What Is Revelation About?
The premise of Revelation in 291 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where a centuries‑old relic has silently fed a hidden, bloody conflict, the quiet village of Rennes‑le‑Champ‑Church becomes a crossroads of myth and modern ambition. The Loculus—an artifact forged in the dawn of the Christian era—has slipped from memory only to reappear, whispering promises of power that could tip the balance of humanity itself. The film moves between the austere corridors of academia, the shadowed vaults of secret societies, and the sun‑drenched ruins of ancient pilgrimage sites, each locale rendered with a moody, atmospheric palette that blends the weight of history with a pulse‑quickening sense of impending danger.
At the story’s heart is Magnus Martel, a seasoned scholar whose lifelong obsession with the Loculus forces him to walk the razor’s edge between curiosity and caution. Tasked with infiltrating a clandestine order that has guarded the relic’s secret for generations, Magnus must balance his intellectual rigor with the moral urgency of preventing a looming catastrophe. His world collides with that of his son, Jake Martel, a brilliant cryptographer recently released from prison, whose restless intellect and yearning for redemption draw him inexorably into his father’s perilous pursuit.
Guiding them through the labyrinth of symbols and histories is an enigmatic occultist named Mira, whose deep personal connection to the relic adds both intimacy and intrigue to the quest. Alongside them, the steady presence of Father Ray Connolly, a priest whose moral compass offers a counterpoint to the relentless quest for knowledge, grounds the narrative in a contemplative tension between faith and science. Together, this unlikely quartet navigates a tapestry of ancient conspiracies, cryptic puzzles, and the ever‑present allure of a power that could reshape the world, all while the film’s tone remains a careful blend of intellectual thriller and gothic suspense.
What Happens in Revelation?
The complete story of Revelation, from the first scene to the last, in 803 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 21 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Two ancient flashbacks trace the mysterious Loculus: a relic is created in 50 AD, then hidden by Jews fleeing a Crusader mob in medieval Rennes-le-Château. In present-day Rennes-le-Château, Magnus Martel, Terence Stamp, an academic under his watch, is seen with the relic, quietly weighing where to bury it so its immense power cannot be weaponized. The tension tightens as Magnus’s son, Jake Martel, James D’Arcy, a brilliant cryptographer, is released from Wormwood Scrubs Prison and drawn into his father’s secret project. Magnus reveals a chilling truth: the Loculus is tied to the Knights Templar and their shadowy successor, the Order, and the calls from this organization threaten him to speed up the research. Yet Magnus also understands the relic’s potential for both profound good and terrible evil, and he hides it to keep it out of dangerous hands.
When Jake cracks a key code on the Loculus, the tablet unveils the word “palingenesis,” and chaos erupts. As the Order closes in, Jake hides, and Magnus is slain in a brutal assault that leaves him flayed. Frantically, Jake escapes with Mira, an occultist guiding the research, and seeks help from Father Ray Connolly, Liam Cunningham, who becomes a steady backup in their perilous journey.
The trio’s pursuit of answers leads them to a Cambridge library, where they uncover Isaac Newton’s entanglement with the Loculus and its possible role in a hidden eschatological plan. They travel to Rennes-le-Château and its Tour Magdala, tracing a lineage that points to Patmos, the biblical island linked to John’s Revelation. In London, Father Connolly stays behind as a safety net while Mira and Jake press on to Patmos, where the Loculus is secreted beneath a crypt in a Greek Orthodox church—an ancient temple once dedicated to Mary Magdalene, now entwined with Aphrodite in legend.
Within the crypt, the Loculus’s hermaphrodite symbol is used to reveal a hexagram carved into the floor. Jake and Mira shed their clothes and join in a ritual within the symbol, hoping to unlock its door. They share a vision of themselves as Christ and Mary Magdalene, then flee as a pursuer approaches.
The pursuit reveals its true antagonist: Father Connolly has followed them to Patmos, but the real danger lies with the Order and its Grand Master. The trio discovers that the Loculus’s meaning rests in the four nails of the crucifixion, which hold Christ’s preserved DNA—the key the Templars and the Order have pursued to resurrect Jesus. Newton’s earlier attempt failed, but contemporary science gives new possibilities. The group wrestles over what to do with this power: Jake argues for destroying the Loculus to keep it from the Order; Ray advocates delivering it to a trusted African cardinal at the Vatican. Ray’s plan ultimately prevails, but not without peril: in Rome, the Order’s Grand Master seizes the relic, tortures Ray, and orders the slaughter of Mira and Jake.
