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Film Review — Presence
Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story, shot entirely from the point of view of the spectre, is insubstantial but interesting
It’s been an interesting month for films exclusively told in POV shots. First, the UK finally got to see Nickel Boys; a remarkable piece of work in which the technique pays significant emotional dividends if you stick with it. Then we have this latest film from the prolific Steven Soderbergh (he’s got another film, spy thriller Black Bag, out in a couple of months). It’s the kind of experimental piece for which the horror genre is ideal, in this case, a ghost story told entirely from the point of view of the ghost.
The identity of the spirit in question isn’t immediately revealed, but as the Payne family — Chris (Chris Sullivan), Rebecca (Lucy Liu), and their teenage children Tyler (Eddie Maday) and Chloe (Callina Liang) — move into the house it haunts, bits and pieces are slowly revealed. Chloe is grieving the death of a friend who died from a drug overdose. Tyler is spoiled by his mother and rather obnoxious, as his new friend, Ryan (West Mulholland), mentions to Chloe, expressing his disapproval of a cruel prank her brother plans to pull on a classmate. Meanwhile, Rebecca has evidently involved herself in some kind of financial illegality and attempts to pull the wool over the eyes…
