When you make the life changing decision to purchase a preowned house, you may find yourself inheriting more than you expect. Leaky taps, an oven which doesn’t work properly, and noisy neighbours just to name a few. When Rebecca (Lucy Liu) and her family buy their new property, it appears that they have inherited a restless otherworldly spirit.
Rebecca and husband Chris (Chris Sullivan) have their ups and their downs, but their problems are nothing compared to daughter Chloe (Callina Liang) who is still reeling from the shocking drug related death of her best friend. Meanwhile, their angsty jock son Tyler (Eddy Maday) just wants his sister’s problems to stop affecting his popularity in high school. All the while, an unknown and unexplainable presence watches them, floating from one room to another.
As the family settle into their new home, their domestic troubles and tensions begin to flare up. Chloe is sure she can tell something is watching her from the shadows, perhaps something familiar, specifically to her. Before long, strange things begin to occur around the house as this angry spirit makes itself known. However, with everybody on edge, maybe the most disturbing thing in this family’s future has nothing to do with the supernatural.
For over 35 years, director Steven Soderbergh has been wowing audiences with his diverse filmography. Never afraid of trying new things, he has dabbled in various genres far and wide; slick heist films (the ‘Ocean’s 11‘ franchise), legal dramas (Erin Brockovich), musical biopics (Behind the Candelabra), foreign language political epics (Che: Parts 1 & 2), big budget or small, I could go on! It has been his versatility which has made him such an interesting filmmaker.
Here, teaming up with blockbuster screenwriter David Koepp Soderbergh, he sets his sights on yet another genre – the ghost story. With a low budget, Presence focuses more on psychological horror and family drama than the all-out special effects and scares. Told in an unconventional method, we view this family’s comings and goings from the first-person perspective of the spirit itself. This isn’t really a frightening film, but it is 100% a ‘haunted house’ film.
The true stress in Presence is the familial drama playing out between these four individuals. Rebecca and Chris are having marital difficulties, she may be having an affair, and he may be into something not entirely legal. Chloe is still traumatised by her loss and struggles to connect with others while Tyler is… well kind of a giant arsehole.
Like a fly on the wall, we see how Chris‘ weaknesses have lost him all respect as a father and husband, with the household falling apart as a result. The tension and uneasiness that Presence presents us with is all completely mundane in nature, but thanks to the voyeuristic nature of the film, we just can’t look away. Accompanied by Zack Ryan‘s simple, calming yet still creepy score, the atmosphere of the movie is uncomfortable, if not very terrifying.
Bizarrely, Presence may become less intriguing the more supernatural and high stakes it becomes. The old school practical effects are appreciated, although the story is quite predictable. Koepp‘s script being chock-full of ghost movie clichés, including the standard visit from a “medium” who never fails to explain exactly what is happening for the audience. Along with some very scripted and unnatural sounding dialogue, the film takes this interesting twist on the genre and squanders it.
At only 85 minutes, Presence doesn’t overstay its welcome and provides some shaking up of conventions. A slow psychological horror which is light on the horror aspect, this film honestly might disappoint audiences expecting it to be the next ‘Paranormal Activity’. Still, as a fan, Presence is an intriguing little picture from Stephen Soderbergh, making another trip back to his days of indie filmmaking.
Presence is in cinemas now.