Steven Soderbergh’s Presence offers a fresh, intense haunted-house thriller, showing family drama through the ghost’s eerie perspective

CJ Desk

A new supernatural thriller called Presence is set to premiere on October 1 exclusively on Lionsgate Play. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by acclaimed screenwriter David Koepp, the film tells a haunting story from a unique perspective — through the eyes of the unseen ghost itself.

The story follows the Payne family, who move into a quiet suburban home hoping for a fresh start after a tragedy. But they soon realise they might not be alone. The ghost watches and listens as tensions rise between Rebekah Payne (played by Lucy Liu), her husband Chris (Chris Sullivan), and their children Chloe (Callina Liang) and Tyler (Eddy Maday). The film focuses not only on supernatural fear but also on the struggles and broken relationships inside the family.

Lucy Liu shared her excitement about working with director Steven Soderbergh, praising his experimental style. She explained that the movie was filmed in a special way, with long, unbroken shots that make it feel like the audience is watching the family in real time. “It’s more like theatre,” Liu said. “Everyone’s on at all times, which makes it feel very natural and intense.”

Chris Sullivan added that the cast started as strangers but built a real family feeling during filming. He also said the script doesn’t explain everything, letting viewers connect with the family’s emotions in their own way.

Presence promises a fresh, intimate take on the haunted house genre, mixing family drama with supernatural suspense. Fans of thrillers and innovative filmmaking will want to check it out when it debuts next month.