If you’re a fan of horror, you’ve probably seen the classic haunted house-style movie where we are introduced to a family as they move in.
Suspense builds as paranormal activity in the house becomes increasingly obvious—and horrifying.
Steven Soderbergh, director of “Magic Mike,” delivers an unexpectedly original take on this trope in “Presence.”
What sets the film apart from its predecessors is the unexpected use of the ghost’s point of view. The ambiguity of the ghost’s identity is a point of interest throughout the movie. Still, the true source of horror seems to stem from the reality of this troubled family coping with loss and mental illness.
The film received widespread critical praise with a score of 87% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The typical reviewer, however, did not feel the same, with the average Google review sporting a rating of 2/5.
After watching it myself, I concluded that the people who disliked it were likely disappointed in the lack of horror in the movie and that it was more of a mystery/thriller.
Chloe, the daughter and primary focus of the ghost in the film, is portrayed as more troubled than the rest from the start. She lost her best friend Nadia to an alleged drug overdose before moving and believes that may be the identity of the ghost at first.
Everyone in the family is an alcoholic and seems to struggle with some form of depression. The least “present” character seems to be the mother Rebecca. She is so lost trying to support her son Tyler’s bad decisions and relive her youth that she forgets her daughter Chloe exists. This point is made clear multiple times and contributes to some of the film’s horrific events.
One of Tyler’s bad decisions may threaten everyone’s lives and serve as a new source of horror as the ghost situation de-escalates.
Considering how this film has been received so far by audiences, it’s doubtful that “Presence” will outperform other blockbusters this season, but hopefully its originality will turn it into a cult classic in the years to come.
mnptnv@umsystem.edu
