Revelations

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.

*"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.

What I really liked about this Korean thriller was that, although the plot was sure to be utilized many times in numerous other films, it felt original. The performances were deep and convincing. The sinister and shocking plot was so coherent and complicated that the scenes all point out to the central theme altogether. I just felt a bit bored by some scenes and anticlimactic with some of them. I alao wished that the film was longer in order to offer more thrilling and exciting scenes. The myriad of characters was endless and each one of them has something to offer to the totality of the film.

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.

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.