Presence | VIFF 2024 | Review by: Stefano Bove

Presence begins like your typical supernatural thriller, with a family moving into a new home that is haunted by an unknown spirit. 

The Payne family deal with all the normal family drama that comes with moving into a new home, having to make new friends, unpacking and in this case, discovering the old secrets that are in the home. Callina Liang stars as the daughter, Chloe who is dealing with the most having recently lost a close friend. The spirit in the home seems to be gravitated towards her the most and for the most part, lives in her room. It is not immediately known if the spirit is friendly or evil but that is for you to discover on your own. 

Steven Soderbergh directs this physiological thriller. His experience as a cinematographer is evident in this film with some of the most unique uses of practical camera work I have seen since the Blair Witch Project. It is not immediately evident that the camera work places you in the perspective of the ghost in the home stalking the family as they move from room to room but once you do, it is a really cool feeling. 

Some critics are calling this film a slow burn but I disagree. The camera work and cinematography work so well to keep you engaged with the film and there is so much happening in every scene, you just have to pay attention.

4/5

Review by Stefano Bove