
Reviews — Presence
Audience write-ups from TMDB
Chris Sawin
Written by David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Mummy 2017) and directed by Steven Soderbergh (Logan Lucky, Side Effects), Presence presents an interesting premise that doesn’t quite succeed in its execution. Produced on a $2 million budget and filmed in just three weeks primarily within one location, it's a creative effort that ultimately fails to leave a strong impression. The entire film unfo…
Brent Marchant
Horror movie enthusiasts frequently voice concerns about the lack of respect afforded to films in their genre, a situation reminiscent of Rodney Dangerfield's famous joke about getting no respect. Sadly, these complaints are often justified, as many horror films rely on tired formulas and predictable plots, often feeling tedious and excessively graphic. The rise of more sophisticated horror movies has helped somewhat…
Manuel São Bento
Presence is a film that pushes against typical storytelling methods and establishes itself as a significant work within cinema in 2025. The decision by Steven Soderbergh to present the narrative solely from the viewpoint of an otherworldly being was a gamble, but it succeeds remarkably well. This creates an absorbing and distinctive experience for viewers, holding their attention throughout and deepening their fee…
CinemaSerf
The film centers on a family relocating to a new house—and while I appreciated the layout and design of this large property, it soon becomes clear that its impressive appearance hides a group of four people grappling with past trauma. There’s nothing particularly original about this setup, and unfortunately, nothing changes as the daughter, Chloe, portrayed by Callina Lang, develops an attraction to Ryan, played by W…
r96sk
'Presence' distinguishes itself through its filming style, which proves quite impactful, although the narrative turns out to be fairly conventional—leaning more toward typical teen storylines than expected. Despite that, I found myself enjoying the experience as it played out over 85 minutes, in a pleasing way. The cast is also a definite strength of this film. Lucy Liu and Eddy Maday deliver acceptable performanc…


