Presence Movie Review: Steven Soderbergh delivers a drama disguised as horror
Presence Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.0 stars, click to give your rating/review,As an experimental film, 'Presence' invites multiple interpretations. It defies the conventions of a
Critic's Rating: 3.0/5
Story: A couple moves into a new home with their teenage son and grieving daughter, unaware that a supernatural entity is watching them.
Review:Presence' qualifies more as a family drama than a horror film, with the plot unfolding from the ghost’s point of view—the camera itself. This film adheres to classic indie filmmaking traits: a minimal cast, a confined setting within a house, and a ghost that spends most of the time as a silent observer, occasionally intervening. It's puzzling why the film was marketed as a horror experience, given the absence of thrills, eerie moments, or even basic jump scares. While Steven Soderbergh’s approach to the genre is undeniably unconventional, it falls short of delivering anything truly haunting. What remains is an intriguing cinematic experiment that may engage only a select group of audiences but disappoint those expecting genuine horror.
The film revolves around Rebekah (Lucy Liu) and Chris (Chris Sullivan), a couple who move into a new home with their teenage children, Chloe (Callina Liang) and Tyler (Eddy Maday). Chloe is grieving the loss of her best friend, Nadia, who is believed to have died of a drug overdose. Though she senses an unseen entity in her room, she isn’t afraid of it. The story unfolds from the perspective of this entity, with the camera itself acting as the 'presence,' silently observing the family's struggles. As the family begins living in the house, tensions rise—Rebekah and Chris’s marriage starts to unravel, Chloe’s grief takes on unsettling forms, and Tyler grapples with growing loneliness—all while the entity remains a silent, watchful spectator. However, its presence grows more apparent when Tyler’s friend, Ryan, takes an interest in Chloe. Strange occurrences escalate, forcing the family to acknowledge the existence of a supernatural force in their home.
The climax of 'Presence' is intriguing, but by the time the true identity of the entity is revealed, the film has lost the viewer’s engagement. As a pure drama, it works well—capturing the tension in Rebekah and Chris’s marriage, Chloe’s psychological struggles intertwined with grief, and Tyler’s search for companionship. However, the moment it leans into horror, the narrative starts to unravel. Despite being penned by David Koepp, known for 'Jurassic Park,' 'Mission: Impossible,' and 'Carlito’s Way,' the screenplay has noticeable gaps. The entity saves Chloe when Ryan spikes her drink once but doesn’t help her in a similar situation later. Throughout the film, the supernatural element remains mostly passive, never fully taking precedence over the family drama, making the horror aspect feel underdeveloped and ineffective.
Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan deliver believable performances as Rebekah and Chris, a couple grappling with the strains of a long marriage. Liu shines as a mother who openly dotes on her son while maintaining a more distant relationship with her daughter. Sullivan brings sincerity to his role as the well-meaning but struggling patriarch. However, it’s Callina Liang as Chloe who truly stands out, delivering a restrained yet powerful portrayal of a young girl consumed by grief.
As an experimental film, 'Presence' invites multiple interpretations. It defies the conventions of a typical ghost story, foregoing traditional horror tropes. When viewed purely as a drama, Soderbergh excels—his camerawork, use of space, and well-drawn characters create an engaging atmosphere. While the film is a bold and innovative attempt, its limitations prevent it from leaving an impact.
Review:Presence' qualifies more as a family drama than a horror film, with the plot unfolding from the ghost’s point of view—the camera itself. This film adheres to classic indie filmmaking traits: a minimal cast, a confined setting within a house, and a ghost that spends most of the time as a silent observer, occasionally intervening. It's puzzling why the film was marketed as a horror experience, given the absence of thrills, eerie moments, or even basic jump scares. While Steven Soderbergh’s approach to the genre is undeniably unconventional, it falls short of delivering anything truly haunting. What remains is an intriguing cinematic experiment that may engage only a select group of audiences but disappoint those expecting genuine horror.
The film revolves around Rebekah (Lucy Liu) and Chris (Chris Sullivan), a couple who move into a new home with their teenage children, Chloe (Callina Liang) and Tyler (Eddy Maday). Chloe is grieving the loss of her best friend, Nadia, who is believed to have died of a drug overdose. Though she senses an unseen entity in her room, she isn’t afraid of it. The story unfolds from the perspective of this entity, with the camera itself acting as the 'presence,' silently observing the family's struggles. As the family begins living in the house, tensions rise—Rebekah and Chris’s marriage starts to unravel, Chloe’s grief takes on unsettling forms, and Tyler grapples with growing loneliness—all while the entity remains a silent, watchful spectator. However, its presence grows more apparent when Tyler’s friend, Ryan, takes an interest in Chloe. Strange occurrences escalate, forcing the family to acknowledge the existence of a supernatural force in their home.
The climax of 'Presence' is intriguing, but by the time the true identity of the entity is revealed, the film has lost the viewer’s engagement. As a pure drama, it works well—capturing the tension in Rebekah and Chris’s marriage, Chloe’s psychological struggles intertwined with grief, and Tyler’s search for companionship. However, the moment it leans into horror, the narrative starts to unravel. Despite being penned by David Koepp, known for 'Jurassic Park,' 'Mission: Impossible,' and 'Carlito’s Way,' the screenplay has noticeable gaps. The entity saves Chloe when Ryan spikes her drink once but doesn’t help her in a similar situation later. Throughout the film, the supernatural element remains mostly passive, never fully taking precedence over the family drama, making the horror aspect feel underdeveloped and ineffective.
Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan deliver believable performances as Rebekah and Chris, a couple grappling with the strains of a long marriage. Liu shines as a mother who openly dotes on her son while maintaining a more distant relationship with her daughter. Sullivan brings sincerity to his role as the well-meaning but struggling patriarch. However, it’s Callina Liang as Chloe who truly stands out, delivering a restrained yet powerful portrayal of a young girl consumed by grief.
As an experimental film, 'Presence' invites multiple interpretations. It defies the conventions of a typical ghost story, foregoing traditional horror tropes. When viewed purely as a drama, Soderbergh excels—his camerawork, use of space, and well-drawn characters create an engaging atmosphere. While the film is a bold and innovative attempt, its limitations prevent it from leaving an impact.
