Revelations (2025)

FAITH TURNS TO OBSESSION

**UPDATED REVIEW**

Revelations is a gripping thriller that explores faith, guilt, and the consequences of misguided beliefs. The story follows Seong Min-chan, a small-town pastor who becomes convinced that a mysterious new churchgoer, Kwon Yang-rae, is responsible for his son's disappearance. A shocking chain of events unfolds, leading to tragic mistakes and desperate attempts to uncover the truth.

The film expertly builds tension through Min-chan’s escalating obsession. The moment he realizes his mistake, after already pushing Yang-rae down a slope, is particularly harrowing. Yet instead of remorse, another eerie "revelation" drives him forward, solidifying the film’s disturbing take on how people justify their own sins under the guise of righteousness.

Detective Yeon-hui, a woman battling her own demons, is also on Yang-rae’s trail. Haunted by the death of her younger sister, she is relentless in her pursuit of the truth, but her personal grief often clouds her judgment. Her panic attacks and emotional breakdowns add another layer to the film’s psychological intensity, showing that justice, like faith, is often muddied by human frailty. As she pieces together the case, her path inevitably collides with Min-chan’s, leading to a confrontation that forces both of them to confront the true nature of evil.

The film keeps you on edge with its dark atmosphere and intense suspense. As Min-chan struggles with his faith and guilt, the story takes unexpected turns, making you question who the real villain is. The performances are powerful, especially in the emotional and psychological moments. The cinematography also adds to the eerie feeling, using shadows and lightning to create a haunting effect.

But what makes *Revelations* so impactful is its refusal to provide easy answers. By posing the question, "Where does the evil that creates the devil come from?", the film challenges audiences to reflect not only on individual corruption but also on the structural forces that foster it.

The ending is thought-provoking and leaves a strong impact. Revelations is a must-watch for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with deep themes and moral dilemmas. It’s a movie that stays with you long after it ends.

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We are patterns seeking creatures.

And when you mix that with religious fanaticism driven by guilt and fear, you are on a highway to hell.

Revelation for sure falls stronger on psychological thriller than supernatural horror. It’s not the scares, but the mystery that is the focus point of the movie. How far will Min Chan go? What will be his next action? And who will suffer the consequences.

The movie shows how religious belief can literally alter your perception and find patterns in places they don't exist. The way Min Chan saw Jesus literally everywhere from mountains to altars, angels in the sky - all to unconsciously convince himself he is on the right path and everything that happens is the god's will. Just to take the responsibility off of his back.

While I appreciated the fact we witnessed how easy it is to slip into religious fanaticism, I wish the introduction to the main character was a bit more elaborate and detailed. Not everyone spirals so bad when faced with the situation he was facing - what made him go so far? What internal and external factors led to that outcome? It’s something this story did not explore enough.

Surprisingly, what I enjoyed a lot was the fact that Seong Min Chan was actually not the smarter guy, I would even call him dumb. I mean… googling about the potential legal consequences of the crime you just committed is literally helping the police and prosecution with the investigation. And that was just one of many idiotic decisions and actions he made.

Acting wise - great. What else to expect from this cast. Obviously the most spotlight fell on Ryu Jun Yeol and og boy he delivered. The psychological change his character went through from beginning till the end and so well portrayed I wish this was a short drama and not just a movie. On the other hand, some of the supporting actors kind of missed the mark, especially Moon Joo Yeon as Min Chan’s wife.

As much as I liked the production, somehow I wished the “holy images” he saw in random things were just slightly more vague. At the same time, I feel like they kept being more clear the more obsessed and delusional he became. Maybe it was just a visual way to present how much his perception is being affected by his mental state.

Overall, it was a weirdly light watch? Taking into consideration how serious the crimes of the criminal were, how far into delulu Min Chan went, I did not really feel that tense - more on the side of curious and entertained.

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