Akgwi

Finally, a K Drama on Disney+/Hulu that was good.

Starts off with a creepy, supernatural premise, and mostly delivers. Never veering into horror, it manages to stay planted firmly in supernatural suspense territory.

A good chunk of this show's success can be attributed to Kim Tae Ri (25 to 21, Space Sweepers) who once again 34.65 convincingly portrays a teenager (at 33!). As great as the cast is, and as well as the mystery unfolds,2023 10 they took too many episodes to reveal & resolve everything. Had this kept up its initial pacing, and not added padding episodes, it would have been a 9/10. Even the vfx were very decent, never a distraction.

As it stands, being about 4 or 5 episodes too long, it's still a very decent 7.9, B-

Before I go on about how Kim Tae-Ri deserves every Best Actress award that there is right now in South Korea for her brilliant dual role performance, Revenant is a 12-episode horror thriller that follows Gu San-Yeong (Tae-Ri) as she - with the help of a folklore professor - tries to banish the evil spirit that's latched onto her before it completely takes over her life.

Unlike The Guest that features graphic gore and horror, Revenant has the right amount of violence and spook, but it'll definitely give you door knocks paranoia for the next couple of days lol.

The series has a solid slow burn storyline with plot twists that will keep you guessing until the finale. Also, no filler episodes! Every episode is crucial to the story and even the throwbacks are done so well.

Lastly back to Tae-Ri. I believe she just delivered her career-best performance yet as Gu San-Yeong. She's phenomenal in this and watching her switch personas from being terrified, to looking terrifying in a blink of an eye gives me chills every time. She's a versatile actor and I simply cannot wait for her future works.

Intriguing Storyline: The storyline itself was very interesting and intriguing. Although the ghosts are not as scary as normal horror drama but sure can still surprise you.

The plot twist was unexpected. Since the writer made the story like so, you'll never expect the twist towards the end.

Themes of Human Nature: Beyond the supernatural elements, the series also delves into themes of human greed, desire, and the darkness that can exist within individuals.

Strong Performances: Kim Tae-ri and the other cast members deliver convincing performances, particularly Kim Tae-ri's portrayal of the young student who becomes possessed.

Overall: "Revenant" is a well-made K-drama that offers a compelling blend of supernatural suspense, compelling characters, and exploration of Korean folklore. While it may not be a horror film, it successfully delivers a suspenseful experience with a strong focus on the human element and the consequences of greed and desire.

FYI: Kim Tae Ri - Baeksang Best Actress (25 21), Oh Jung Se - Baeksang Best Supporting Actor (It's Okay Not To Be Okay). Hong Kyung - Baeksang Best New Actor (Innocence), Kim Eun Hee - Baeksang Best Screenplay (Signal). And together they made The Revenant. So what would you think will happen? Yes, a masterpiece.

I waited almost every week for another 2 episodes because the series was very intriguing. The characters were all smart and open minded, and also learnt from their mistakes. This what made the show different from any other horror/thriller movie, where most of the characters were looked so panic and clueless when it came the time to face the devil.

Supporting casts were also very good. The mother, the good friend, the old detective, the demonic granny, the shaman, even the evil spirit, all stole the moment when it came to their screen times. Last but not least: kudos to the screen writer and director that pay attention to story details example: when the mom complaint about how Gu San Yeong never ask her to ride along with her new car, or when the scar in Gu San Yeong's head remained seen until the end of the series.

Excellent 9/10

A very minor spoiler : at the end, we will still feel pity for the main character.

Revenant, starring Kim Tae-ri who is known for her acclaimed projects The Handmaiden, Mr. Sunshine, Twenty-Five Twenty-One and more, is a supernatural horror drama that questions wishes that comes with sacrifice.

Revenant's supernatural chase has a beginning and hopefully an ending (that doesn't end with many more deaths). The evil spirit that goes on possessing the characters is an outcome of inhumane cruelty and greed of the society which has to reap the seed it has sown. It is not just a tale about a supernatural mystery chase but a tale about regressive traditions, of unravelling the darkness that lies in being human, of denying the right to live.

Overall, the show is fast paced with thrilling and simultaneously terrifying scenes. The mystery lies in identifying the spirit while the spirit is aware of every step that one takes. And the stakes are high, especially when the professionals have been killed in the process. Needless to mention, the cast is doing a fantastic job especially Kim Tae-ri who changes into a different person in every episode.

My Rating : 9/10.