Aaron's Thoughts
Seen a lot of talk about the theme of trauma throughout the film, but I’m actually surprised that more people aren’t addressing how essentially the whole movie is about control. So many characters are obsessed with it & trying to seize it in different ways (as most humans do).
Those themes would work in most family dramas, but when the audience is seeing things through the eyes of a ghost roaming the house, it just makes it even more laughable how much control that we as humans think we have vs. how much we actually have. Oh you think you have control? Guess what? There is a presence that could literally end you at any time standing right behind you.
It’s obvious that’s why Soderberg wanted to tell this story in this way & I’ve got to say, it really works.
I also love that we actually never see the presence because it allows us as the audience to make it whatever we want. As a religious person, I kept thinking about watching all of this essentially through the eyes of God. Which really puts into perspective the wrangling for control that’s always happening between characters and how little control we actually have. But the movie works because you can make the presence whatever you want & it still plays - ghost, spirit of someone who passed away, demon, guardian angel, etc. They all work & add layers to what Soderberg is doing here.
I think some of the performances hold it back from being truly great, but my goodness did I enjoy watching it. In a decade or so when people are glossing through the dozens of movies that Soderberg directed, it will be fun to point to this one as a hidden gem.
