Presence's Ghost Reveal Is So Much More Tragic Thanks To This Detail

This article discusses sexual assault and drug abuse.

Warning: This article contains major SPOILERS for Presence.

Presence is a remarkably cutting-edge, supernatural thriller full of twists from the minds of David Koepp and Steven Soderbergh. The experimental project explores a haunted house from the perspective of a ghost — and the ghost's true identity is far more tragic because of one minor detail. Cast members Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan hold the project in high regard and say that the extended POV shots in Presence are the most impactful element of Soderbergh's movie. The shocking reveal during the end of Presence divided audiences, but it does introduce a unique angle to the genre.

Presence was shot in 11 days, with singular shots in sequence which became a crucial element in ensuring the first-person point of view remains effective throughout the length of the film. Presence is certainly not the horror it markets itself to be, which is ultimately what distinguishes it from other films in the genre. The camerawork removes the need for any superficial jump scares as the audience is on the journey with the entity, which means Presence is able to focus on different aspects in the long run — such as its visual storytelling or the development of its characters.

Tyler Became The Presence From Saving Chloe

Presence Has An Incredibly Gripping Plot Twist In Its Final Moments

Presence gradually shows how the entity interferes with the household. While these events begin quite tame, such as moving items of furniture, the situation soon escalates, and it becomes clear that the ghost is fiercely protective of Chloe in particular. In one of the more disturbing scenes, Chloe is drugged by Ryan, her brother's friend, who appears to be one of the more popular kids at their new school. The entity knocks the poisoned beverage to the floor before Chloe is able to drink from it, which is an early indication that the ghost may likely be acquainted with the young girl.

The tension continues to build until the climax of the movie, towards the end of its runtime. Chloe and Tyler's parents leave for the weekend, which results in Ryan returning to stay for the evening. Things take a turn when Ryan drugs Tyler so that he can take advantage of Chloe without being interrupted. The most tense and scariest part of Presence takes place as Ryan's motivations are made clear, and the entity races to wake Tyler from his slumber. Hearing the commotion upstairs, Tyler hurries to save his sister, which results in the final confrontation that leads to his death.

As Tyler and Ryan fight, their physical encounter causes Tyler to push his friend out of Chloe's second-floor bedroom window. Unbeknownst to him, the criminal has hold of his shirt, which causes him to fall, too. It's an extremely climactic moment, which ultimatelyleads to the stunning realization that Tyler is the entity that inhabits the family's home.

Tyler's Death Makes One Of Chris' Lines A Lot More Heartbreaking

The Entity Attempts To Reverse The Emotional Damage Tyler Inflicts

Presence presents Chloe and Tyler as having a very strained relationship. As Chloe is grieving the loss of two close friends, Tyler often dismisses her anguish and refuses to believe her claims about a presence occupying their home. On the surface, Tyler is shown to be incredibly condescending and manipulative. However, during a heated argument between the pair, their father tells Tyler "It won't kill you to stand up for her one time." This is far more poignant following the discovery of the entity's identity, as it becomes apparent that protecting her did end up costing Tyler his life.

The film becomes profoundly more heartbreaking when audiences grasp the entity's motives and becomes more impactful when these details are pieced together.

Presence concludes with a shot of their mother, Rebekah, standing in the empty house as they are in the process of moving out. She finally acknowledges the presence, and she follows it to the living room to see the reflection of her son, standing in the mirror. She exclaims that he "came back to save her." With hindsight, this revelation makes far more sense and largely explains the ghost's unusual behavior. The film becomes profoundly more heartbreaking when audiences grasp the entity's motives and becomes more impactful when these details are pieced together — making Presence worthy of a second viewing.