Presence: Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, & Stars Discuss Horror Movie at NYC Premiere

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On the red carpet at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on Thursday, January 16, 2025, there was a noteworthy gathering. This event saw prominent Hollywood personalities assemble for the premiere of NEON’s latest horror film, titled Presence. Notable figures like director Steven Soderbergh (famous for Ocean’s 11, Magic Mike, and Erin Brockovich), writer David Koepp (known for Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man), as well as the rest of the cast, were all present.

In an upcoming release, Jonathan Sim from ComingSoon had the opportunity to chat with the cast about their characters in a film that revolves around a family settling into a house and harboring suspicions they’re not alone. This unique take on the ghost story genre switches perspectives, making the audience experience the story through the eyes of the spectral entity, as it guides the narrative throughout the entire film duration.

Among the notable actors in the cast is Julia Fox, famously recognized for her role as a supporting character in Uncut Gems. She plays CeCe, the realtor who sells the family the house. Fox teams up with Soderbergh again after their past project, No Sudden Move from 2021. Previously, she garnered attention by stating, “I was Josh Safdie’s muse when he wrote Uncut Gems.

When questioned about being labeled Soderbergh’s muse, she chuckled and asserted, “Absolutely not! I believe I wasn’t the one who inspired the character CeCe. I’ve never had experience selling a house in my life. Instead, if given the chance, I would persuade the buyer against it. I’d caution them about all its problems, point out mysteries like ‘Someone once died here!’, so no, I don’t consider myself that kind of girl. I don’t see myself as a salesperson. But let me tell you, I have immense respect for those who can do it, because it takes real skill and confidence.

The cast features some newcomers, such as Eddy Maday portraying Tyler, who is part of the family in this film. According to Maday himself, “Initially, when you watch the movie, you might think he’s quite a jerk.” However, he adds, “As actors, our task is to delve deeper and understand why he behaves that way. We aim to find aspects we can sympathize with so that viewers no longer see him as an asshole. By the end of the film, I believe audiences will view him as someone who’s dealing with a lot, someone who’s hurting, and therefore lashing out.

He explains, “I find certain characters more relatable since they share traits you can empathize with. This one, in particular, was challenging due to his relationship with his parents, which is something I’ve never experienced myself – shouting at my parents, I think I’ve never done it. So, understanding and portraying that aspect of the character required some extra effort.

In his role, Callina Liang depicts his on-screen sister, Chloe, as a teenage girl who has recently experienced the loss of a friend. “Initially, she appears to be a deeply wounded young woman,” Liang explains. “She’s been through so much hardship and is in immense pain, struggling for answers. I empathized greatly with her, recognizing a bit of myself in her. As an only child who grew up with my father, I could relate to the bond between Chloe and her dad. Additionally, I understood the feeling of isolation among siblings. On set, portraying these emotions felt organic because I prepared thoroughly. Each day, I simply stepped into character.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the role of Chloe’s dad is brought to life by Chris Sullivan, renowned for his performances in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and This is Us. When asked about his initial thoughts on his character Chris, he expressed: “I found him to be a deeply compassionate father and a genuinely loving individual. On set, it seemed that he mirrored this authenticity, making me believe that he truly embodies who he portrays – what you see is essentially who he is.

West Mulholland embodies Tyler’s friend Ryan and offers an insight into another character grappling with pain: “The aspect of the character that resonated deeply with me was the suffering and the turmoil. Ryan is a character marked by deep sorrow, and he carries a heavy burden between his mother’s expectations and his social life, being the swim team captain and needing to excel in everything. He is under immense pressure. This is something I can empathize with. In fact, during the filming of this project, I stepped off the plane onto campus as soon as we finished the movie, kicking off my first year of college. It was an awe-inspiring experience transitioning from a Steven Soderbergh production to introducing myself as a freshman. However, for Ryan, he serves as a cautionary tale for many. And indeed, I found myself deeply identifying with this character and the pain helps shape him in that way. Consequently, I believe that was my initial impression.

When asked about collaborating with Soderbergh, Maday expresses his admiration by saying it’s like a dream come true. He goes on to emphasize that Soderbergh is truly exceptional and you can see this because the film they worked on presented unique challenges without much existing reference material. Since he had to invent each scene from scratch, Soderbergh was incredibly efficient, working swiftly and precisely knowing exactly what he aimed to achieve.

Sullivan shared a similar viewpoint, stating, “Working with Steven Soderbergh on any project is truly exceptional. He’s one-of-a-kind, an extraordinary filmmaker. This time was no different as he took on a fresh challenge, something never attempted before and likely won’t be again. Amazingly, it proved to be successful.

The cast also stuck around to answer some fun Presence-themed questions.

If you had the chance to see the world through someone else’s eyes for a day, real or imaginary, alive or deceased, which person would you pick and what makes them special to you?

Eddie Maday: In about a decade, I might say that person could be me. It’d be quite fascinating to witness such a confident version of myself, or simply because observing that future self is intriguing to see where the journey leads.

As a gamer, all I can think of is being like Demi Moore from “The Matrix,” diving into that digital world and sampling the substance. Just imagine, even for a day, to be a part of that reality! Yet, I don’t crave the substance itself! But hear me out, if there was an opportunity to experience it as a presence, something I could enter and exit at will, count me in! Let’s give it a shot!

Chris Sullivan proposes an interesting idea: It might greatly benefit him if he could spend a single day experiencing life from his wife’s point of view, gaining some perspective in the process.

West Mulholland: It’s reminiscent of the movie “Being John Malkovich”. Oh, how fascinating it would be to be John Malkovich! Aren’t we all secretly intrigued by the idea? Perhaps in our own unique ways, we are all like John Malkovich.

What is the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?

Lucy Liu: Back then, I wasn’t prepared to watch it, but on Halloween of 1978, I saw a film that truly startled me. For quite some time afterward, I didn’t sleep in my own room for several nights in a row.

Callina Liang: The film “Incantation” left a profound impact on me. It’s a Chinese production, and given my background, the cultural elements felt surprisingly intense. This is why it gave me quite a scare. If you’re looking for a chilling experience, I’d recommend “Incantation”. It’s available on Netflix.

As a hardcore gamer, let me tell you, nothing has given me chills quite like watching Hereditary. It’s the scariest flick I’ve come across, hands down.

West Mulholland: The film “E.T.” holds a special place in my heart because I saw it at such a young age and it was so suspenseful during the cornfield scene when E.T. suddenly appeared to Elliott, causing me to think he was some sort of leprechaun. Now, it’s one of my all-time favorite movies. Watching it now brings a smile to my face as I recall my younger self cowering behind a pillow, scared out of my wits when E.T. emerged. However, even at that age, I understood that E.T. wasn’t real and that he was more like a best friend, representing an alien or a mysterious force entering the house, struggling to find his place in the world. For me, “E.T.” was truly terrifying when I was just four years old.

Presence arrives in theaters on January 24, 2024.

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2025-01-23 23:40