In this supernatural thriller, the camera is not just watching—it is the ghost.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Director Steven Soderbergh’s Presence is a taut, single-location drama filmed entirely from the perspective of a spectral entity. By placing the audience inside the eyes of a house-bound spirit, the film transforms a standard family haunting into a technical experiment that reveals a surprising, time-bending twist.

The concept for Presence originated from Steven Soderbergh’s personal musings about a potential spirit living in his own home, whom he and his wife dubbed 'Mimi.' While Soderbergh remains a skeptic, he was intrigued by the idea of how a long-term resident ghost might feel about new tenants. He drafted an initial ten-page script before handing the project to writer David Koepp, who fleshed out the narrative and crafted the film's final, emotional revelation.

Filmed in just 11 days in September 2023, the production utilized an interim SAG-AFTRA agreement during the industry strike. Soderbergh served as his own cinematographer under the pseudonym Peter Andrews, capturing the entire movie on a Sony mirrorless camera mounted on a DJI Ronin stabilizer. To minimize noise, he wore rubber and nylon slippers while navigating the house in Cranford, New Jersey. The technical challenge was immense; Soderbergh had to look at his feet to navigate stairs while filming, often relying on muscle memory to keep the camera aimed correctly.

The film’s central conceit—that the camera is the ghost—creates a unique viewing experience. As the Payne family moves into their new home, the unseen presence observes their unraveling, from Rebekah’s involvement in white-collar crime to the predatory actions of Tyler’s friend, Ryan. The climax reveals that the presence is actually the spirit of Tyler, displaced in time, attempting to save his sister, Chloe, from a lethal attack. This narrative choice shifts the genre from a traditional horror story into a character-driven drama about family protection and sacrifice.

Critical reception has been largely positive, with the film holding an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers have praised the lean, single-location structure and the visual ingenuity of the first-person perspective. While some critics argued the story leans on familiar tropes, others lauded it as a polished, artful experiment that succeeds as both a suspenseful thriller and a poignant exploration of human connection.

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