Title: Presence
MPA Rating: R
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Callina Liang, Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan
Runtime: 1 hr 24 mins

What It Is: Chloe (Liang), along with her mother Rebekah, father Chris (Sullivan), and older brother Tyler (Eddy Maday), has just moved into a beautiful new home. However, all is not as it seems for this family. There’s something in the house. It may not be violent or nefarious, but its presence is undeniable. Only the grieving Chloe can feel it. And while the presence might be familiar to her, her mother remains oblivious, too preoccupied with Tyler’s affairs to understand or believe her.

What We Think: Soderbergh does something here that works so well for the narrative—he moves the camera like a fly on the wall at times, as if we are the presence in the house. It’s details like this, along with his insistence on consistency, that make Soderbergh one of the best directors working today. It’s rare to see a ghost story where the specter isn’t an angry, vengeful spirit tormenting new occupants, but rather something more nuanced.

The performances feel completely natural. Callina Liang is a standout, proving she’s a star in the making. Lucy Liu plays a mother who isn’t necessarily someone we’d want to have ourselves—not because she’s a bad person, but because she clearly plays favorites with her children. Chris Sullivan, an excellent character actor for quite some time, brings his own unique touch to the role, and it totally works.

Well-shot, beautifully crafted, and drenched in pitch-perfect atmosphere, this is a really good film that’s sure to surprise.

Our Grade: B, My comments about Soderbergh might be hard to believe, but I’ll tell you this—watch this film. You’ll witness a true modern master who does things with his lens that many wouldn’t, couldn’t, or straight-up can’t. He’s always willing to take chances, and that’s one of my favorite things about him as a director. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. It’s refreshing, well-made, and a testament to Soderbergh’s continued brilliance behind the camera.