Netflix Adds Syfy Zombie Series Revival

Paranormal procedural shows are common. From The X-Files to iZombie, the genre spans decades. It appeals to horror fans and viewers who enjoy spooky vibes and character dynamics.

The genre is crowded due to that winning formula. Viewers who have seen the classics and want a supernatural story anchored by a family drama can now watch the first season of Syfy’s 2025 series Revival on Netflix.

What is Revival about?

Created by Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, and based on the comic series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, Revival follows a family in crisis in the small town of Wausau, Wisconsin. Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano) is a divorced cop who wants to leave the town she has lived in her entire life. She plans to move to Chicago with her son (Hudson Robert Wurster) for a fresh start as soon as her transfer is approved. Her boss is her father and the town’s Sheriff (David James Elliott), who is a reliable figure in a crisis but difficult to be around constantly.

Things change when the town’s recently deceased inhabitants come back to life. These resurrections happen in different ways. Some individuals crawl out of their graves to find their families, while others wake up inside an incinerator. This event is called Revival Day. It turns the town into the focus of a media frenzy and a government-enforced quarantine as health experts and authorities investigate. The situation complicates Dana’s police work because any culprit behind a strange crime might be undead.

The return of the dead sparks fear in the town. While many celebrate the return of loved ones known as Revivers, others worry about future complications. A revived little girl is bullied at school by classmates who call her a zombie girl in public while avoiding her otherwise. At a crowded police station, a woman wonders if a sullen teenager who wears black clothes and goth makeup is a Reviver. Exhausted, Dana replies that the teenager is just Tina and likes The Cure.

Revival reinvents the zombie genre

Most Revivers are peaceful and want to return to normal lives. However, reawakened individuals are immune to cuts and life-threatening injuries. An old woman’s teeth grow back immediately after falling out in one scene, and some Revivers develop extraordinary strength. Others return with aggressive behavior and a distorted sense of reality.

Revival draws inspiration from shows like The Leftovers, focusing on the aftermath of an unexplainable event and its effect on a community. In Wausau, residents take extreme measures to reunite with loved ones. Some dig up the dead to bring them home, while others hide a Reviver’s terrifying behavior by locking them in a barn and pretending everything is normal.

The series centers on the Cypress family, with each episode revealing backstory about why the characters behave the way they do. Melanie Scrofano plays Dana as a resourceful yet immature cop who makes rash decisions while solving cases. Romy Weltman plays Em, her sickly younger sister returning home after a difficult college experience. Em has a tense relationship with her father and a layered, protective dynamic with Dana. Episodes leave viewers wondering what broke these relationships and whether they can be mended.

The first season aired last year, and the status of a second season remains unconfirmed. Aaron B. Koontz believes a strong performance on Netflix could determine the show’s future. He told What’s on Netflix that the response from viewers on Peacock was incredible, but Netflix gives the project a new life. The murder mystery of the first season is resolved in the finale.

Revival combines fast pacing, funny dialogue, and gory thrills with a focus on community reactions and a complex family story.

Revival is streaming on Netflix.

Source: Polygon