“Presence”
R/Supernatural/Thriller/Drama/85 Mins
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: David Koepp
Starring: Lucy Liu (“Elementary”), Chris Sullivan (“This is Us”), Callina Liang (“Bad Genius”), Eddy Maday, West Mulholland (“Dark Harvest”), Natalie Woodlams-Torr (“Dead Ringer”), Lucas Papaelias (“The Knick”), Julia Fox (“Uncut Gems”)
Review:
Let me tell you now, this is NOT a horror film. It has haunting moments of tension, but this film is more than that. It is a riveting family drama wrapped inside a haunted house movie. “Presence” centers on a family that just moved into a new house. They are a normal family looking for a fresh start after one of their kids suffers a great loss. Almost immediately, the daughter, Chloe, senses a certain ghostly presence that convinces her they aren’t alone. Sounds familiar, right? Well this is a Steven Soderbergh film so an innovative filmmaker like himself, he’s bound to turn this concept on its head. In this case, the audience member witnesses the entire film from the point of view of the spirit haunting this suburban home.
This is a film that takes place entirely inside the house, every moment witnessed by the poltergeist is played out in long single takes and the cut to black ending-vignettes throughout gives the illusion of a spirit lost in time. I expected this to be a quiet meditative ghost story with moments of melancholy and it did deliver in that aspect. However, what caught me by surprise was an underlying mystery that hints at the Presence’s intentions as well as the suspicious circumstances regarding Chloe’s friend’s death. As the film unravels, it all becomes clear leading up to a shocking climax that had my heart racing right up until the final minutes where that beating heart breaks a little bit.
Going back to the film’s structure, this vignette style narrative is held together by the incredible performances from this family of four. Every moment between the family feels real and grounded. It felt like you weren’t even watching actors, but like you’re invading real people’s intimate/vulnerable interactions. Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang and Eddy Maday all did tremendous, in particular, Sullivan & Liang. Sullivan’s performance as the father blew me away. It felt authentic as a man just trying to keep his family from falling apart from small arguments to his wife’s illegal activities or when he’s telling his daughter a personal story about his religious beliefs. He didn’t feel like a character but a real person. That’s the highest compliment you can give an actor portraying a role.
The second standout is Callina Liang as Chloe. A lot of narrative rests on her shoulders as she experiences most of the paranormal activity. Liang did excellent as a troubled teenager navigating loss and grief, with a performance that felt human.
My only issue with this film deals with a certain subplot regarding the wife. At first it caused intrigue but then the main plot I found to be more interesting and by the time that story thread reaches its conclusion, the subplot is left unresolved. Other than that, “Presence” tells a tight story with a lean runtime of 85 mins. I also think this film has some replay value as there are details you catch on a second viewing you may have missed the first time and makes the answer to the mystery of the ghost much more clear. I found “Presence” to be a gem of a film that is perfect to catch at a matinee on a Sunday afternoon. After all these years, Soderbergh continues to be a visionary filmmaker telling original stories in innovative ways, and “Presence” is no different. I, for one, really enjoyed witnessing this filmmaker’s unique (spectral) vision. (Pun intended)
Score: 9/10
“Presence” is in theaters now.
Link to showtimes is right HERE!
