Premiering on June 12, 2025, on Syfy, the new supernatural TV series Revival arrives with a unique spin on the resurrection genre. Created by Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, and directed by Amanda Row, this 10-episode adaptation of the cult Image Comics series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton stars Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, and Andy McQueen. Set in rural Wausau, Wisconsin, the series follows Dana Cypress, a police officer and single mom, who’s forced to stay in her hometown after an event called “Revival Day” causes the recently deceased to rise from the grave—fully conscious, self-aware, and not at all zombie-like. With its blend of horror, mystery, and rural noir, Revival is not just another undead TV show, but a smart, character-driven thriller that uses the supernatural to tell deeply human stories.
A Resurrection That Defies Genre Expectations
Forget everything you know about zombies. In Revival, the dead don’t shamble, drool, or hunger for brains. Instead, they walk, talk, and act just like they did in life—only now, they can regenerate from injury and seem… changed. These “revivers” return inexplicably, rising from morgues, graves, and even cremation chambers on what becomes known as “Revival Day.”
It’s a bold reimagining of the undead mythos, one that leans more toward mystery and drama than gore or horror. That choice gives the series a tone somewhere between The Leftovers and Twin Peaks, with a touch of The X-Files. Instead of rampaging monsters, we get people who have come back from the dead with no memory of dying—and not all of them are safe.
Melanie Scrofano Anchors the Chaos with a Career-Defining Performance
At the heart of Revival is Melanie Scrofano, who plays Dana Cypress, a jaded cop who was ready to leave town for good before Revival Day grounded her, both literally and emotionally. Scrofano brings a perfect blend of wit, steeliness, and vulnerability to Dana, portraying a woman caught between duty, personal trauma, and a mystery that defies all logic.
Her chemistry with Andy McQueen’s CDC investigator Ibrahim Ramin is charmingly awkward, grounding the show with a will-they-won’t-they subplot that never overpowers the central narrative. But it’s Dana’s evolving relationship with her estranged sister, Em (Romy Weltman), that gives the series its emotional foundation. As secrets emerge and tensions rise, the two sisters become both the heart and the spine of the story.
Small Town, Big Questions – The Intrigue of Wausau
Set in the quietly eerie town of Wausau, Wisconsin, Revival uses its rural backdrop to amplify the weirdness. With the government enforcing a quarantine, the community is trapped with its own resurrected residents. From children encountering revived classmates at school to grieving parents unsure how to cope with loved ones returning, the show mines personal horror from everyday situations.
The town is a microcosm of fear, suspicion, and unease. David James Elliott, as Dana’s authoritarian father and sheriff, embodies the generational conflict over how to handle the revivers—some see them as miracles, others as threats. The addition of Steven Ogg as Blaine, a fire-and-brimstone doomsday preacher-turned-radio-host, injects chaotic energy into the narrative, fueling public paranoia.
A Strong Blend of Supernatural Mystery and Rural Noir
Where Revival excels is in how it balances genres. Yes, it’s a supernatural TV show with an undead premise, but the structure is deeply noir-inspired, with Dana investigating a string of increasingly bizarre crimes. The mystery elements are compelling: human teeth found in a dead horse, an aggressive reviver with a bloody past, and a larger conspiracy involving the CDC.
There’s a genuine sense of suspense, driven not by body counts or gore, but by the question that lingers over every episode: Why did this happen? Who controls it? And who can be trusted?
Not Just Undead – But Unsettling
Revival is unsettling in its philosophical implications, even if it doesn’t dwell on them. What does it mean to die and return? Where does the soul go? And what responsibilities do the living owe to the revived? While the show doesn't always dig deep into those existential threads, it brushes against them often enough to provoke thought.
The revivers themselves aren’t always benign. Some are confused. Some are angry. And some have returned with urges and memories that they can’t explain. The show walks a tightrope, making the viewer wonder if these characters are victims, villains, or both.
Dark Humor and Horror – With a Light Touch
For all its grim premise, Revival doesn’t wallow in despair. It has a streak of dark humor, particularly in the way characters react to the absurdity of their situation. Dana’s dry sarcasm keeps the show grounded, and oddball townsfolk—from a yoga-loving grandmother to a punk rocker who self-harms for stage shock—add levity when things get too intense.
The show also employs a moderate amount of horror, but avoids gratuitous violence. When it does show violence, it’s impactful because it’s rare. A reviver being impaled on a barn wall or slashing open their chest for attention hits harder because it’s rooted in character and atmosphere, not cheap thrills.
Where It Stumbles – Too Many Threads, Not Enough Depth
If Revival has a weakness, it’s narrative sprawl. With ten episodes, the show tries to juggle too many plotlines—a drug-dealing family, CDC corruption, cult-like militias, and more. While these elements provide variety, not all of them get the attention they deserve.
Some supporting characters, like the sleazy Check brothers or certain townsfolk, feel underdeveloped. You may find yourself forgetting names or motivations as the show juggles its ensemble. However, the core mystery and emotional arcs remain strong enough to keep the momentum going.
Visual Style and Direction – Atmospheric, but Uneven
Visually, Revival looks good for a cable-budget horror show. Director Amanda Row leans into natural light and cold Midwestern palettes, giving the series a stark, muted tone. Occasional lens flares and stylized flashbacks add flair, though at times, the show’s visual darkness can obscure action rather than enhance mood.
The decision to keep gore minimal is smart, allowing the atmosphere to do most of the work. The eerie quietness of Wausau, combined with sharp sound design and haunting score, makes even ordinary scenes feel charged with tension.
Final Verdict – A Worthy Addition to the Supernatural TV Canon
Revival is not a reinvention of the zombie TV series—but it is a thoughtful, emotional, and often gripping reinvigoration of it. By swapping brain-hungry monsters for soulful enigmas and centering the story on a flawed, relatable lead, the series crafts a fresh take on resurrection fiction. Melanie Scrofano’s performance alone makes it worth watching, but it's the world-building, character dynamics, and central mystery that keep you invested.
While some subplots could use trimming and a few themes are touched rather than explored, Revival hits far more than it misses. It’s the kind of show that creeps up on you—unexpectedly poignant, occasionally creepy, and surprisingly funny.
In a landscape saturated with apocalypse fatigue, Revival offers a more introspective, human take on what it means when the dead don’t stay dead.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)