Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming horror film Presence offers a fresh take on the classic haunted house story, flipping the traditional narrative by telling it from the perspective of the ghost. Set to hit theaters on January 24, 2025, Presence promises to redefine the genre with its chilling approach to storytelling.
In Presence, a family relocates to a suburban home, only to become increasingly convinced that they are not alone. A supernatural presence haunts the house, with a particular focus on the couple’s daughter, igniting a terrifying chain of events. The film takes a bold step by presenting the story through the eyes of the ghost, providing a unique vantage point that sets it apart from typical haunted house narratives.
According to Meagan Navarro’s review for Bloody Disgusting, Soderbergh teams up once again with writer David Koepp (known for Stir of Echoes) to deliver an inventive spin on the ghost story. “From the opening frame until the end credits, audiences are taken on a thrilling journey, with the haunting unfolding through unexpected narrative twists,” Navarro notes. The filmmakers use the camera’s gaze as a conduit for the ghost’s perspective, pushing the boundaries of horror film conventions and keeping viewers on edge throughout.
Navarro praises Presence for its contemporary take on the genre, describing it as an innovative departure from the predictable haunted house tropes. She adds, “Combined with Koepp’s twisty script, Presence pulls you in, terrifies you, then leaves your heart on the floor.” Her 4-star review underscores the film’s ability to captivate and unsettle, making it a standout in the genre.
The cast of Presence includes Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Julia Fox, Eddy Maday, and West Mulholland, all contributing to the film’s haunting atmosphere.
This film comes on the heels of last year’s In a Violent Nature, which similarly revitalized its subgenre—the slasher—by telling the story from the perspective of the malevolent force. Presence seeks to apply this same innovative approach to the haunted house format, potentially making it one of the year’s most memorable horror films.
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