Presence Review: A Uniquely Crafted Ghost Story

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It’s always exciting to catch a new collaboration between renowned writer David Koepp and director Steven Soderbergh. Koepp, a highly skilled screenwriter in Hollywood for many years, has worked on blockbusters like Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, and Premium Rush, which is often overlooked. Meanwhile, Soderbergh boasts an equally diverse career, from big hits like the Ocean’s trilogy to more intimate productions such as Unsane and High Flying Bird, filmed on iPhones. The combination of these versatile filmmakers, who have previously joined forces for Kimi in 2022, has returned this year with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Magic Mike’s Last Dance from a major studio. Now, they’re back together again for their latest low-budget project, Presence.

This movie isn’t your typical fright fest that you might expect from a horror label. In fact, it barely qualifies as a horror film at all. Despite being marketed as such by Neon, I have reservations about whether viewers will find it scary due to the scarcity of jump scares in this production. However, my comment is not intended as a criticism; on the contrary, Presence is an intriguingly unique and entertaining experiment.

The film’s narrative unfolds from a singular vantage point: the entire movie is shot from the first-person perspective of a supernatural entity residing within this house. We are constantly in the eyes of this spectral being as it observes a family contemplating moving in, guided by realtor Cece, portrayed by Julia Fox. Although Soderbergh collaborates with Fox again after 2021’s No Sudden Move, fans of her captivating role in “Josh Safdie’s muse for Uncut Gems” should manage their expectations, as she appears in only one scene.

The introductory melody in the movie serves as a hint about its genre: it’s a drama, and the sweet, emotional tune is not what you’d typically expect from a horror film. Instead, a high-pitched, eerie score might have been more fitting for that genre. However, Koepp aimed to create something different with this movie; the melodious music complements it well because the film leans more towards supernatural drama than it does towards horror.

In a fresh take on the conventional horror movie formula, the narrative unfolds from the ghost’s perspective rather than the family’s. The family in question consists of Rebecca (Lucy Liu), the mother, Chris (Chris Sullivan), the father, Chloe (Callina Liang), the daughter, and Tyler (Eddy Maday), the son. They settle into a new home, only to experience peculiar occurrences hinting at an unseen presence within their dwelling. This movie, though it adheres to familiar horror tropes, distinguishes itself by offering a unique perspective – that of the ghost itself. While we’ve often witnessed children experiencing strange phenomena in these types of films, this production allows us to observe the world from the ghost’s vantage point as it manipulates objects, causing Chloe’s astonishment.

What sets this film apart is its intriguing enigma – who is the spirit haunting us, what brings them here, and what are their intentions? The puzzles surrounding this spectral figure captivate us more than any anticipated fright. This movie abstains from jump scares. Instead, it creates a sense of dread by positioning us as a peeping tom in their residence. It’s an original, thought-provoking concept that proves effective, though not conventionally horror. The directors, Koepp and Soderbergh, intended to create a movie where the family doesn’t feel immediately threatened if the ghost had performed malicious acts in the early stages. However, this isn’t the film they chose to make.

Regarding their family’s relationships, there’s some turmoil, yet it rarely escalates significantly. We get a general understanding of the hardships Rebecca and Chris face, but the film doesn’t delve deeply enough to keep us engaged. The most intriguing aspect revolves around the children. Tyler forms a friendship with Ryan (West Mulholland), while Chloe becomes romantically involved with him. Chloe, who carries the heaviest emotional burden due to the loss of her friend in a drug-related incident, is the character the movie portrays most effectively when it focuses on her.

As a gamer diving into Presence, let me tell you, this game isn’t exactly a walk in the park. There’s definitely an eerie vibe that creeps up, especially towards the end. The climax will send chills down your spine, I can assure you of that. I remember leaning back in shock during some intense moments. All in all, there’s a lot to admire about this game, and the extended, uncut scenes really add to the immersion. The actors deliver solid performances, even though I found myself yearning for a script that delved deeper into the family dynamics, creating an additional layer of suspense and horror.

All in all, the film “Presence” is quite good. The climactic revelation at the end significantly enhances the rest of the movie, as it changes your perspective on everything that came before. There’s an emotional impact that is mostly effective, but could have benefited from one additional scene to make a stronger impact. I wouldn’t classify this film as scary, but it’s certainly worth watching.

SCORE: 7/10

According to the review guidelines at ComingSoon, a score of 7 means “Good.” It’s an enjoyable game that I would recommend, though it might not tickle everyone’s gaming fancy quite the same way it did mine.

Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Presence review.

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2025-01-24 02:12