STORYLINE: A family becomes convinced they are not alone after moving into their new home in the suburbs. (IMDb)

   I got excited to see Presence.  I am a huge fan of haunted house movies, even though I was forwarnded not to expect a traditional haunted house film with this one.  I also really enjoy Steven Soderbergh films.  Traffic, Unsane, Sex Lies & Videotape I could go on.   I walked out of Presence highly disappointed.

   I wanted the movie to be scarier.  Yes I understood it was not a traditional horror film, but it in the end it was still a haunted house film, despite how artsy it was crafted. You can put a tuxedo on a goat but it’s still a goat. 

     Showing the story from the ghosts point of view worked but only for so long.  Luckily the movie was only eighty five minutes long.  Any longer the gimmick would of gone from art house trick to annoying. 

    What bothered me more then anything with the film was it focused more on attempting to do an art house gimmick instead of trying to do a few scares. The gimmick set itself up for some unique scares and did not attempt them.  Even when the set up was with in the film the filmmakers did not go for them.

   On the horizon there are some cookie cutter horror films being released.  Hopefully they will be better.

   Until next time I will see you at the movies!