Presence

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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Haunted house films are legion in cinema, from “The Haunting of Hill House” to “The Amityville Horror” and countless others. Now from the modern master Steven Soderbergh here is “Presence.” The film is odd, offbeat, and intriguing. While it is not scary at all in the conventional sense, it remains a compelling character study of a troubled and arrogant American family.

Lucy Liu stars as Rebecca Payne, a high-powered mother buying a new house. Chris Payne (Chris Sullivan) is the father who is overwhelmed. Chloe (Callana Laing) is a grief-stricken teen and Tyler (Eddy Maday) is her narcissistic brother.

The film spends a lot of time moving around the house upstairs and down through the kitchen and near the back door. Where is the spirit? Is it in the house or is it in the family? We don’t really know for sure, and the film keeps this question going.

The Paynes are worried about Chloe who has seen the death of two friends. Tyler can care less.

Things get tense when Chloe brings Ryan (West Mulholland), a psychotic, home. The family appears powerless to change. Each family member is in their own bubble, their own far away planet. Ryan wants you to believe that he is a real smooth talker. In reality, Ryan is painfully awkward on a hateful sociopathic path.

While the ghostly movements seem kitschy, almost like a William Castle film, there is interest in seeing how far the spirit is going to go. Will it reveal itself? Or keep on going?

The acting, especially from Callana Laing and Edy Mady, is first rate.

While the final scenes are a bit lackluster, there is enough unconventional suspense and cohesion to keep the interest.

This film is a counterpoint to conventional norms and expectations. The most affecting ghosts are not from outside our environment but from within our very selves, no matter if we are waking or asleep.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com