Probably the biggest surprise out of Telluride Horror Show this year was the latest Neon film directed by Steven Soderbergh (Unsane, Traffic), Presence. Written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Stir of Echoes), the film centers on a family as they move into a new home. However, this house already has an unseen inhabitant, and it’s trying to communicate with the daughter of the family.

With two heavy hitters writing and directing the film, both having worked on hugely popular films, Presence is a bit of a departure. In recent years, Soderbergh has been a bit more experimental with his films. This is evident in how he brought Koepp’s screenplay to life. Presence is told from the point of view of the entity living in the house. At first, we watch the ghost roam the empty house before the family finally moves in. It allows for a very intimate, almost voyeuristic view into the lives of this family, seeing conversations and moments not normally seen by the public. Because the audience is seeing everything from the entity’s perspective, who clearly doesn’t understand what it is or why it’s there, there is an extra layer of mystery. The tension and sadness builds as the ghost becomes more connected with the daughter, trying to communicate with her and help her as she grieves a recent loss. That build-up leads to a shocking revelation, adding emotional depth to the film while giving new context to what audiences just watched unfold. The film is incredibly well written, leaving clues and incorporating small moments between family members that add to the character development, all ultimately alluding to the truth. Even some of the moments with rougher dialogue end up making sense once the climax comes to light.

Because Presence is a bit of an experimental film with a slower pace, it certainly won’t be a film for everyone. In keeping with Soderbergh playing with new filming styles, Presence is filmed entirely through the eyes of the entity. This first-person view puts the audience in the place of the ghost as it roams the house and watches the family. It’s a unique and risky filming technique to use for the entirety of the film, but it works surprisingly well. It all adds to the voyeurism, making the audience feel as if they are in the house watching the family in their most vulnerable moments. This format can sometimes also be a bit frustrating as the ghost only catches snippets of conversations with the family, hinting at various issues with jobs, school, friends, etc. Yet those snippets never provide the full picture. While it makes sense, making it so the audience only knows as much as the entity knows, some audiences might wish they had a more complete picture. Adding to the visual interest with the first-person camera view is the house. The entire film is shown within the confines of the home, which is a stunning old craftsman, perfect for ghosts to haunt.

The small but brilliant cast of Presence is a mix of familiar faces and young newcomers. At the emotional core of the film is Callina Liang in her feature film debut as Chloe. Chloe lost her best friend just before her family moved into the new home. She’s dealing with that loss, starting at a new school, dealing with family drama, and more. Liang is so natural in this role, conveying all the turmoil of a typical teen, as well as the deeper struggles of coming to terms with death. Chris Sullivan (Stranger Things, This is Us) and Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels, Set it Up) play Chloe’s parents, Chris and Rebecca. Sullivan makes Chris the most lovable of the family, caring for his wife and children while also being a bit of a pushover. Conversely, Liu plays Rebecca in a way that is rather cold and distant, unless she’s interacting with her son, who is her obvious favorite. These two play the characters in ways that feel all too real and will make the audience want to scream at them to be better. Rounding out the family unit is Eddy Maday, also making his film debut, as Tyler. Maday makes it immediately clear Tyler is the golden child of the family, as he’s a popular athlete that does well in school, but through the eyes of the ghost we also learn he has a bit of a dark side. All four family members are superb, making it easy to believe they’re a real family. Other memorable performances come from West Mulholland (Dark Harvest) and Julia Fox (Uncut Gems).

Presence is a uniquely intimate and emotionally charged ghost story about a family on the brink and the ties that bind them. With a beautiful script by Koepp, and Soderbergh’s distinctive knack for experimental filmmaking, this is a memorable filmgoing experience. With how unconventional Presence is, it definitely won’t appeal to a wider audience. Yet it’s impossible to deny the artistry behind the film, and it will no doubt be a hot topic of conversation among cinephiles. The entire cast gives raw, authentic performances, and the POV camerawork allows the audience to get a closer look into what families hide behind closed doors. Be sure to watch all the heartbreaking moments of Presence on the big screen, coming to select theaters on January 17th, 2025, and then to theaters everywhere January 24th, 2025.

OVERALL RATING: 8.5/10