The Devil (2023)

Beyond Ghostly Encounters: Revenant Shines Light on Human Evils

Revenant, the much anticipated comeback drama from the critically acclaimed writer Kim Eun Hee, known for works like Kingdom and Signal, delves into the depths of human greed rather than relying solely on traditional horror elements.

The first episode left me underwhelmed, expecting something like The Guest, but it lacked scary moments. As the show progressed, I gradually grasped its true essence and the message it sought to convey. Instead of focusing on evil spirits, the writer expertly exposes the horrors that lie within human beings, the darkness that surfaces when desires and greed take control.
The drama raises the question, Are humans any better than evil spirits? Unfortunately, my answer is no.

Throughout the series, we witness the sacrifices of innocent children by the male lead's grandparents, resulting in their own children paying a heavy price for these malevolent acts.
While revenant may not feature numerous terrifying or chilling moments, it excels in showcasing the evils hidden beneath the facade of human existence.

From the very first episode to the last, the show's storytelling captivates the audience, luring us in with compelling twists that keep us eagerly anticipating the next episode. It undoubtedly secures its place as one of the best currently airing horror thrillers.

Kim Taeri's performance is nothing short of exceptional, as she impeccably portrays the conflicted Sanyoung, desperate to understand and eliminate the evil spirit to save those around her from harm. Equally mesmerizing is her portrayal of the malevolent spirit Hyangi, making her character's transition captivating sight.
While the both male lead characters of Yeom Haesang and Lee Hong Sae may not have impressed me as much, they failed to create any big impact on my mind. I had loved Oh Jung Se and Hong Kyung's performances in previous dramas but here they were OK.

Kim Hae Sook's portrayal of Hae Sang's grandmother Na Byung Hee is a great addition, delivering a standout performance, especially in Episode 11. Here she is even more wicked than her previous character from Under The Queen's Umbrella, sparing neither her son nor husband from her malevolence.

In conclusion, Revenant captivated me by skillfully narrating the tale of evil residing within human hearts, ingeniously intertwined with ghostly elements.

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If you´re ready for what lies beyond the obvious & don´t mind a gloomy scenario, go for it

For those who don't blench from paranormal dimensions, "Revenant" is certainly a must-see KDrama. Pretty much everything is done right here. "Revenant" is a crime thriller that transcends time and space, embracing a world that is more than meets the eye and the rational mind. “Revenant” also belongs to the genre of supernatural, even horror-mystery productions. However, to reduce it to that would not do justice to this KDrama.

Demons, ghosts of the deceased, people who can see such entities, and people possessed by these entities are all traditionally deeply rooted in South Korean culture. Folk religion and shamanism are still present today – sometimes more, sometimes less, sometimes not at all relevant to the individual, yet nevertheless present. "Revenant" is deeply rooted within this national culture, with Shamanistic rituals being explicitly involved here. In the mass consciousness, the supernatural world has retained a firm place over the millennia. "Revenant" specifically refers to that, (unfortunately without going into detail regarding its backgrounds.) In that sense, "Revenant" is not an unusual SBS-KDrama production for the South Korean audience. At the same time via Disney+ Streaming-Platform this series is exporting a piece of its rich national culture across the border, too - superficial as it as such may remain.

In "Revenant" Kim Tae-ri and Oh Jung-se, however, show high-end performance. Actually overall, this KDrama is in general characterized by its great casting. The acting alone makes it worth seeing. The story is unpredictable and complex, so are the relationships. Additionally, it draws from the long tradition of South Korean folk beliefs, ingeniously mixing it with a modern, rather scientific, investigative approach.

Be prepared for a suspenseful plot. The attraction of "Revenant" lies in the dramaturgically intelligent and fascinatingly presented interweaving of crime thriller and multidimensionality of being. It is obscure, too. In “Revenant” people are possessed by ghosts of the deceased, who are acting in an almost criminal manner. With conventional police investigation, murder executed by such astral beings, who materialize their intentions through their mental occupation of human bodies, are difficult to uncover.

Should you watch it? If your are ready for what lies beyond the obvious, yes. If you don´t mind a gloomy scenario, yes. It is different from your ordinary KDrama, though.





PS:
For me, however, "Revenant" is not just another highlight in a KDrama tradition that is rather fearless regarding the paranormal. The production is also one of a noticeable number of KDramas, that transcend time and space as well as this world and the afterlife, which are increasingly flooding the screens. (Especially in 2023 with i.e. "Island", "My Perfect Stranger", "See you in my 19th Life", "Heartbeat", "Durian's Affair", "Miraculous Brother" … and the year is not over yet). Ghosts, demons, reincarnations, time travel, you name it – the worlds overlap and mix, with time and space having become relative. The curtains between different dimensions are increasingly lifted. The paranormal is becoming more and more normal in the worldwide mass consciousness. Multidimensionality is a topic that people obviously increasingly like to deal with. It isn´t necessarily horrifying anymore. Not in South Korea, nor elsewhere on this planet.

In general, I find that quite inspiring, since dealing with multidimensional spaces, times and beings, has a potential to opening up new perspectives towards life. (Even if it may not all be logically satisfying yet.) It is offering a potential towards a more conscious appreciation of what makes us being human, too.



PPS:
One appealing, even salutary message that "Revenant" (somewhere along the line) would have to offer: the 'evil' intentions of the astral beings can only be as evil as the human 'hosts' allow. At some point the human has to give his or her 'Ok'. If a person has no resentment or greed and is at peace with the world, then there is not much harm wandering ghosts or astral beings in the near-earth realms can do. That would be good news, wouldn´t it... yet… compared to ghosts, eventually human beings can easily be the more frightening creatures here...

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