Yeon Sang-ho, the mind behind the wildly popular Train to Busan, is back with a new Netflix project, Revelations, and the first trailer has landed. This time, Sang-ho is trading zombies for something far more unsettling: the dark corners of the human psyche. The trailer and details reveal a film that ditches the fantastical for a raw, psychological dive into faith, delusion, and the lengths people will go to when driven by their beliefs.
“Many of the live-action films I’ve worked on deal with surreal themes in fantasy worlds,” Sang-ho told Netflix, “But this time, I ruled out fantasy elements as much as possible. I wanted to depict psychological elements that can be found in reality, such as illusions, delusions, and traumas.”
This shift towards a more grounded, psychological thriller is immediately apparent in the trailer. We see Ryu Jun-yeol’s Pastor Sung Min-chan, a man driven by what he believes are divine revelations, and Shin Hyun-been’s Detective Lee Yeon-hui, haunted by her past. The tension is palpable, and the trailer smartly hints at the unraveling of these characters as their paths collide.
Revelations Netflix Release Date: March 21, 2025 – What We Know So Far
Revelations is set to hit Netflix on March 21, 2025, and the anticipation is building. This film marks a significant departure from Sang-ho’s previous work, at least in terms of its thematic focus. While Train to Busan and Hellbound dealt with supernatural or fantastical threats, Revelations appears to be firmly rooted in the real world, exploring the dangers of unchecked belief and personal trauma.
The film is based on Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok’s 2022 comic of the same name. “Director Yeon Sang-ho suggested creating a story about faith and beliefs, the themes that have interested him for a long time,” Choi said. “I was intrigued and thought that we could come up with a fascinating story.”
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Adding to the intrigue is the involvement of Alfonso Cuarón as an executive producer. “I showed him the first edited version, and I remember him saying that he didn’t want to watch it on a computer monitor,” Sang-ho recalled. “He made a point of watching it in a screening room. [He’s] a creator who truly shows respect for the director’s vision.”
Revelations Cast: Ryu Jun-yeol and Shin Hyun-been Lead Intense Psychological Thriller
The cast of Revelations is anchored by Ryu Jun-yeol, known for his powerful performances in films like A Taxi Driver. Sang-ho praised Ryu’s dedication, stating, “Ryu Jun-yeol is an actor with exceptional acting skills. After working with him for this film, I got the feeling that this skill is based not on intuitive methodology but on a deep understanding of the work. And he’s an artist who, to perfect his understanding of his character, asks an infinite number of questions to himself and to the creators.”
Shin Hyun-been, who plays Detective Lee Yeon-hui, brings a tragic depth to her character. Screenwriter Choi noted, “Shin Hyun-been’s Lee Yeon-hui is a tragic figure. Lee Yeon-hui in the comic was sharp and stoic, but in the film, she is imbued with sadness that could crush her at any moment.”
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Rounding out the main cast is Shin Min-jae as Kwon Yang-rae, a character Choi describes as seeming “like someone who just emerged from the fires of hell.”
Why Revelations Could Be Netflix’s Next Big Hit: Commentary
With Revelations, Yeon Sang-ho is stepping into new territory, and the initial glimpses are promising. The shift from fantastical horrors to real-world psychological terrors could be a masterstroke. The trailer’s intensity and the cast’s evident commitment suggest a film that will leave viewers deeply unsettled.
The involvement of Alfonso Cuarón adds another layer of prestige, and the film’s source material, coupled with Sang-ho’s track record, points to a compelling and thought-provoking experience.
Netflix’s push for more Korean content in 2025 makes Revelations a key release. If the film delivers on its promise, it could easily become one of the platform’s most talked-about thrillers.
Revelations arrives on Netflix on March 21, 2025. Will it live up to the hype? We’ll be watching closely.
