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Characters & Themes

Revelation (2001) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2001 · 111 mins · English
JustWatch #14,421 24
Directed by
Stuart Urban
Starring
James D'Arcy, Terence Stamp, Udo Kier, Ron Moody, Liam Cunningham, Oliver Ford Davies

Since AD 50 a sacred relic called the Loculus has fueled a hidden, bloody war. After disappearing for centuries, the artifact resurfaces today, carrying a secret that could doom humanity. Magnus Martel must infiltrate a murderous secret society, uncover the truth about the ancient treasure, and stop the looming catastrophe.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (9)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Revelation
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Revelation (2001)

Where can you watch Revelation? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Shout! Factory TV and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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9 main characters · contains spoilers

Revelation Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Revelation (2001), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jake Martel (James D'Arcy)

    An ace cryptographer released from Wormwood Scrubs and recruited by his father to unlock the Loculus. He navigates a dangerous chase between the Order and his own quest to determine whether the relic should be destroyed or safeguarded. His skill with codes makes him central to deciphering the Loculus' true meaning.

    • 🧩 Protagonist
    • 🧠 Genius
    • 🕵️ Reluctant hero
  • Magnus Martel (Terence Stamp)

    Father of Jake and a scholar who recognizes the Loculus' potential for good or evil. He pursues research discreetly while trying to shield the relic from the Order, and ultimately pays a fatal price for his involvement. His leadership anchors the mission, even as his legacy invites danger.

    • 🗡️ Mentor
    • 🧭 Secretive
    • 🔒 Protector
  • The Grand Master (Udo Kier)

    Leader of the Order, determined to exploit the Loculus to resurrect and control a Christ-like figure. He embodies the film's antagonist force, orchestrating torture and military action to seize the relic. His ambition reveals the dangers of unchecked power within secret societies.

    • 🗝️ Villain
    • 🏛️ Power-seeker
    • ⚔️ Opponent
  • Sir Isaac Newton (Ron Moody)

    A historical scientist whose involvement with the Loculus adds scientific credibility to the legend. His attempts to unlock the Loculus foreshadow present-day genetic manipulation and the ongoing tension between reason and mysticism. He appears as a figure who narrates influence over the relic's fate.

    • 🧪 Scientist
    • 🧠 Historian
    • 🕰️ Mentor
  • Father Ray Connolly (Liam Cunningham)

    A Roman Catholic priest who provides backup to Jake and Mira. He advocates cautious handling of the Loculus and seeks a trustworthy solution, but ends up making tough choices that shape the film's climax. His faith and pragmatism anchor the trio's effort to decide the relic's fate.

    • 🙏 Faith
    • 🛡️ Protector
    • 💬 Confidant
  • Mira (Natasha Wightman)

    An occultist and Magdalene's descendant who partners with Jake on the Loculus investigation. She shares in the pursuit of knowledge and the peril it attracts, while bringing a vital emotional and spiritual perspective. Her connection to Mary Magdalene deepens the stakes surrounding the relic.

    • 🧭 Ally
    • 🕯️ Mystic
    • 👩‍🔬 Collaborator
  • Librarian (Derek Jacobi)

    A keeper of ancient texts who assists in Cambridge and other archival searches. His presence underscores the documentary-like pursuit of obscure clues that tie historical events to the Loculus. He acts as a guide through esoteric knowledge.

    • 📚 Archivist
    • 🧭 Guide
    • 🗺️ Scholar
  • New Age Man (Heathcote Williams)

    A mysterious figure representing occult fringe beliefs. His dialogue and presence add a philosophical counterpoint to the rational searches and religious authority. He embodies the era's hunger for hidden truths and their seductive appeal.

    • 🧘‍♂️ Philosopher
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Mystic
    • ⚖️ Skeptic
  • Curé at Rennes-le-Chateau (Vernon Dobtcheff)

    A priest figure connected to Rennes-le-Château's lore and the Loculus history. He participates in the village's ritual atmosphere and adds local color to the hidden saga. His role helps ground the mystery in the real-world setting.

    • ⛪ Cleric
    • 🗺️ Local
    • 🧭 Connector

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 11:52

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Setting

Where and When Does Revelation Take Place?

