Steven Soderbergh remains one of Hollywood’s most compelling storytellers, a filmmaker whose mastery of genre fluidity continues to captivate audiences. As Jordan Peele once observed, the only difference between comedy and horror lies in the score—and here, Soderbergh manipulates that truth with razor-sharp precision. To say more would spoil the experience, but I’ll leave you with this: the same mind that crafts comedies also delivers the most unnerving horrors.
Presence (2025) unravels the idea of an unseen force, one that shapes itself to fulfill the emotional needs of those within the house. Initially perceived as a supernatural entity, this Presence subtly intervenes to shield Chloe from danger, gradually exposing the fractures within her family. As the mystery deepens, the revelation of Tyler as the Presence flips assumptions on their head, raising a provocative question—does the house’s spirit evolve based on who is most emotionally trapped? But whose Presence is it, really? Let’s find out.
Spoilers Ahead
Presence (2025) Plot Summary and Movie Synopsis:
How Does the Presence Feel Like the Family?
The Presence mirrors the Paynes family’s dysfunction, observing and even embodying their tensions. Much like us viewers, it lingers, watches, and reacts, but never directly intervenes. Chris contemplates leaving his family but hesitates, much like the Presence, which inhabits the house without making itself fully known. His focus on Chloe’s grief contrasts sharply with Rebekah’s favoritism toward Tyler, yet his inaction reflects the same passivity the Presence exhibits. Both exist on the periphery, watching but unable or unwilling to change anything.
Rebekah exerts control over Tyler’s success while neglecting Chloe, prioritizing outward appearances over real emotional connections. Similarly, the Presence manipulates the atmosphere of the house, subtly influencing events without directly revealing itself. Just as Rebekah’s dishonesty threatens the family’s foundation, the Presence’s very existence is an invisible but looming threat. Tyler’s arrogance blinds him to deeper truths, such as the real impact of the girls’ deaths. He disregards them as addicts, much like he ignores the instability within his own home.
The Presence, in turn, remains detached yet aware, a reflection of his emotional distance. Chloe’s sorrow isolates her, making her the most vulnerable, just as the Presence exists unseen. She is the only one truly affected by the recent deaths, mirroring how the Presence is tied to past tragedies. Both embody the pain that others refuse to acknowledge.
Why Does the Presence Reveal Itself to the Family?
As the family’s dysfunction escalates and moral boundaries are crossed, it intervenes, exposing its existence as both a warning and a reaction to their actions. Chloe senses the Presence early on, believing it to be Nadia. It watches over her, subtly acting in moments of vulnerability. When Ryan manipulates Chloe by discussing control and emotional trauma, the Presence disrupts their intimacy by collapsing a shelf. Later, when Ryan spikes Chloe’s drink, it knocks it over. These actions suggest the Presence feels a responsibility toward Chloe, stepping in when others fail her. It acts as an unseen guardian, unlike Chris, who cares for her but remains passive.
Tyler’s actions escalate when he and his friends humiliate a female classmate online. Rebekah condones his behavior, reinforcing his lack of accountability. In contrast, the Presence reacts violently, trashing Tyler’s room in an act of direct punishment. It refuses to let his cruelty go unnoticed, forcing the family to confront an unsettling truth: their actions have consequences. By revealing itself, the Presence exposes what the Paynes try to ignore: their fractured relationships, moral failures, and buried guilt. It steps in where human intervention fails, holding up a mirror to their own decay. The revelation is not random. It is a culmination of the family’s corruption, making them see what they refuse to face.
What Does Lisa Explain About the Presence?
Lisa, the medium, provides insight into the Presence, linking its existence to both the house’s history and the Payne family’s current turmoil. She approaches the situation with an open mind, unlike Tyler and Rebekah, who immediately dismiss her words. Lisa senses the Presence upon entering and immediately notices the vintage mirror in the fireplace mantle. She explains that it serves as a window into the spiritual plane, allowing entities like the Presence to remain connected to the house. The mirror’s significance suggests that the supernatural and the physical world overlap, reinforcing the idea that the Presence is neither fully here nor entirely gone.
