“Revolver” (original title: Ribolbeo, 2024) is a gritty revenge drama starring Chang-wook and Jung-jae. The film follows Su-Yeong, a former detective who ends up behind bars after taking the fall for her team. Before she is imprisoned, her partners—Yang, Lim, and Andy—promise to take care of her once she gets out. But when Su-Yeong is finally released, none of what she was owed is delivered.
Determined and betrayed, Su-Yeong embarks on a relentless hunt for those who broke their promises. The journey puts her life at risk, but her instincts and training as an ex-cop keep her sharp and dangerous. Along the way, she finds an unlikely ally in Madam Jeong, a shrewd operator who seems to play both sides. Yet her quiet fondness for Su-Yeong tips the balance, offering Su-Yeong crucial support as she confronts her former partners.
This article contains spoilers.
Revolver (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
The film opens at a correctional facility. It’s the day Su-Yeong (former detective) is released from prison. The officer asks Su-Yeong for her address, but she says she does not have one. Outside, Prosecutor Hong arrives to meet Su-Yeong, but pities Su-Yeong as some people have bailed on her. Just then, Jeong Yun-Seon, aka Madam Jeong, arrives to escort Su-Yeong.
However, Su-Yeong does not remember who Madam Jeong is. Madam Jeong says they met at Mr. Jo’s place. Now, Su-Yeong is not in the mood to chit-chat. Therefore, she asks Madam Jeong if she has not come on behalf of people who have promised Su-Yeong something, then Su-Yeong will go her way. Once Su-Yeong gets out of the car, Madam Jeong gives Su-Yeong whiskey, so she asks if Lim sent Madam Jeong from his grave. Hearing this, Madam Jeong keeps the whiskey and leaves.
Why was Su-Yeong sent to jail?
In a flashback to two years ago, we see Su-Yeong has bought an apartment with Lim. Currently, Su-Yeong learns that this apartment belongs to Hwang Jeong-mi and was given to her by Lim. When Su-Yeong visits the apartment, there is no one with the name Hwang Jeong-mi, but it is a place where a shaman runs their business. In a flashback, when Su-Yeong wants to share with the world about her apartment purchase, Lim stops her, saying it will raise suspicion because one cannot afford to buy the flat with a cop’s salary. On their way, Lim receives a call saying Jo had a call recording on. Moreover, at one of the club parties, the people involved got busted. One of them was a minister’s son. In the call recordings, the cops hear Jo bribing Su-Yeong.
A while later, Su-Yeong meets with Lim, Attorney Yang Hyun-su, and Andy. They insist that Su-Yeong quit the police force and take the fall, and in return, they will compensate Su-Yeong. So, she records the conversation where they state that they will give Su-Yeong 700 million. With that, Su-Yeong takes the fall for them all. The one who makes the promise to ensure Su-Yeong can have the apartment once she is out of jail is Andy.
During the confession, Jo mentioned to the officer that, along with bribes, Su-Yeong also bought drugs three times. Since the plan is in motion, Su-Yeong agrees to everything. Yang visited Su-Yeong in prison frequently. Two months before the release, Lim visits Su-Yeong, who is worried that Yang has not visited her for months. So, Lim says Yang is out of the country. Lim says on the day of Su-Yeong’s release, he will be waiting for her with whiskey. Before parting ways, Su-Yeong tells Lim that she hasn’t and won’t forgive Lim for what he did to her.
What information does Gi-Hyun give Su-Yeong?
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Soon after, there is news that Lim is dead. The news also reports that there were investigations ongoing against Lim for corruption and drug cases. The body was found with a revolver next to it. Currently, Su-Yeong gets her phone, where she recorded the promises made. However, since the motherboard is broken, the recordings can’t be retrieved.
At that moment, Su-Yeong gets a message from Min Gi-Hyun asking Su-Yeong to meet him. The man seems to love Lim and wants Su-Yeong to hit rock bottom by becoming a murderer. So, Gi-Hyun gives Su-Yeong a revolver and asks her to meet Chief Kwon. These two worked together, but because of Su-Yeong and Lim’s case, Kwon had to retire. From Kwon, Su-Yeong manages to get “operational funds”.
Su-Yeong meets Jo to get more information about everything and everyone. From Jo, Su-Yeong learns that Lim has found some information about the CEO Grace from Eastern Promise. So Lim was planning to do something big, and then Lim died. Su-Yeong visits Gi-Hyun to get more information about Grace. The previous CEO of Eastern Promise was a shaman, and Grace became her adoptive daughter. However, Grace was not the only adoptive daughter of the shaman. The other one was Hwang Jeong-mi.
Soon after, Jeong-mi disappears, prompting Gi-Hyun to urge Su-Yeong to meet with Dong-ho, Lim’s former trainee. The encounter becomes awkward, as Dong-ho had once asked Su-Yeong out, unaware that she had been dating Lim at the time. Though he initially hesitates to talk, Su-Yeong presses him for answers. From Dong-ho, she learns that Jeong-mi fled after orchestrating an investment scam, and that Madam Jeong and Lim had been living together during Su-Yeong’s time in prison.
What happened to Su-Yeong’s money?
That night, Dong-ho visits Madam Jeong to ask her to keep an eye on Su-Yeong and report everything to him. Since Madam Jeong’s husband keeps messing up and Madam Jeong takes Dong-ho’s help while also drowning in debt, Madam Jeong agrees. The next day, Su-Yeong visits Madam Jeong’s ex to get her number. Immediately, Su-Yeong meets Madam Jeong and asks about the people Lim used to meet. So, Madam Jeong reveals about Andy and where to find him. Furthermore, Su-Yeong agrees to pay Madam Jeong for the information.
