Film Review: Presence (USA 2024) by Stephen Soderbergh, starring Lucy Liu

Content:  In this podcast, we examine Stephen Soderbergh's 2024 supernatural thriller, "Presence," which tells the story of a family observed by a poltergeist.  We highlight the film's unconventional, single-take perspective from the "presence" and its focus on the Payne family's internal conflicts. While acknowledging Soderbergh's experimental approach and David Koepp's experience as a screenwriter, we find the film lacking in plot progression, scares, or emotional depth, ultimately deeming it a technically interesting but narratively weak effort.  We note Lucy Liu's strong performance but conclude that the film's stylistic choices overshadow its substance, making it an optional viewing experience.  Plot:  "Presence" (USA 2024) by Steven Soderbergh is a supernatural thriller that tells the story of the Payne family. They move into a large suburban house inhabited by a poltergeist. The plot is shown from the perspective of this "presence" in long takes. As the presence observes the growing tensions within the family—marital problems, grief, and conflicts—its true role is gradually revealed.