PossessedbyHorror - Presence (2025) Movie Review + SPOILERS
'Presence' is a supernatural thriller directed by Steven Soderberg, known for his diverse filmography. The film is unique as it is shot from the perspective of a ghost, focusing more on family dynamics than traditional horror elements. The story follows a dysfunctional family moving into a new home, where they suspect they are not alone. The film's narrative unfolds through the ghost's perspective, which is a novel approach but may not appeal to everyone due to its lack of traditional horror tension. The film is described as a supernatural thriller drama, emphasizing psychological elements over jump scares. The marketing of the film as a horror movie may have led to mixed reception, as it does not fit the conventional horror mold. The film's structure includes 33 long takes, creating a raw and real atmosphere, though it may feel jarring initially. The performances are believable, and the setting is beautifully designed. The film's emotional impact is significant, particularly for viewers who can relate to themes of grief and family dynamics. The story's twist reveals the ghost's identity, adding depth to the narrative. Despite mixed reviews, the film offers a fresh perspective on the horror genre, focusing on storytelling and character development.
Key Points:
- 'Presence' is filmed from the ghost's perspective, offering a unique narrative approach.
- The film focuses on family dynamics and psychological elements rather than traditional horror scares.
- The marketing as a horror film may mislead audiences; it's more of a supernatural thriller drama.
- The film uses 33 long takes, creating a raw and immersive viewing experience.
- The story's twist and emotional depth may resonate with viewers familiar with themes of grief.
Details:
1. 🎬 Anticipation for 'Presence': A New Supernatural Horror Experience
- 'Presence' is generating significant buzz as a new supernatural horror film, sparking interest with its unique approach to the genre.
- The trailer has captivated audiences, promising a blend of suspenseful storytelling and innovative horror elements that differentiate it from typical supernatural films.
- Initial impressions suggest that the film is likely to meet the high expectations set by its promotional campaign, which emphasized its fresh take on horror.
- Fans of supernatural horror are particularly eager to see how 'Presence' delivers on its promise of a novel and thrilling experience.
2. 🏡 Haunted Family Dynamics: Moving into the Unknown
- The segment highlights the strategic importance of analyzing audience engagement with original and polarizing movies.
- It suggests that understanding viewer feedback can guide marketing and content creation for non-mainstream films, emphasizing the potential of niche markets.
- Examples include films like 'Get Out' and 'Parasite,' which succeeded by tapping into specific audience interests and generating significant conversation.
- The focus is on leveraging unique content to build a dedicated audience base, leading to increased word-of-mouth promotion and long-term viewer loyalty.
3. 👻 Through the Ghost's Eyes: A Unique Narrative Perspective
3.1. Family's Story and Supernatural Elements
3.2. Filming Technique and Narrative Style
4. 🎥 Steven Soderbergh's Unconventional Horror Endeavor
- The film explores the perspective of the killer, offering audiences a fresh take on horror that diverges from traditional narratives.
- This unique storytelling method is designed to engage viewers by providing a polarizing and innovative experience.
- Unlike conventional horror films, Soderbergh's approach allows audiences to delve into the mind of the antagonist, creating a more immersive narrative.
- The film's narrative strategy reflects Soderbergh's distinct style, aiming to redefine how horror stories are told.
- This perspective shift challenges viewers' expectations and encourages a deeper engagement with the film's themes.
5. 🤔 Blurring Genres: Psychological Drama vs. Traditional Horror
- The trend of storytelling from a ghost's perspective, focusing on their reasons for being present, offers a fresh narrative approach to horror.
- Steven Soderberg, typically known for films like 'Contagion' and 'Oceans 11', is venturing into the psychological thriller domain, indicating a shift in his usual genre focus.
- Directors not traditionally associated with horror are now incorporating psychological drama, suggesting a broader acceptance and success of horror as a versatile genre.
- Modern films are gravitating towards psychological elements over typical slasher themes, reflecting a change in audience preferences towards more intricate narratives.
- Examples of this trend include films like 'Hereditary' and 'Get Out', which have successfully blended psychological drama with horror, achieving critical and commercial success.
- The shift towards psychological horror indicates a strategic move by filmmakers to cater to evolving audience tastes, enhancing the depth and appeal of horror films.
6. 👪 Exploring Complex Family Relationships
- 'Substance' received five Academy Award nominations, indicating significant recognition within the horror genre and possibly setting a record for such a film.
- The movie is a psychological exploration rather than a traditional horror film, delving into intricate and disturbing family themes.
- It explores complex family dynamics, focusing on relationships such as those between the mother and father, father and daughter, and mother and son.
- Examples of these dynamics include how the father's actions affect his daughter, and the tension between the mother and father, offering a deep dive into psychological horror.
7. 📈 Crafting Tension from a Ghostly Viewpoint
- The film focuses more on the story, family, and characters rather than traditional horror elements, which may not make it 'scary' in the conventional sense.
- The film is described as psychological, implying a different approach to horror that may result in a loss of tension.
- The challenge lies in creating horror elements when the narrative is from the perspective of the killer or the ghost, reducing the element of surprise and tension typical in horror movies.
- Unlike traditional horror films that build tension through unknown threats, this film presents the threat through known perspectives, which can lead to a different kind of psychological engagement.
- For example, movies like 'The Others' or 'The Sixth Sense' also explore similar narrative techniques, focusing on psychological elements rather than jump scares.