That night, Madam Jeong takes Su-Yeong to Andy’s bar. When Su-Yeong enters the bar, Madam Jeong contacts Dong-ho to inform him about Su-Yeong’s whereabouts. Inside the bar, Su-Yeong confronts Andy, who refuses to pay Su-Yeong. Andy beats the waiter up. When Su-Yeong pushes Andy to pay up, Andy makes the waiter spit his bloodied saliva into the water. Now, Andy asks Su-Yeong to drink it to get her money.
Su-Yeong does it. However, Andy hands over a bag of drugs, asking Su-Yeong to sell and make money. Angered, Su-Yeong beats Andy black and blue with a baton. Just in time, Madam Jeong arrives and takes Su-Yeong away. At Su-Yeong’s residence, Su-Yeong and Madam Jeong drink. This situation seems funny to Madam Jeong as Lim has managed to make his girlfriend and mistress drinking buddies.
The chief director of Eastern Promise informs Grace about Su-Yeong’s return. He also reveals that the company had, in fact, issued Su-Yeong’s payment, but Andy gambled it away at a casino. At the hospital, Dong-ho updates the chief director, explaining that Su-Yeong has already met Jo, Madam Jeong, and even Dong-ho himself since leaving prison. Meanwhile, Su-Yeong seeks answers from a shaman to uncover what truly happened to Jeong-mi. The shaman offers only a single clue: she must go to Hwajong Temple.
What does Su-Yeong find in the forest temple?
Later, Su-Yeong meets the chief director to ask him for money, who is eager to clean up the mess that Grace’s brother Andy has made. A while later, the chief director calls Jo and Madam Jeong to his office. The chief director says that he will give them both a place to run. The catch is that they need to keep an eye on Su-Yeong and report her every move to him.
Madam Jeong visits Su-Yeong and tells her about the chief director’s instructions, as well as saying that they are planning something to kill Su-Yeong. So, Su-Yeong asks Madam Jeong to come early the following day as they are going somewhere far. Additionally, Su-Yeong also confronts Madam Jeong about holding onto the apartment deed. However, the document is of no use without Jeong-mi’s seal.
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On the way home, Madam Jeong informs everyone of Su-Yeong’s plan. The following day, Su-Yeong makes the first stop to collect her revolver. Later, they go to the temple. A hike into the forest reveals another temple where a monk is waiting. After asking Su-Yeong’s name, the monk gives a file. In it is Jeomg-mi’s seal, which Lim had given the monk to hold onto.
By then, Madam Jeong had informed Jo and Dong-ho about her location. In a flashback, we see that Lim did not kill himself, but he was shot. As Su-Yeong arrives at the base, she notices Dong-ho’s car. So, Su-Yeong puts the revolver in the ankle holster. It’s late at night as they drive. Suddenly, they see Andy has parked his car in the middle of the road, so Su-Yeong asks Madam Jeong to run Andy over. However, Madam Jeong stops the vehicle. In another car, goons arrive. When Madam Jeong gets down to call the cops, the goons destroy her phone.
Revolver (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Inside the car, Madam Jeong realises the goons will kill Su-Yeong, so she rams into them. Taking the chance, Su-Yeong runs into the forest, so Andy asks the goons to follow Su-Yeong. Using the darkness, Su-Yeong manages to harm/kill the goons. Meanwhile, Dong-ho arrives, chats with the chief director, who asks Dong-ho to get rid of Su-Yeong.
Just then, Su-Yeong comes out, and Dong-ho tells Su-Yeong that it’s the end of the line for her. In time, Jo arrives, trying to calm everyone down, but Dong-ho fires at Jo, damaging his fingers. During this time, Su-Yeong hides behind Andy’s wheelchair. Dong-ho makes Andy promise not to go looking for her again after this day. When Su-Yeong does not come out, Dong-ho tries to shoot Su-Yeong but is unable to. Now, Su-Yeong gets up and shoots at Dong-ho’s ear.
After that, Su-Yeong asks Andy to call Grace. Snatching the phone, Su-Yeong asks Grace to bring the money alone to the temple. After that, Su-Yeong asks Jo to take Dong-ho to a hospital. Su-Yeong takes Andy up the forest to the temple while Madam Jeong waits. At dawn, Grace arrives and gives the cash to Su-Yeong.
As Su-Yeong checks the cash, Grace hits Andy for ruining everything. Saying that, Grace walks away, but Andy calls Grace “Mom,” taking Su-Yeong by surprise. Quietly, Su-Yeong walks away, but Andy threatens to find Su-Yeong and kill her. So, Su-Yeong points her gun at Grace, who promises to leave Su-Yeong alone, which also means Andy needs to stay away from Su-Yeong. After that, Su-Yeong wishes them luck, goes out to a street vendor, and eats some food. Meanwhile, Madam Jeong is waiting in her car.
In the end, Su-Yeong succeeds in exacting revenge on those who broke their promises. For a revenge narrative, Revolver avoids excessive gore and instead focuses on the meticulous process of tracking people down, extracting information, and executing each step with minimal chaos. It’s an interesting, creative choice that keeps the film engaging throughout, though the finale itself feels somewhat underwhelming.
Given Andy’s nature, it’s hard not to feel that sparing him was a mistake. He’ll almost certainly revert to his old ways, hurting more people along the path. It also appears that Su-Yeong might pay Madam Jeong her commission, potentially freeing Madam Jeong from her entanglements with Dong-ho and Eastern Promise by helping her settle her debts. Ultimately, Su-Yeong reclaims both her money and her home.
One lingering curiosity is the decision to portray Grace as Andy’s sister, despite the implications that she is actually his mother. The dynamic makes the truth fairly evident, even if the film never states it outright. Overall, Revolver is a slow-burning yet compelling revenge drama that rewards viewers with tension, layered motivations, and a protagonist who navigates her mission with cold precision.
