“Revenant,” a gripping new series by South Korean writer Kim Eun-hee, is a venture into the supernatural world, underpinned by themes of alienation, desperation, and suicide. This narrative is the latest work after Kim’s successful series “Kingdom” and “Jirisan” and marks her transition into the realm of horror. The show, produced by South Korean broadcaster SBS, is now streaming globally on Disney+.
The series features actress Kim Tae-ri in her debut horror role as Gu San-yeong, a hardworking part-time driver in Seoul who unknowingly becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit. Kim, well-known for her compelling performances, imbues her character with an intensity that starkly contrasts with her previous cheerful and charming role of Na Hee-do in “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” (2022).
Her co-star Oh Jung-se, noted for his work in “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” depicts a deeply serious, heavy-drinking professor of the occult named Yeom Hae-sang. The audience first meets Kim’s character through a unique character introduction where she is shown as an anonymous errand runner navigating through Seoul’s bustling city life.
San-yeong’s life takes a dramatic turn when her mother reveals a shocking truth: her long-presumed-dead father has only just passed away, and they must attend his funeral. Jin Seon-kyu makes a cameo as the father, an occult researcher who falls victim to the evil spirit he’d spent his life studying.
During the funeral, San-yeong’s grandmother gives her a half-charred traditional red headdress, an heirloom from her late father. Upon touching it, she unwittingly becomes attached to an evil spirit, visible only to Hae-sang, which has a terrifying habit of feeding on its host’s anger.
Detective Seo Mun-chun (played by Kim Won-hae) and his partner Lee Hong-sae (played by Hong Kyung) get embroiled in the dark web of unexplained suicides occurring around them, seemingly tied to the malevolent spirit’s victims. The spirit tends to possess those wronged by its hosts, leading them to their untimely and mysterious deaths.
“Revenant” skillfully employs mirrors and doors as significant elements of the story, serving as gateways for the spirits to traverse between the spirit and mortal world. These instances are visually portrayed through San-yeong’s reflection and shadow acting independently of her.
The eerie atmosphere of “Revenant” is masterfully created through haunting sets and locations that include dilapidated basement apartments and a traditional Korean house, filled with dusty books and artefacts, embodying San-yeong’s late father’s world of the occult.
Despite a slow start, Kim Eun-hee meticulously lays the foundation for an intense, chilling narrative with San-yeong and Hae-sang at the center, wrestling with the spirit possessing her while also combating other vengeful spirits in their surroundings. As the storyline gradually unfolds, it promises a suspenseful journey into the unknown, offering viewers a gripping tale of the supernatural set in modern Seoul.
“Revenant” continues to air on Disney+, gaining traction with an impressive Nielsen rating of 10 percent. This innovative series looks set to solidify Kim Eun-hee’s reputation as a talented writer who boldly explores a diverse range of genres and themes.
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