May 15, 2025
By Jennifer Ali
Staff Writer
With eerie scenes and a complex plot, “Revelations” is a captivating Korean-language crime thriller.
The film follows a pastor named Sung Min-chan (Ryu Jun-yeol) in Seoul, South Korea, who becomes obsessed with doing “God’s work” after the unexpected death of his wife. This leads him to team up with detective Lee Yeon-hee (Shin Hyeon-bin) to investigate a series of disappearances that seem to be connected to a mysterious ex-convict named Kwon Yang-rae (Shin Min-jae). The more they dig, the more complicated the situation gets, not just with the case, but in their personal lives.
One of the best aspects of the movie is that it doesn’t just focus on the mystery. It explores big ideas that viewers can ponder long after the film ends. These include guilt, religion and the lengths people will go to do what they believe is right.
The movie is full of surprises. Viewers never know what will happen next, as there are many unexpected twists, while hidden truths are gradually revealed.
The acting is also first-rate, with Ryu standing out for his realistic portrayal of Sung Min-chan.
Another outstanding character is Lee Yeon-joo (Han Ji-Hyun), a young reporter who keeps appearing at the crime scenes. At first, she seems like just a background character, but she becomes more important as the movie develops. She is brave, smart and unafraid of asking tough questions, even when others try to shut her out. There’s a moment when she confronts Detective Lee about withholding information, which shows how determined she is to uncover the truth, no matter the risk.
Viewers never know what will happen next, as there are many unexpected twists, while hidden truths are gradually revealed.
Even though “Revelations” is excellent overall, some scenes in the middle of the movie are slow, and the film would benefit from including more backstory about Yang-rae since he is a fascinating character with an intriguing past and unpredictable behavior.
Additionally, the ending does not answer all of the questions viewers are likely to have about the plot, which can be frustrating. After facing tough choices and struggles, viewers want the characters to have closure, but this is impossible since the movie wraps up too quickly.
Despite its shortcomings, “Revelations” is a meaningful and memorable mystery thriller. Viewers looking for a creepy, deep and engrossing movie should not hesitate to watch this high-quality film.