The setting of Revelation (2001): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present day with ancient and medieval flashbacks

The main narrative unfolds in the present day as researchers pursue the Loculus, with crucial flashbacks to 50 AD when the relic was created and to medieval Rennes-le-Château during the Crusades. These shifts connect the relic's origin and its enduring allure to power, faith, and conflict across time. The film uses these periods to contrast modern science and ancient mysticism.

Location

Rennes-le-Château, Wormwood Scrubs Prison (London), Cambridge, Patmos, Rome, Mount Hebron

Rennes-le-Château is a small French village steeped in legends and occult lore, the cradle of the relic's long-hidden history. The story expands to locations of religious and historical significance, including a London prison, Cambridge libraries, the Greek island Patmos, and the religious heart of Rome, each shaping clues and confrontations. The settings weave ancient rites and secret societies around the Loculus, underscoring its gravity across eras.

  • 🗺️ Occult locales
  • 🧭 Time-spanning
  • 🏛️ Historic sites

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 11:52

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3 major themes

Revelation Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Revelation (2001) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Power

    The Loculus embodies immense power that both tempts and corrupts. Secret orders and religious authorities seek to control or destroy it, revealing how knowledge can be weaponized. The pursuit exposes moral ambiguities when ends are used to justify means.

  • Mystery

    A web of cryptic clues, codes, and hidden symbols drives the plot. Jake and Mira constantly decode unfamiliar sigils and confront cryptic pasts that tie together the relic's origin with present-day conspiracies. The mystery intensifies as truth threatens to upend established power structures.

  • Science & Faith

    The Loculus' proposed resurrection plan pits genetic science against sacred belief. Newton's experiments and the Grand Master’s manipulation highlight competing approaches to salvation and control. The film questions whether faith can be validated—or weaponized—through biology.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 11:52

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Character & theme questions

Revelation Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Revelation (2001): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the movie take place?

The story unfolds across multiple significant locations centered around a sacred relic called the Loculus. Primary settings include Rennes-le-Château, a small French village famous for occult legends, as well as Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London, Cambridge University libraries, the Greek island of Patmos, Rome, and Mount Hebron. Each location plays a role in revealing the relic's history and the hidden war surrounding it.

  • rennes-le-château
  • locations
  • settings
  • occult
  • village
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The main narrative takes place in the present day, but the story incorporates crucial flashbacks to 50 AD when the Loculus was created, and to medieval Rennes-le-Château during the Crusades. These temporal shifts connect the relic's ancient origin to its present-day significance, contrasting modern scientific approaches with ancient mysticism.

  • time period
  • present day
  • flashbacks
  • ancient
  • medieval
Q3

What is the Loculus?

The Loculus is a sacred relic that has fueled a hidden war since AD 50. It carries a secret powerful enough to doom humanity. The artifact represents immense potential for both good and evil, making it the central object of conflict throughout the film.

  • loculus
  • relic
  • artifact
  • sacred
Q4

What theme of power does the movie explore?

The film explores how power corrupts through the pursuit of the Loculus. Secret orders and religious authorities vie for control of the relic, revealing how knowledge can be weaponized. The story highlights moral ambiguities where ends justify means, showing characters making difficult choices in their quest to either possess or destroy the artifact.

  • power
  • corruption
  • secret societies
  • morality
Q5

How does the movie handle mystery and secrets?

A web of cryptic clues, codes, and hidden symbols drives the entire narrative. Characters must constantly decode unfamiliar sigils and confront cryptic histories that tie the relic's origin to present-day conspiracies. The mystery intensifies as truth threatens to upend established power structures.

  • mystery
  • codes
  • secrets
  • conspiracy
  • symbols
Q6

How does the movie portray the conflict between science and faith?

The Loculus serves as a battleground where genetic science meets sacred belief. The film contrasts Newton's historical experiments with the Grand Master's manipulation, highlighting competing approaches to salvation and control. It questions whether faith can be validated, or weaponized, through biology.

  • science
  • faith
  • genetics
  • religion
  • biology
Q7

Who is Jake Martel?

Jake Martel is an ace cryptographer released from Wormwood Scrubs Prison who is recruited by his father Magnus to help unlock the Loculus. His exceptional skill with codes makes him central to deciphering the relic's true meaning. He must navigate a dangerous chase between the Order and his own quest to determine whether the artifact should be destroyed or safeguarded.

