Presence Ending & The Ghost Twist Reveal Addressed By Writer
This article contains SPOILERS for Presence.Presence writer David Koepp breaks down the ending of the supernatural thriller, and how the movie hinted at the identity of its specter in small moments throughout the movie. The 2024 feature directed by Steven Soderbergh stars Lucy Liu as the mother of a family whose home is occupied by a poltergeist amid their own family troubles. Presence's cast also features Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland, Julia Fox, and Natalie Woodlams-Torr, and received mostly positive acclaim upon release.
With Presence having now in theaters, Koepp opened up to TheWrap about the true identity of the titular poltergeist. Koepp stated that the poltergeist's true identity being Tyler (Maday) was a twist that viewers would quickly catch onto. The writer further stated that early drafts of the story would have had further setup for the reveal, though Soderbergh requested that the movie take a more ambiguous approach:
It surprises me that some people don’t get that. I feel like it’s thunderingly clear. It was even a little clearer at one point. I had one more setup, and Steven cut it because it’s his. I’m not giving out leaflets in the lobby. He’s a little more comfortable with ambiguity than I am. And he said, ‘It’s not ambiguous.’ I said, Okay,’”
Koepp then elaborated by highlighting how the actions of Tyler's poltergeist align with his personality, be it his protectiveness of his sister or his regret at his actions in life. Check out Koepp's response:
Which is why he doesn’t want to watch his sister having sex and when the brother talks about that horrible prank he played at school, the presence goes upstairs and trashes the brother’s room because it’s self-loathing. That all made sense to me as I was doing it.
What Koepp's Comments Mean For Presence's Big Reveal
The Ghosts Identity Only Becomes Clearer Thanks To Revelations Partway Through The Movie
Arguably, Presence does take its time before hinting towards the feasibility of Tyler being the ghost, as it isn't made clear until the medium, Lisa (Woodlams-Torr), raises the possibility that the presence exists from a different time, due to the property's spotless history. However, as stated by Koepp, past events become clearer when Presence's ending is taken into consideration.
Outside of it destroying Tyler's room in frustration, the presence acts as an observer throughout the movie, specifically to protect Chloe from Ryan's malicious intentions, with its self-loathing tantrum being the only event that raises its awareness to the family. Though Koepp may believe most viewers would be able to pick up the hints early on, Presence's revelations are sure to give viewers something to look out for upon future rewatches.
Our Thoughts On Presence's Ghost Revelations
The Ghost's Identity Adds A New Layer To Its Actions
With Koepp opening up about the true identity of Presence's specter, many may be more intrigued to discover other small hints towards the ghost's true identity. While later revelations may make things clearer, it is likely that Koepp's openness about the statement may hint towards further clues hidden throughout its first act.
Nevertheless, Tyler being the titular ghost of Presence adds a more somber tone to the story. Not only does it recontextualize the ghost's actions, but it makes seeing the movie through his eyes a more melancholic experience. Not only is Tyler protecting his sister, but he's saying an extended farewell to his loved ones, going through the processes of moving on.
Source: The Wrap
Presence
- Release Date
- January 24, 2025
- Runtime
- 85 Minutes
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Writers
- David Koepp
- Producers
- Ken Meyer
Cast
Lucy LiuRebecca
Chris
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Presence is a dramatic horror movie following a family that moves into a new suburban house only to grow increasingly certain they are not alone.
- Studio
- Neon
- Studio(s)
- Sugar23
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