I could watch a whole drama of him going around and teaching about folklore and ghosts.

Overall, I liked it, I had fun watching it, it has a nice message, mystery, good characters and interesting vibes. I would recommend it.

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Glued to my seat from beginning to end

It was intriguing from beginning to end. Kim Tae Ri was phenomenal (she really deserves any and all the awards for this role!) as well as Oh Jung Se.
I felt like the story was very interesting and well-executed. I wouldn't say this was horror, more like thriller, but there were moments that were terrifying (I still made sure to watch this during the day!)
Overall, I loved it through and through. There was nothing that made me feel disappointed or underwhelmed. As I said, it was intriguing from beginning to end. This is definitely a bingeable drama. Highly recommend.

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Both Shadow and light are present in you

It's not spectacular, it's not gonna make your heart stop, okay sometimes yes, but it made me curious. It's this plot, those characters...
First episodes were half half. The atmosphere was heavy, that house, I hate that house and decoration, it added suffocation and on top of that, without being a ghost even her dad freaked me out. But Gu San Yeong and that ghost, what with the hair accessory, and why and why, and there I was calmly addicted to the story.

Gu San Yeong Was not the hero type. But I loved her.
She represents everyone who wish to stand for the right things but could weaken a little whan facing dilemmas, so was HongSae.
After HongSae really had more time screen and understood what really was going on, things got really interesting on a superior level. His encounters with the ghost were always strangely a pleasure to watch, he was the first one miss ghost talked to "normally". And My romance watcher self showed up liking how he cared for San Yeong, subtle romance is so realistic and touching.
Professor Yeom was interesting to guide the plot but maybe lacked a little thing for me to be fully invested in the character, his relationship with Ujin should have maybe lasted more cause it gave him more background and dimension.
Are ghost more frightening than humans,sadly no. A ghost is the symbol of human hidden bad desires. I liked how the writer took care of this side till the end.

A special mention to Kim Tae Ri's incredible interpretation of the ghost, she mastered it. And Oh Jung Se's too, I recognised some expressions of Sang Tae, fear, doubt, from It's okay to not be okay, rare are actors who acts that good in DramaLand.

PS: Can't the main leads be casted again together, pleaaase hh

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This drama was fantastic from beginning to end.

It was super creepy and unsettling, but in a quiet way that built a lot of tension and didn't ruin the whole thing with unnecessary blood and gore. I think fans of horror and casual watchers alike will love that element of it.

The main actress was definitely the biggest stand out. She was insanely good and killed it throughout. And the rest of the cast was also super good, too. Even the more peripheral characters, like the FL's mom and the grandmother.

I loved the twists and turns of the story related to the ghost, it was super interesting and I was kept guessing until the very end. Having to wait between episodes was awful.

Lastly, much as it happened with Jirisan, I wonder at the choice to hint at romance (or at the very least the younger ML being very clearly romantically interested in the FL) when the writing won't really commit to it. I loved how obviously smitten Hong Sae was, but I hated how it was just left at a few teasing scenes. We all know what was being implied (as the Twitter edits abundantly evidence), so why be coy about it? I'm of the mind that a solid romance plot could have been smoothly integrated into the overall story. Romantic horror k-dramas need to become a thing (especially if they include ghost possession).

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Once again, Kim Tae Ri has proven why she's a Rank 1 actor. Special mention was her portrayal of the ghost desperate to live yet Tae Ri's character was forcing her to burn the final key object to banish the spirit.

I played that scene multiple times because I can't get enough of the out of this world acting by Kim Tae Ri. I felt compassion on the ghost in that scene. She only wanted to live because she was wronged when she was still alive. And her very strong desire to live, by trying to fight back San Young (Tae Ri's character), was delivered by Tae Ri in a very powerful way. I think Tae Ri's theater acting training and exposure greatly helped her at that moment. She knew how to act the ghost's desires and desperation to live without overdoing it.

Of course, I also commend the director and the cameraman for perfectly capturing that moment, up close and personal. It magnified what Tae Ri wants the audience to feel: this ghost, she was a victim, while it doesn't justify the ghost's murders, it is us humans who turned her that way.

Which is true. Many of humans only think of their own desires and greed, and doesn't care if another human being turn evil because of their actions and words. Yes, we cannot blame others for our own actions, but we also cannot deny the fact that we are who we are because of our experiences.

For me, the moral of this story is that we should always strive to do good. If you truly want to be selfish, then keep your mouth shut instead of speaking hurtful words behind other people's backs. For example, San Young realised how she was killing herself in the final episode because of how people said hurtful words, like that scene with the convenient store manager. If one did not notice, Tae Ri showed her "evil face" at that time, and she was not yet influenced by the ghost then.

Many of us probably reacted that way too after hearing hurtful words from people. Our faces probably showed how we want "kill" them for looking down on us as if us struggling in life was our fault (when it was just what we're given). Or, like it was a sin to have been born in that situation. And that moment was when San Young, without her knowledge until the final episode, that she started to slowly kill herself.

I've been there, too, without me realising what I'm doing. You gave up. You just try to live every day, but you no longer have any desire to live. You are just waiting for death to collect you, and you'll even welcome death with open arms. And the ghost that possessed San Young, she was right. San Young was wasting her life, and she (the ghost) wants to live.

