Presence

We have seen so many ghost stories on screen over the years that you wouldn’t expect filmmakers nowadays to find a new way in. Enter Steven Soderbergh, who brings us a new take on the bogeyman tale.

This experimental supernatural thriller follows a family – Rebecca (Lucy Liu), Chris (Chris Sullivan), Chloe (Callina Liang) and Tyler (Eddy Maday) – after they move into a new suburban home.

You may expect this to focus on Liu, given her star status, but the story actually centres upon Chloe, who is grieving the loss of her best friend Nadia.

She senses a presence in the house first and becomes convinced that Nadia is watching over her.

The identity of the spirit remains a mystery throughout the film and this leaves you wondering if it is indeed Nadia. And if it’s not, who is it and what do they want with Chloe?

What makes this film unusual is the perspective – it is told through the eyes of the presence.

It is already...