Comic book adaptations of indie comics can hit the ground running if the tone of a comic has been fully explored. However, the adaptation process still requires a steady hand, and Syfy’s latest series, Revival, has that from the jump. Co-created by Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, the adaptation of Tim Seeley and Mike Norton’s comic builds from an interesting foundation. Grounding the story from the point of view of a family, the undead horror-comedy is one of the best shows in years from Syfy. With plenty of heart and fun characters, Revival deserves to be a big hit for the genre network.
Revival Season 1 Plot
The small-town residents of Wausau, Wisconsin, find themselves under lockdown when a strange event occurs. On “Revival Day,” those who died in the last few weeks suddenly return to life. With the town and government worried about its implications for the country, the Wisconsin government orders a complete quarantine of the area.
At the center of the confusion is the Cypress family, which includes Sheriff Wayne (David James Elliott), police officer Dana (Melanie Scrofano), and college student Em (Romy Weltman). As they discover something is amiss in Wausau, new factions and fights break out amongst the townsfolk.
The dark comedy blends well with the horror.
Anyone familiar with Koontz and Boyce should be aware of their willingness to let horror be silly. Even when the world is ending and there’s genuine darkness, humans find ways to connect strangely. Revival weaves that absurdity into its stories but also allows the darkness of the town to break through the noise.
There’s a decent amount of dark comedic horror in Revival, which undeniably takes cues from Evil Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street, allowing for comical kills to find their way into the tale. Gallows humor plays exceptionally well, and the characters often lean into the vibes it creates.
Perhaps most helpful in delivering the seedy underbelly within town is Revival’s choice to introduce legitimate factions against the power structure. While most of the town is run by the mayor and police station, there is organized crime and a cult rummaging through the darkness. The political notes are not hidden in the story, with direct references to people scared of “Revivers” in dialogue that could easily be about any minority or oppressed culture in the world. With the writers creating authentic fear in the town, they can fully take advantage of these narratives.
The two actors with plenty to do in this regard are Steven Ogg, a born-again cult leader, and CM Punk, who leads the crime syndicate in town. Ogg gets the showier role and plays to the rafters. He’s a recognizable trope in apocalyptic storytelling, yet Ogg brings charm and skeevy nature for full effect. From scene to scene, he seems perfectly reasonable and then horrifyingly insane. Meanwhile, Punk gets to play the heavy with some manner of gusto. He does not get much screentime against our heroes early on, but once he does, he becomes a formidable foe.
Placing us in a family story helps the genre elements pop.
The sisterhood of Dana and Em comes through as the defining aspect of the series early on. Scrofano and Weltman each have a recognizable troublemaker side, yet their bonds make them more likable. Their care for each other is obvious the first time they appear on-screen together, and the actresses build the chemistry as the season unfolds. Without that heart in the middle of Revival, it could get boring quickly. Scrofano is particularly good, and while Weltman starts a little more timid, she grows into a character we enjoy by the end of the sixth episode.
The father is a tougher nut to crack. Elliott plays into the small-town sheriff trope while dropping some barbs about his political leanings. He might call someone a snowflake but then follow up by shooting his gun with a quip to elicit a laugh without effort. He’s a hard-nosed cop, but he’s a Cypress, and we want to see how this kind of man could raise Dana and Em. We may love his daughters, but his actions undeniably make things worse for the people of Wausau.
To fill out the town, we get introduced to some heart-driven characters and some looking to make a quick buck on Revival Day. CDC scientist Ibrahim Ramin (Andy McQueen) becomes an unexpected romantic pairing for Dana, and the actors share some great chemistry. He also represents the show’s moral compass by trying to show empathy and compassion for people who did not ask to be reborn. Officers played by Nathan Dales and Mark Little seem overmatched. Conrad Coates plays a mayor keeping his secrets, and Gianpaolo Venuta has to hide his true intentions towards the girls.
The mystery in this aspect of Revival becomes its strongest asset. There is enough interpersonal drama and intrigue to keep us locked into the characters as the plot drivers. However, in the background, a larger mystery hangs over the town, allowing Revival to carve out a space between Fargo and Stranger Things. You love to see a show slow-burning into its story, but wisely, Koontz and Boyce do not string us along for too long.
Is Revival worth watching?
Yes! It’s a fun little horror-mystery despite not quite having the budget of blockbuster shows. It’s undeniably the best-looking show on SyFy since Chucky, and the comedy is perfectly executed over the first handful of episodes. We’re very excited to see where this mystery-box show is heading, but with a strong cast and crew, there’s a lot to love about a small-town snowy mystery.
Watch Revival on SyFy on June 12, 2025. FandomWire was provided six episodes for the purpose of this review.
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