Presence (dir. Steven Soderbergh)
By: Adam Freed
If ghosts are real, then there must be a purpose behind their existence. Perhaps the spirits are souls abandoned by their former owners, left to a nomadic existence prompting their penchant for malice and ill will. Presence, a supernatural family drama directed by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean's Eleven) paints a far more intriguing picture of spectral existence, one in which audiences are gifted the unique perspective of an apparition confined to dimensions of a beautifully idyllic suburban home. Soderbergh crafts the satisfyingly unique story around a nuclear family attempting to reset by purchasing a gorgeously restored home in the hopes of leaving behind a traumatic event that looms large over the life of their daughter Chloe. The young teen offers an intriguingly dynamic character as someone who initially appears ill equipped to manage a life mired by devastation. What is initially presented as an opportunity for a family to grow closer together in the wake of tragedy, evolves into a haunted thematic cocktail consisting of equal parts curiosity and catastrophe.
The convention-defying Presence is far more of a drama than it is a horror film, yet manufactures a fistful of legitimate goosebump inducing moments. Steven Soderbergh’s choice to frame the film from the first person perspective of an apparition provides space for audiences to activate their imaginations as to the rules that govern the existence of the otherworldly being. Presence is at its core a mystery, one that presents a few more questions than it answers, but audiences who invest in the trials and tribulations of the haunted family are sure to feel sated by the answers the film chooses to provide. While this is far from the apex of Soderbergh’s filmography, the notable director should be commended for taking the risk of telling an intriguing story from a perspective that is far from cliché. Despite being haunted by a few of the loose ends left unaddressed by its conclusion, Presence is a thought provoking experience.
Outside of its creatively refreshing perspective, Presence is also bolstered by a pair of performances that provide the emotional heartbeat of the film. Chris Sullivan (This is Us, Stranger Things) injects the film with life due to his heartfelt portrayal of a sensible father caught between a struggling marriage and a daughter grasping to the frayed ends of her own safety. The compassion and sensitivity with which Sullivan interacts with his youngest child Chloe, played by a notable Callina Liang (Bad Genius), provides a reason to invest in a family dynamic that is far from stable. Having evidence of a father who genuinely loves his daughter unconditionally, inflates the emotional stakes as Chloe finds herself in escalating positions of precariousness. With Presence, Steven Soderbergh has created an emotionally evocative story shared from the unusual perspective of an apparition, which may be just enough to reignite the once conventionally held belief in spectral phenomenon.
Target Score 7/10: Influential director Steven Soderbergh presents a unique and satisfying addition to the haunted house sub genre. Presence, like those gifted with the ability to communicate with spirits from other realms, is likely to divide audiences into those who believe and those who remain skeptics.