The show may have been about ghosts and suicide. But if we look deeper into it, it is sending us a message that we should strive to live no matter what. Why? Because there were people whose lives ended not out of their own will, rather, they were forced to it. They were victims.

So, to you and me, this show is a strong and powerful message. Fight to live. It is hard. I know, I am struggling myself. I want to give up. I had enough of this life. But, let's fight to live another day. Let's show this world, let's show this evil society that we have today, that we can. If we know people whose lives ended early, either through suicide or they were murdered, let's live for them. They have desires and dreams, let's live for them, and maybe, through us, our society will become better.

Thank you, Kim Tae Ri, to the cast, the staff, the director, the writer, for this very timely story and message. I hope you'll win awards for this, you 100% deserve to grab all the awards.

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crimi theme with ghosts and Kim Tae Ri

Revenant 8,5/10 -kdrama

Kim Tae Ri again picked good scenario and used her acting to make it into good drama[wasnt just thanks her, but if you check her works she rarely picks wrongly]

even though its not genre I usually watch I quite liked this thriller with :light: horror vibe.

Shortly whole drama goes around :catching serial murderer, which happens to be ghost:. Story got more points of views since there is more groups trying to catch murderer and each group got different investigating methods and different goals.

You will get to know little about asian folklore as well.

plot - "Revenant" is a kdrama centered around Ku San Young, a part-time worker studying to become a public officer, who becomes possessed by a demon from another world. Yeom Hae Sang, a man with the ability to see these demons, teams up with her. Together, they investigate a series of perplexing deaths linked to five sacred objects. This gripping crime thriller interweaves supernatural elements, Korean folklore, and modern investigation techniques. The acting is highly praised, particularly Kim Tae-ri and Oh Jung-se's performances. While the show's unique premise and atmosphere captivate audiences, it receives mixed reviews due to episodic plot structure, character development, and occasional plot conveniences. The ending strikes a balance between sentimentality and a slightly cartoonish feel. Despite its flaws, "Revenant" stands out for its fresh take on folklore and its impact on viewers seeking an unconventional kdrama experience.

genre - horror, thriller, crime, suppernatural

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Survival & the pursuit of happiness

For the watchers who enjoyed The Guest, this is like its younger cousin twice removed. Still very eerie at times, and gloomy in its own right, but it didn't crawl up my spine near as much as TG did.

It starts off following Sanyoung, who lives a life cleaning up after her mother and never quite making ends meet despite working herself to the bone. She's tired, rarely smiles, and contemplates ending it for herself. This drama does not have much humor in it, and consistently portrays graphic suicide and violence. If you're looking for something light with ghosts in it, this is not the one.

The storyline and pacing is honestly kind of eh. I found myself bored at times, and scrolling through my phone while half listening through the more filler moments. There is a lot of running around, finding clues, and a slow reveal of the truth, that constantly backtracks with twists and turns.

Yet, despite the more dull moments, I still clicked the next episode without hesitation every single time. Why? The acting takes the whole bakery in Revenant.

By far, the acting is what got me through this. I was unsettled, jump scared, horrified, and angered through this. The first few episodes are rough going, but once the ball starts rolling, the characters were what drew me in and kept me there. They delved into the true motives of peoples actions, the meaning of happiness, and the lengths people will go to just to survive. I highly recommend for the performances alone. Just be prepared to have to push through a few of the repetitive scenes where they run around and extract information.

All in all, a great watch and I finished in three days. If you're looking for truly bad ghosties and superb performances, then definitely give this one a go.

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Don't be put off by the "horror" tag.

Revenant is an occult mystery thriller and not a horror, so don't be too scared to watch this masterpiece. There's a lot of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, but nothing gory. It has a unique and interesting plot, which will keep you thinking and guessing, and thought-provoking themes. Above all, it features jaw-dropping acting from chameleon Kim Taeri, who has given us two more iconic characters in Sanyeong and possessed Sanyeong to join Na Heedo, Go Aeshin, Captain Jang and Sookhee. It's amazing that she transforms with each role without a trace of past characters. Revenant is thoroughly recommended and joins Mr Sunshine and Twenty-Five Twenty-One as my all-time favourite dramas.

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It's brutal but phenomenal

I'm not surprised the theme of valuing life/family over money is coming up again and again in KDramas. I think this show hit it in a different way than say squid games, though. For that, the directors and screenwriters are brilliant, masterfully weaving a wonderfully complex and unique story from a common theme. The cast was great, the sequencing of the scenes was great, the scenery and effects were great, and the folklore was outstanding. I really appreciated the dive into shamanism and traditional folktales. I think the brutal part was the suspense, gruesomeness of the repetitive suicides, and the mental heinousness of the crimes by the family in order to maintain obscene, unnecessary wealth - all to be expected considering the theme and nature of the show. Nevertheless, I feel like I'm walking away from the show entirely brutalized lol I think a few years down the line I'd watch it again, but I think it'll be hard to forget the details and feel the same level of suspense as the first time around. It was hard not to binge this one in a day!

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