In a desperate counterstrike, Mira and Jake flood the chamber with sand to kill the intruding troops, and Connolly’s emergency postcard summons the monks to alert them to the danger. Mira escapes, but Jake is buried beneath the sands. Meanwhile, the Grand Master has achieved a chilling victory on a different front: he has cloned Christ and arranged for the Messiah to be proclaimed by the Vatican, bending this figure to his own brutal rule.
The film closes on a stark revelation: Mira, a Magdalene’s descendant, has borne a child by a Martel, ensuring a lineage that must be kept secret from the Order. The child becomes a symbol of resistance against the Grand Master’s puppet Christ, preserving hope for a future that refuses to bow to a world ruled by coercive power.
Characters to watch for:
- Jake Martel, James D’Arcy, a keen cryptographer drawn into the Loculus mystery.
- Magnus Martel, Terence Stamp, his father, whose split between power and prudence drives the early conflict.
- the Grand Master, Udo Kier, the enigmatic force behind the Order’s long shadow.
- Sir Isaac Newton, Ron Moody, whose historical ties to the Loculus inform the modern search.
- Father Ray Connolly, Liam Cunningham, the priest who becomes an ally and moral counterweight.
- Professor Casaubon, Oliver Ford Davies, a scholar tied to the relic’s deeper enigmas.
- Harriet Martel, Celia Imrie, a figure connected to the family’s legacy.
- Librarian, Derek Jacobi, keeper of potentially crucial records.
- Mira, Natasha Wightman, the occultist who partners with Jake.
- Other named cast members include Manuel Cauchi, Pip Torrens, Vernon Dobtcheff, Joseph Long, Mark Heenehan, Chris Rogers, Earl Cameron, Charlotte Weston, Sidney Kean, Diran Meghreblian, Jean-Marc Perret, and Heathcote Williams, who populate the world around the Loculus’s dangerous orbit.
This tale blends ancient myth, cryptic puzzles, and modern ambition to pose a timeless question: when power truly speaks, who decides what is right to do with it?
Revelation Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Loculus created” to “Sand flood, escape, and ultimate secret”. 13 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Loculus created
A relic known as the Loculus is created in 50 AD, its design foreshadowing power that transcends eras. Its DNA-based potential hints at a master key for life and death. The event sets the foundation for a struggle that spans millennia.
When:50 AD
- 2
Loculus hidden in Rennes-le-Château
During the medieval Crusades, Jews hide the Loculus from a Crusader mob in Rennes-le-Château to shield it from desecration. The secrecy of the hideaway preserves the relic through centuries of turmoil. The location becomes a whispered legend that reemerges when modern seekers arrive.
When:Medieval period (Crusades era) Where:Rennes-le-Château, France
- 3
Present-day research in Rennes-le-Château
In present-day Rennes-le-Château, an academic works under Magnus Martel, studying the Loculus to determine the right place to hide it again. The project teeters between scholarly inquiry and dangerous power as the relic's significance grows clearer. Magnus positions the study as a safeguard against the Order's ambitions.
When:Present day Where:Rennes-le-Château, France
- 4
Magnus links Loculus to the Order
Magnus reveals that the Loculus is tied to the Knights Templar and their shadowy successor, the Order. He insists the relic's power could be used for great good or overwhelming evil, and he hides it to prevent its capture. The revelation places Magnus on a collision course with the Order and sets the stakes high.
When:Present day Where:London, England (secret study)
- 5
Jake released and recruited
Jake, Magnus's son and a skilled cryptographer, is released from Wormwood Scrubs and brought into the Loculus project. He steps into a world of dangerous secrets and high-stakes research. The recruitment deepens the family conflict as the Order closes in.
When:Present day Where:London, England
- 6
The murder of Magnus
Members of the Order track down Magnus and kill him, even flaying him, to eliminate a threat and seize the Loculus. Jake witnesses the brutal act and is forced to flee for his life. The loss ignites a desperate chase across borders.
