Callina Liang Proves She’s One to Watch in Thriller Presence

As someone who appreciates a suspenseful haunted house tale, I’m quite excited to see a film like Presence, directed by Steven Soderbergh, turn the classic genre on its head. Clever in its execution, Presence is strictly shot from the ghost’s point of view in a newly renovated suburban home, creating a unique and eerie “fly on the wall” experience for the audience. The result is a thrilling slow burn that will have you questioning the intention of the presence at every turn.

In a series of unbroken sequences, the presence witnesses a family divided, led by Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan, as they move in looking for a fresh start and discover they may not be alone. It’s not long before the presence takes particular interest in the daughter Chloe—played by newcomer Callina Liang, who is a standout in the film. Grieving the death of her best friend Nadia, Chloe is lost and detached from her family, especially her work-focused mother. Her life seemingly out of control, the teen finds an unlikely comfort in her connection with the presence.

Coming off her first-ever film Bad Genius and straight into a Soderbergh project, Liang, who grew up between Australia and Singapore and attended The New School in New York, is establishing herself as one to watch in Hollywood. We caught up with the actress to talk about the intimidating yet exciting adventure that was filming Presence, real-life ghost encounters, and the surprising Chinese television show that ignited her passion for acting.

Presence is shot solely from the ghost’s POV, which is a unique form of filmmaking. Did that aspect make you nervous at all?