Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence' Redefines the Ghost Story Genre

The experimental film offers a first-person ghostly perspective, blending family drama with subtle supernatural elements.

Steven Soderbergh's 'Presence' is a unique ghost story told entirely from the first-person perspective of a spirit, with the director himself operating the camera.
The film focuses on a family of four moving into a suburban home, with the spirit observing their struggles and dynamics, particularly the grieving daughter, Chloe, played by Callina Liang.
Screenwriter David Koepp and Soderbergh aimed to create a film that emphasizes vulnerability and emotional depth over traditional horror tropes like jump scares and gore.
Inspired by Soderbergh's own experiences with ghost stories, the project was shot in just 11 days using long, unbroken takes to maintain the immersive perspective.
Critics have praised the film for its technical innovation, emotional resonance, and its subversion of haunted house movie conventions, comparing its impact to classics like 'Poltergeist.'