- Understanding the impact of viewpoint on tension can help filmmakers craft more nuanced horror experiences that rely on character depth and story rather than conventional scares.
8. 📣 Marketing Missteps: The Misleading Horror Label
- Mislabeling films as horror when they are actually supernatural thrillers can lead to poor audience reception and negative feedback.
- Marketing claims such as 'scariest movie of the year' set unrealistic expectations and can damage viewer trust.
- The disconnect between creators and marketing teams often results in misleading promotions, as creators have limited control over marketing strategies.
- An example of this issue is the film discussed, which was misrepresented as a horror movie despite being a supernatural thriller drama.
- Studios need to avoid subjective marketing tags like 'scariest' and focus on accurate genre descriptions to meet audience expectations.
- Successful marketing should align with the film's true genre, as seen in cases where accurate labeling led to better audience satisfaction.
9. 🔍 Emotional Reflections and the Impact of Grief
- The movie initially seems like a great beginner recommendation due to its subtle tension but becomes disturbing and uncomfortable, indicating a shift in tone that may catch viewers off guard. A more detailed examination of how this tone shift is executed could enhance understanding.
- A trigger warning is necessary for scenes involving attempted sexual assault, which are shocking despite not being shown on screen. This highlights the importance of content warnings and how they prepare viewers for potentially distressing material.
- The viewer's experience of the movie is significantly influenced by personal life stages, such as parenting or experiencing grief, which can enhance the emotional impact of films with similar themes. Further exploration of how these personal experiences intersect with the film's narrative could provide deeper insight.
- The film effectively uses themes of grief and disturbance, contributing to a more engaging horror experience for those who have undergone similar emotional experiences. An analysis of specific scenes and elements that develop these themes could offer a more comprehensive understanding of their impact.
- This is the second movie this year that has made the reviewer cry in theaters, underscoring the film's emotional power and its ability to resonate on a personal level with viewers. Additional examples of emotional scenes could illustrate this point more vividly.
10. 📹 Cinematic Techniques: Long Takes and Realism
- The film uses long takes and a single camera to enhance realism, challenging actors to deliver more believable performances without frequent cuts.
- The movie consists of 33 scenes, each separated by a black screen, creating a jarring but eventually immersive storytelling experience.
- The use of 33 long takes makes the filming experimental and unique, emphasizing natural actor reactions and real-time dynamics.
- The single location setting, portraying a family's dynamic within a house, adds to the film's realism and raw feeling, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- These cinematic choices mirror techniques used in films like 'Birdman' and '1917', where continuous shots heighten the sense of immersion and authenticity for the audience.
- The method challenges viewers to engage more deeply, as the lack of cuts increases tension and requires sustained attention.
11. 📖 Engaging the Audience: Unraveling the Story
- The set design received high praise for its beautiful and convincing aesthetic, highlighting the critical role of visual elements in audience engagement.
- Performances were largely believable, although some actors occasionally broke the fourth wall by looking directly at the camera, which could disrupt immersion.
- The storyline was a central focus, described as both a selling point and convoluted, playing with audience expectations. This complexity may not resonate with all viewers but invites discussion and deeper engagement.
- The mystery surrounding the ghost character's identity spurred audience discourse, demonstrating an effective use of narrative intrigue.
- There were critiques regarding the story's pacing, which started slowly but intensified towards the end, potentially impacting viewer satisfaction. This suggests a strategic pacing approach could enhance engagement.
- The film's structure encourages rewatching to appreciate subtle details, especially in slower scenes, offering an additional layer of engagement for attentive viewers.
12. 🕵️ Spoiler Alert: Uncovering the Ghost's Identity
- The movie's scenes initially feel random but serve a purpose in enhancing the narrative around the ghost's presence, creating a cohesive story.
- The film successfully evokes strong emotions, particularly around themes of grief, as experienced by the main character, Chloe.
- Despite receiving mixed reviews, the movie's emotional depth and storytelling were praised, resulting in a positive viewer experience.
- While the film may not be a must-see in theaters, it is recommended for its compelling emotional narrative.
- Chloe is grappling with the grief of her friend Nadia's death from a drug overdose, which is central to understanding the ghost's identity and the story's emotional core.
13. 😢 Emotional Climax and Redemption in Character Arcs
- The ghost is revealed to be Chloe's brother, who dies attempting to save her, providing a shocking twist and deepening the narrative complexity.
- The brother's spirit goes back in time to successfully save Chloe from a near-death experience, adding a supernatural element to the plot.
- The antagonist, originally a friend of Chloe's brother, is revealed to have killed multiple people. This revelation heightens the tension and provides a motive for the brother's protective actions.
- The mother's character arc completes with her understanding and accepting her daughter's grief, signifying her personal redemption and growth.
- The brother's sacrificial attempt and eventual success in saving Chloe highlight themes of familial love and redemption.
14. 🎥 Final Verdict: Rating and Personal Takeaways
- The reviewer enjoyed the movie despite initial skepticism due to negative perceptions about similar films.
- The movie received a rating of 3.5 out of 5, but the reviewer felt emotionally inclined to rate it higher, around a 4.
- Reservations were mentioned about the filming style, suggesting it may not appeal to everyone, which influenced the final rating.
- The positive aspects that contributed to enjoyment included [specific elements not detailed in the transcript, suggest expanding if available].
- To improve future reviews, consider providing more detail on the specific elements that influenced the rating.