Lisa identifies Chloe as particularly sensitive to the Presence. She explains that trauma has opened a metaphysical “door” for her, making her more receptive. This aligns with Chloe’s deep grief over Nadia’s death and her general sense of isolation. The medium’s observation also highlights the idea that pain bridges the living and the dead, making Chloe an unintentional link between both. Lisa suggests that the Presence might be stuck in an anachronistic time loop, unable to distinguish past from present. This implies that it is not merely haunting the house but reliving something unfinished. Rebekah and Tyler scoff at this notion, unwilling to accept the supernatural explanation.
Lisa later returns with a chilling warning: the Presence is not just a remnant of the past but an active force attempting to prevent a future event. She cryptically mentions “the window that doesn’t open,” hinting at an impending danger that only the Presence seems to understand. Her warning pushes Chris toward belief, as he already feels his faith deepening with age.
Also Read: The 15 Best Steven Soderbergh Movies, Ranked
Presence (2025) Movie Ending Explained:
How Does the Presence Save Chloe?
The Presence, previously an unseen force, takes direct action to save Chloe when human intervention fails. It responds to her vulnerability in a way no one else does, acting as both a guardian and an agent of justice. Ryan carefully isolates Chloe, drugging Tyler to ensure no interruptions. When Chloe expresses discomfort, he preys on her empathy, using emotional manipulation to keep control. His true nature emerges once Chloe is incapacitated. He confesses to murdering Nadia and another girl. His method of suffocation reveals a calculated cruelty, proving that he sees Chloe as just another victim.
Unlike before, the Presence no longer works in the background. When Ryan begins suffocating Chloe, it acts with urgency, waking Tyler. This moment marks a shift: rather than simply exposing wrongdoing, the Presence actively prevents harm. Its choice to awaken Tyler rather than attack Ryan itself suggests an adherence to the house’s natural order: it influences, but does not directly kill.
Tyler, often self-absorbed, now has a chance to act decisively. He charges upstairs, tackling Ryan through the window. This act not only saves Chloe but also serves as a redemptive moment. His previous cruelty toward others is contrasted with his final selfless action. The Presence had looked out this window many times, almost as if it foresaw this event. Now, it watches the culmination of its efforts: Ryan’s death and Tyler’s sacrifice.
Exactly Whose Presence is Felt in the House?
The revelation of Tyler as the Presence suggests that he has been protecting Chloe all along. However, the nature of the Presence raises deeper questions about whether it shifts based on who needs it most. In the final moments, Rebekah sees Tyler’s reflection in the mirror, realizing that her son’s spirit has lingered. His presence throughout the film aligns with his final sacrifice, protecting Chloe from Ryan. This interpretation suggests that the Presence was always him, even before his death, influencing events to keep his sister safe.
An alternate theory suggests that the Presence changes depending on who is emotionally trapped. Chloe, grieving Nadia, may have felt her friend’s presence guiding and protecting her. The moment where Chloe’s belongings are carefully placed hints at a guardian more attuned to her personal space: something Tyler never seemed to care about in life. After Tyler’s death, Rebekah becomes the one emotionally caged, potentially shaping the Presence into Tyler for herself. This would mean the house does not hold just one entity but rather shifts based on the strongest emotional need.
Rebekah, in deep grief, immediately assumes the Presence was Tyler all along. But trauma distorts perception, and her conclusion might be shaped more by emotion than truth. If the Presence indeed changes based on who it needs to care for, then Tyler is simply the latest manifestation, not the sole entity.
Ultimately, the film leaves room for interpretation: Was it always Tyler, or does the Presence mold itself to the broken hearts left behind? What do you think?
I believe the entity was Ryan all along.
Lisa, the medium, hinted at this by saying that for spirits time is distorted with no clear separation among past, present and future.
This may suggest that it was Ryan indeed – his spirit “trapped” – as Lisa also hinted at a trapped entity, lingering between the future [having had a violent death] and the past.
Yes, for the most part, I believed the entity was Ryan all along. However, when it emerges from the closet, it makes me question things. Since Ryan hadn’t exhibited any specific behavior suggesting he would appear from the closet, I wondered if the entity manifests for the person who needs it the most.