When a revolver is pressed to a character's forehead and discharged, there is no muzzle blast, nor recoil. Not even a wisp of muzzle blast, not a fraction of recoil. The only effect seen is blood from the rear of the head. An actual "contact shot" like that would also display heavy damage to the front of the head where the muzzle was pressed to the head.

As Father James drives to the airport, we see that his mirror is reflecting an entirely different image than the environment surrounding him.