When:Present day Where:London, England
- 7
Jake flees with Mira and seeks Connolly
Jake escapes with Mira, an occultist on the project, and seeks help from Father Ray Connolly. The trio becomes a hunted unit as they pursue safety and answers. Their alliance cements their resolve to unlock the Loculus's meaning before the Order can control it.
When:Present day Where:London
- 8
Cambridge library research on Newton
The trail leads them to Cambridge, where they consult archives on Isaac Newton's involvement with attempts to unlock the Loculus. They uncover a tangled history of science, religion, and hidden esoteric knowledge. The library becomes a nexus of clues and danger.
When:Present day Where:Cambridge, England
- 9
Rennes-le-Château and Patmos clues
From Cambridge they trace the Loculus back to Rennes-le-Château and its Tour Magdala, learning it has ties to Christian eschatology and has been hidden on Patmos. The revelation broadens the map of power chasing the relic. The distance traveled underscores the global scope of the mystery.
When:Present day Where:Rennes-le-Château, France
- 10
Loculus found in Patmos crypt
Jake and Mira locate the Loculus in a crypt beneath a Greek Orthodox church and a former temple to Mary Magdalene as Aphrodite. A hermaphrodite symbol on the relic reflects light to reveal a floor hexagram that encodes a hidden meaning. They disrobe and enter the symbol, glimpsing visions of themselves as Christ and Magdalene.
When:Present day Where:Patmos, Greece
Show the other 4 events of Revelation Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Connolly joins the pursuit and explains the nails
The pursuer turns out to be Father Connolly, who arrives to help decipher the Loculus's meaning. Together they realize the four nails holding the relic correspond to Jesus's crucifixion and preserved DNA. The discovery reframes the moral question of what to do with the relic's power.
When:Present day Where:Patmos, Greece
- 12
Destruction vs Vatican control
The trio debates whether to destroy the Loculus or deliver it to a trusted Vatican cardinal. Jake sides with his father’s memory to destroy it, while Connolly urges a Vatican-handled approach. The disagreement accelerates the danger as the Order closes in.
When:Present day Where:Patmos, Greece
- 13
Rome confrontation and cloning
They reach Rome, where the Order's Grand Master seizes the Loculus, tortures Ray, and dispatches troops. The Grand Master has a clone of Christ under his control, presented as the Messiah to manipulate the Church and world events. The power grab marks a turning point toward an ominously altered history.
When:Present day Where:Rome, Vatican City
- 14
Sand flood, escape, and ultimate secret
In the aftermath, Mira and Jake flood the chamber with sand to neutralize the troops; Connolly had warned them with a postcard to alert the monks. Mira escapes while Jake is fatally buried in the chaos. The ending reveals Mira's hidden lineage and the birth of a child by a Martel descendant, a secret she must protect to oppose the puppet Christ.
When:Present day Where:Vatican City / Rome
Who Are the Main Characters in Revelation?
9 characters, among them Jake Martel (James D'Arcy), Magnus Martel (Terence Stamp) and The Grand Master (Udo Kier): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Jake Martel (James D'Arcy)
Played by 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)
Played by 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)
Played by 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)
Played by 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)
Played by 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
- M(
Mira (Natasha Wightman)
Played by 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)
Played by 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
- NA
New Age Man (Heathcote Williams)
Played by 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
- CA
Curé at Rennes-le-Chateau (Vernon Dobtcheff)
Played by 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
Where and When Is Revelation Set?
Revelation is set in Rennes-le-Château, Wormwood Scrubs Prison (London), Cambridge, Patmos, Rome… (Present day with ancient and medieval flashbacks). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
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.
Where
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
What Are the Themes of Revelation?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power, Mystery and Science & Faith.
-
01
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.
-
02
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.
-
03
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.
What Kind of Film Is Revelation?
Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Complex
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and paranoid thriller that steadily builds an aura of apocalyptic dread and esoteric mystery, centered on an ancient conspiracy with world-ending stakes and profound moral choices.
- suspenseful
- paranoid
- occult
- anxious
- apocalyptic
- dark
- ancient conspiracy
- religious relic
- secret societies
- cryptography
Content notes: torture, graphic murder, buried alive, religious horror.
Quiz
How well do you remember Revelation? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Revelation
Stream it on Shout! Factory and The Roku Channel. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Shout! Factory TV 
The Roku Channel 
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