Following the success of recent hits such as Immaculate, Longlegs, and Cuckoo, Neon looks to be continuing its winning streak in 2025 thanks to the new trailer for Presence, the latest film from acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh. And this one promises to deliver a haunted house story like no other. Starring Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, Chris Sullivan, and Callina Liang, the movie was penned by noted screenwriter David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spider-Man), and is slated for release on Jan. 17, 2025.
The new trailer (seen below) showcases what will undoubtedly be one of the most unique takes ever on the haunted house sub-genre of horror, asking “What’s it like to have someone die?” Featuring a plethora of atmospheric imagery, chilling sound design, and a number of critical reviews touting how original Soderbergh’s latest flick is, the trailer for Presence is just as different as the movie appears to be.
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Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January of this year, Presence has already generated a lot of positive buzz ahead of its wide release, earning an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Aside from the quotes seen in the trailer, early reviews call it everything from “an emotionally charged ghost story” to “a remarkable union of a clever concept and superb execution.”
What Makes Presence So Unique?
From the early days of cinema, we’ve been treated to numerous stories that show us what it’s like for people to undergo a series of traumatic events thanks to ghosts or demons invading their humble abode. The Amityville Horror, Paranormal Activity, The Conjuring, House on Haunted Hill, and The Haunting are all perfect examples of films that have displayed folks in peril, placed under the thumb of unseen entities that want nothing more than to cause harm from the grave.
However, while those movies are as good as they are, the one thing they have in common is that their tales are told from the perspective of the people haunted by said entities, and how those mysterious forces tear apart their seemingly perfect unions. What makes Presence different from what came before is that it’s shot entirely from the ghost’s perspective, with floating camerawork that showcases its POV as a new family encroaches on its territory, and how it works to let them know they’re not alone.
Known for such great classics as Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and Contagion, this is Soderberg’s first foray into the supernatural, and while it may not be a genre that he’s familiar with, it’s clear that the award-winning director knows what it takes to tell a compelling tale about the human condition. Though we have yet to see the movie, it’s clear from the trailer alone that he’s managed to handle things with a deft hand that’s sure to give us amazing performances from the likes of Liu, who is already a tremendous actress in her own right. Needless to say, it already appears that Neon will have another hit on their hands, which will only serve to bring continued praise to the already celebrated company.
Presence
opens nationwide on Jan. 17, 2025.