I’ll admit I’m a little late getting this review out, as I saw Presence just a few days after its release. Honestly, I wouldn’t have known much about it if I hadn’t caught Lucy Liu on a morning talk show while running on the treadmill at the gym. The marketing seemed minimal, but her interview piqued my interest, especially when she described the film’s unique perspective—told from the point of view of an unseen presence rather than a traditional objective lens.
Before watching, I read that some viewers prone to motion sickness struggled with the film’s visual style, particularly the blurring effects. Since I have a history of motion sickness, I was a little concerned. However, after the first few minutes, I adjusted and wasn’t overly distracted by the cinematography for most of the film.
I’ve mentioned before that slice-of-life films aren’t really my thing, so I was initially skeptical. For a while, Presence simply follows a family going about their daily routines, and it’s easy to wonder where the story is headed. I’d also read reviews mentioning that some people walked out of the theater, bored and unsure of the film’s direction. However, other viewers insisted that sticking with it was worth it—and I agree. While you may find yourself asking, Why am I watching this? What’s the point?—trust me, hang in there. The payoff at the end makes the slow build worthwhile.
I’m someone who likes to fully understand a movie by the time the credits roll. If I have to immediately Google explanations or analyze ambiguous moments, it can sometimes diminish my overall experience. Presence had a few of those moments where I wasn’t entirely sure about the true nature of its central premise. However, the more I thought about it and discussed it with others, the more I appreciated the film’s layered storytelling. In fact, I believe a second watch could be even more rewarding now that I know where the story ultimately leads.
VERDICT
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