Revelations

Revelations’ ending reveals that the battle between good and evil is often more complex than it appears — these forces are intertwined, with darkness sometimes disguised as divine guidance. Throughout the film, Pastor Sung is depicted as a man blinded by faith, convinced that he is doing God’s work by punishing evil. However, his actions are driven by fear and guilt, especially after the incident where his body was haunted by visions and his attempts to hide his crimes, including killing Kwon’s body and despising the truth about his involvement. The graffiti on the walls and the biblical passage, Deuteronomy 24:7, symbolize how Sung’s distorted interpretation of Scripture fuels his delusions, pushing him to believe that A-yeong is dead because he wanted her dead in his heart, justified by his twisted faith.

When Inspector Lee informs him that A-yeong is alive, he is visibly shaken, and as he erases the faint image of Christ from the wall, the face becomes sinister, revealing that evil was lurking behind religion all along. The film suggests that faith, when corrupted by personal vendettas and fear, can turn people into monsters. Pastor Sung’s transformation from a meek preacher to a violent, delusional killer is also influenced by his personal pain — his wife’s affair, his feelings of helplessness, and unmet desires for respect and validation. The trauma in Kwon’s childhood, symbolized by the one-eyed window in his home, explains his violent behavior, as that window represented the source of his pain and trauma, which eventually turned him into a monster.

Kwon’s tragic end comes when he falls to his death after an intense confrontation, marking the culmination of his haunted past and the cycle of violence. Meanwhile, Inspector Lee, haunted by her sister’s murder and driven by a desire for redemption, finds her opportunity when she finally locates Kwon in the dilapidated building. Despite her initial restraint, she refuses to succumb to evil and chooses to save A-yeong, understanding her duty to protect innocent lives. Her intervention not only grants her peace with her past but also signifies that true goodness can prevail when compassion and reason silence the darkness within. Ultimately, the film teaches that evil is not always what it seems, and that faith must be rooted in compassion rather than fear and hatred. The scars of trauma, whether physical or emotional, shape us, but it is how we confront them that determines who we become. In the end, Revelations underscores the importance of discernment, compassion, and the strength to choose humanity over hatred, even in the face of profound darkness.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:03