In its chilling and captivating series premiere, Revival proves it’s not here to chase trends—it’s here to dig them up, reanimate them, and make them weird in all the best ways.
Set in the eerily quiet town of Wausau, Wisconsin, this new SYFY drama brings a fresh take on resurrection horror: the dead have returned, but they’re not monsters. They’re just… back. And as Officer Dana Cypress quickly learns, that might be even scarier.
Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp) makes a triumphant return to the SYFY family, stepping into Dana’s boots with the same grit, wit, and grounded charisma that made her a fan favorite in Wynonna Earp.
Much like her iconic Earp role, Dana is an emotionally layered woman juggling impossible circumstances—this time with a son and an ever-growing pile of mysteries (and corpses).
The Series Premiere episode, “Don’t Tell Dad,” wastes no time getting strange. After a stunning opening where the recently deceased come back to life exactly as they were, the show jumps into Dana’s everyday chaos.
A mysterious phone call cuts short her plans to leave town. Soon, she’s investigating a dead horse, human teeth in the woods, and a rising wave of fear sweeping through her hometown—fear that’s only magnified by the presence of the newly “revived.”
The tone is spooky but not heavy, with a small-town-meets-apocalypse energy that fans of Wynonna Earp will immediately recognize. Quirky humor blends seamlessly with haunting moments, like the discovery of a feral woman yanking out her own teeth or the quietly tragic image of a woman waiting beside her dead husband’s body, hoping he’ll return like the others.
But what makes Revival stand out isn’t just its eerie premise—it’s the human drama at its core. Dana and her younger sister, Em, share a believable, tender bond that gives the show emotional stakes.
Em’s secret coming out by the episode adds a compelling personal twist to the broader mystery. Meanwhile, the addition of Dr. Ibrahim Ramin, a CDC liaison (and a past hookup with Dana), complicates matters in exactly the soapy, suspenseful way you’d hope for.
The writing from creators Aaron B. Koontz, Luke Boyce, and Michael Moreci strikes a tight balance between slow-burn intrigue and punchy character moments.
The world-building is subtle but effective, hinting at deeper conspiracies without dumping exposition. Director Amanda Row captures the bleak beauty of the Midwest in winter while turning every shadow into a potential threat.
By the time the credits roll, Revival has done its job: it’s creepy, stylish, smartly acted, and leaves you wanting more. Scrofano fans will find plenty to love in her latest role, while newcomers will be drawn in by the show’s mix of supernatural mystery, grounded emotion, and classic SYFY oddness.
Verdict: A sharp, spooky start to a series with serious potential. Whether you’re here for the mystery, the mayhem, or Melanie Scrofano herself, Revival is worth the watch.
Revival premieres Thursday, June 12 at 10/9c on SYFY.
