“Presence” Review: An Unconventional Journey of Self-Discovery

by Tom January 24, 2025

“Presence” is an unconventional film that narrates a tale from a spirit’s viewpoint. Set in a family home recently bought by the Paynes, it explores human dynamics and personal morality. With Steven Soderbergh’s exceptional camerawork revealing plot subtleties, the film offers an in-depth exploration of the spirit’s journey of self-discovery amidst the family drama. Surrounded by mystery, it eventually unravels important insights about life and afterlife.

“Presence” Review: An Unconventional Journey of Self-Discovery

– “Presence” is a unique movie portrayed from the perspective of a spirit, who resides in a house bought by the character-driven Payne family; the spirit functions as the main character and seeks to understand its existence and role amidst the family dynamics.
– The Payne family’s daughter, Chloe, is the first to recognize the spirit’s existence, but the entirety of the family comes to accept the presence when inexplicable events occur in the house; through the movie, the spirit undergoes a psychological self-discovery journey amid other plot threads such as the degrading marital relationship between Chris and Rebecca Payne.
– Directed, shot, and edited by Steven Soderbergh, “Presence” emerges as a thought-provoking drama that encapsulates personal morality, responsibility, self-inquiry, and personal evolution, all narrated from the viewpoint of a deceased entity.

The film “Presence” is an exception in its storytelling – presented entirely from the first person point of view of a spirit, a novel approach in cinematography. As events unfold, the spirit’s true nature gradually comes to light.

In “Presence”, the story revolves around the main protagonist – the spirit. Audiences are introduced to it in the opening scene where it drifts around an uninhabited house. The plot ventures into the lives of a family that purchases the property. The Payne family, each with their unique personality traits, from the hard-driving executive mother Rebecca (Lucy Liu), the amiable father Chris (Chris Sullivan), to their teenage children, Tyler (Eddy Madday) – brash and self-centered, and Chloe (Callina Laing) – mourning the loss of her best friend.

Chloe is the first to sense the spirit’s presence. Unlike the boy in “The Sixth Sense”, Chloe senses the presence rather than seeing it. Unable to communicate her unique ability to others, the rest of the family initially dismisses her. However, when inexplicable events like objects flying from shelves start occurring, they slowly come to believe it. The spirit also interacts with other people who visit the house.

The filmmaker used several symbolic references throughout “Presence”, including the troubled family named Payne and Chloe’s middle name Blue. But these symbols reportedly indicate wisdom, grace, and the hardships of life rather than serving as clues. The central question in “Presence” is not meant to be resolved like a video game puzzle or by fan theories, but rather to leave viewers pondering over the nature of their existence.

The engaging storyline and compelling characters continue to evolve, introducing new aspects and perspectives, thus rendering “Presence” a journey of personal growth and introspection even for a spirit.

The film does have some inconsistencies, particularly regarding the deteriorating marriage of Chris and Rebecca, and Rebecca’s questionable business practices. However, the overall narrative suggests that individuals are responsible for their actions, and these actions may have consequences in the afterlife.

David Koepp, known for his work with Steven Spielberg, penned “Presence”. Steven Soderbergh, handling directing, shooting, and editing duties, brings to life the spirit’s perspective with his unique cinematography. Soderbergh adds another layer to the narrative through the film’s unique camerawork.

Describing the entire movie without touching on its plot significantly may seem elusive, but it suffices to say that “Presence” is not a horror film or a conventional ghost story. It is a dramatic tale of personal morality, introspection, and evolution told through the eyes of a spirit. If this seems incomprehensible, watching the movie will bring a better understanding.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars.

“Presence” was released on January 25th, 2025.