Revelator: An Odd Duck with Uneven Feathers

Alright so, “Revelator”. I saw this late Thursday evening, rain pouring down outside like a Västerbotten autumn. You know that tired, slightly dreamy feeling you get around 22:30, right? That’s the perfect setting for this film, trust me. Directed by J. Van Auken (I had to Google him, honestly—he’s not exactly Jan Troell or Lukas Moodysson), it stars Michael James Gable, who looks weirdly like he’s borrowed a woolen sweater from 1996 and forgot to return it.

I went in expecting typical supernatural shenanigans, but “Revelator” kind of throws you for a loop. Gable’s character, John, can “see” the dead and uses this weird skill to solve a murder. Classic, sure, but they somehow avoid making it feel like another tired “Sixth Sense” copy. I mean, there’s no Bruce Willis popping up, but I couldn’t stop picturing him. Maybe that’s my Stockholm-based brain, stuck in the late-90s.

You get these gorgeous, gloomy shots – like if someone filmed “Jägarna” but inside a haunted IKEA. But man, some of those scenes drag more than a midsummer party after the third snaps. At one point, I started thinking about a time my old neighbor Bernt swore he saw his dead cat at Coop Konsum. Felt about as convincing as a couple of Revelator’s supporting actors, honestly.

There’s a slow-burn mood I liked – but sometimes, “slow-burn” just feels like “did they forget to edit?”. And the sound design – gives me chills, in a good way. Seriously, the creaks, the whispers, the low rumbles… If you’re watching alone, maybe keep the lights on. Or have a smörgåstårta nearby, for comfort.

“Revelator” sputters a bit, but it tries strange things, and hey, I respect that. Watch with a mate who likes pondering ghosts and oddball detectives. Or just want something a bit weirder than your regular Friday flick.

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