Presence

1/24/2025

<em>'Presence'</em> holds uniqueness in regards to how it is filmed, which is very effective, though its story does end up being quite straightforward - and more teen drama-ry than anticipated. All the same, I did enjoy myself whilst watching it unfold across 85mins, pleasantly. The cast are also a strong point of this film. Lucy Liu and Eddy Maday are decent, though Callina Liang and Chris Sullivan are the definitive standouts - both t'rific. West Mulholland is solid in his role, even if I'm not absolutely sold on everything that goes on with his character. Interesting that this closely follows the release (at least in the UK) of Robert Zemeckis' <em>'Here'</em> - two films shot in original perspectives. This Steven Soderbergh picture isn't quite as high class as that one, but all i

1/29/2025

A family move into a new home - now I did like the meandering corridors and design of this spacious plot, but quickly we discover that it's a paper thin façade for four people who are struggling to get over a trauma. Nope, nothing new so far and, indeed nothing new to come either as daughter "Chloe" (Callina Lang) falls for the rakish "Ryan" (West Mulholland) who is the new best friend of her hunky, charm free and brain dead brother "Tyler" (Eddy Maday). Pretty swiftly, they are at it but simultaneously she starts to feel that she is being watched. Things move about on their own, her brother's room gets trashed and even the woman they bring in to do the "Madame Arcati" thing thinks something isn't right with the place and it's old silver nitrate mirror. Next thing... Well you'll have to wa

1/29/2025

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/presence-review-the-first-great-film-of-the-year/ "Presence challenges narrative conventions and leaves an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape of 2025. Steven Soderbergh's bold choice to tell the story entirely through the perspective of the supernatural entity proves to be a risk that pays off, delivering an immersive, unique approach that captivates the audience until the very end while intensifying the emotional connection to the complex family. The authenticity of the performances and the fascinating exploration of themes like grief, loneliness, and redemption outweigh the repetitive editing and minor unnecessary subplots, without undermining the overall impact and brilliance of the finale. It's the first trul

1/31/2025

Diehard fans of horror films have often complained that releases in this genre don’t get the kind of respect they deserve, almost as if they’re the Rodney Dangerfield of moviemaking. Unfortunately, it’s a reputation that’s frequently deserved given that many of these offerings are formulaic, predictable, tedious and needlessly gratuitous. The emergence of “smart” horror films has helped to offset this somewhat, imbuing these pictures with a degree of maturity and respectability that has long been sought but lacking. But, if these films truly want to earn the kind of esteem that their followers crave, these productions have to get better at doing what they do, yet the efforts that go into yielding such results all too often come up short, as is the case in this latest project from acclaimed

2/2/2025

Written by David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Mummy 2017) and directed by Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky, Side Effects), Presence has an intriguing concept that doesn’t completely work in its execution. Shot in three weeks almost entirely in one location with a $2 million budget, Presence is a creative powerhouse that lacks a lasting impression. All of Presence is from the perspective of an entity in a suburban house. The supernatural thriller seemingly has no close-ups while the cinematography is different in a way that seems like it was shot with a slight fish-eye lens. A family, The Paynes – Rebekah (Lucy Liu), Chris (Chris Sullivan), Chloe (Callina Liang), and Tyler (Eddy Maday), moves into the empty house revealed at the beginning of the film. The snafued re

3/3/2025

Presence (2024) takes a unique approach to the haunted house genre, putting you in the perspective of the ghost itself. The story follows the Payne family as they move into a new home, each carrying their own personal struggles. Chloe, the daughter, is grieving the loss of her best friend, while her mother, Rebekah, is dealing with legal troubles that aren't fully explained. The film plays with the idea of an unseen presence observing their lives, but it never fully confirms whether the ghost is actually the girl Chloe lost or someone else. While the concept is intriguing, the film could have explored the ghost's story more deeply rather than leaving it so ambiguous. Steven Soderbergh’s direction is creative, using floating camera movements to make you feel like you're silently drifting