  • jake martel
  • cryptographer
  • father
  • order
Q8

Who is Magnus Martel?

Magnus Martel is Jake's father and a scholarly figure who recognizes the Loculus' potential for both good and evil. He pursues research discreetly while trying to shield the relic from the Order, ultimately paying a fatal price for his involvement. His leadership anchors the mission, though his legacy brings danger to his son.

  • magnus martel
  • father
  • scholar
  • researcher
Q9

Who is the Grand Master?

The Grand Master is the leader of a secret society determined to exploit the Loculus to resurrect and control a Christ-like figure. He orchestrates torture and military action to seize the relic, embodying the film's primary antagonistic force. His ambition reveals the dangers of unchecked power within hidden organizations.

  • grand master
  • leader
  • order
  • villain
  • secret society
Q10

Who is Mira and what is her significance?

Mira is an occultist and descendant of Mary Magdalene who partners with Jake in investigating the Loculus. She brings both knowledge and a vital emotional and spiritual perspective to the quest. Her ancestral connection to Mary Magdalene deepens the religious stakes surrounding the relic.

  • mira
  • occultist
  • magdalene
  • descendant
  • spiritual
Q11

Why is Rennes-le-Château significant to the story?

Rennes-le-Château is a small French village steeped in legends and occult lore, serving as the cradle of the Loculus' long-hidden history. The village has been central to the relic's secret past and remains a key location where ancient rites and modern conspiracies converge around the artifact.

  • rennes-le-château
  • village
  • occult
  • history
  • france
Q12

Who is Father Ray Connolly?

Father Ray Connolly is a Roman Catholic priest who provides backup to Jake and Mira throughout their investigation. He advocates cautious handling of the Loculus and seeks a trustworthy solution to the relic's fate. His faith and pragmatism anchor the trio's efforts as they face impossible decisions.

  • father ray connolly
  • priest
  • catholic
  • faith
  • supporting character
Q13

What historical elements does the movie incorporate?

The film weaves together historical elements including the Knights Templar, Isaac Newton's secret involvement with the Loculus, and the relic's creation around 50 AD. These historical connections add depth and credibility to the legend, creating a complex narrative that spans centuries of religious and scientific intrigue.

  • history
  • knights templar
  • isaac newton
  • historical
  • cruades

Movie threads

More Movies Like Revelation, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Revelation tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Apocalyptic Conspiracy Thrillers like Revelation

Stories where hidden history and secret societies hold the key to preventing global catastrophe. If you enjoyed the high-stakes, esoteric mystery of Revelation, you'll find more movies like it here. These films feature tense races against time, ancient secrets, and shadowy organizations, all centered on a world-ending threat that only a few can prevent.

  • conspiracy
  • apocalyptic
  • suspenseful
  • paranoid
  • occult
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, dark
  • Pacing: steady, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically follow an ordinary or expert individual thrust into a dangerous world of ancient secrets. The plot is driven by a series of escalating discoveries and reveals, often involving codes, relics, and historical figures, building towards a final confrontation with immense stakes.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core structure of a hidden truth with apocalyptic consequences, a tense and paranoid tone, and a steady buildup of dread and revelation. They appeal to viewers who enjoy complex puzzles, historical mysteries, and high-pressure suspense.

Movies with Heavy Moral Choices like Revelation

Journeys where victory comes at a profound personal cost in a dark, unforgiving setting. For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and bittersweet ending of Revelation, this thread collects similar films. These stories explore deep moral ambiguity and profound sacrifice, set against dark, tense backdrops where happy endings are hard-won or non-existent.

  • dark
  • moral ambiguity
  • sacrifice
  • heavy
  • bleak
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, tense, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative arc focuses on a character grappling with a monumental decision that challenges their core ethics. The journey is emotionally taxing, often involving loss and trauma, and culminates in an ending where the cost of victory is deeply felt, leaving a lasting impact.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their exploration of moral ambiguity under extreme pressure, their heavy emotional weight, and their tendency towards bittersweet or bleak conclusions. They deliver a powerful, thought-provoking experience centered on the human cost of conflict.

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Movies Like Revelation

Similar movies to Revelation: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Revelation (2001) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Revelation in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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