Presence – REVIEW
In this house, a real estate agent eager for a swift sale shows it to a family, captivating the heart of mum Rebekah (Lucy Liu), who promptly makes an offer and moves in shortly after. However, this family is burdened with their own troubles. Daughter Chloe (Callina Liang) is grieving the loss of her friend due to a drug overdose, father Chris (Chris Sullivan) has unspecified legal issues, and sports-loving son Tyler enjoys his mother’s undivided attention. A ghost subtly haunts the family, eavesdropping on their private conversations and observing their interactions.
The title “Presence” doesn’t only refer to the ghost; Chris is contemplating leaving Rebekah, Rebekah favors Tyler over a still traumatized Chloe, and Chloe is deeply mourning her friend’s death. These underlying tensions escalate as the ghost becomes more apparent, sometimes subtly and other times boldly. An interesting aspect is that the ghost seems to have a knack for turning off the lights in the house, which are always on, even during the daytime. This could potentially shed light on an ongoing U.S. energy crisis.
The family dynamics unfold in extended single takes, with the narrative abruptly cutting to a black screen before resuming at another significant moment in the house’s history. Essentially, it sets up a conflict between Team Dad & Daughter and Team Mum & Son, portraying them as the good guys, although there are certainly less favorable elements within the family. The storytelling is done in extended single takes that end in an abrupt cut to a black screen before moving on to another event in the house.
