Presence (15)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
★★★

 
FILM-MAKER Steven Soderbergh returns with a haunting supernatural horror which turns the haunted house genre on its head as it is seen from the point of view of the resident ghost. 

The camera acts as the eyes of the presence in this slow-burning but compelling thriller as it witnesses the arrival of a family of four and their gradual and disturbing breakdown. 

Rebecca (a sublime Lucy Liu) is a controlling mother who dotes on her son Tyler (Eddy Maday), her favourite child, and believes she is doing the best for him while totally dismissing her troubled daughter Chloe (Callina Liang) who has been traumatised by the death of her best friend.

Her husband (Chris Sullivan) gently reminds her she has two children as he can see Chloe is in severe pain. Meanwhile the presence, who resides in Chloe’s room, seems very protective of her, shielding her against Tyler’s new best friend Ryan (West Mulholland).

Soderbergh reunites with writer David Koepp for the second time for this experimental and eerie horror shot in 11 days which unfolds entirely in a suburban house. While the property is at times creepy, I couldn’t help having house envy for its spacious rooms and gorgeous wooden floors and staircase.

That said, with impressive debut performances from newcomers Liang and Maday and a complex, nuanced turn by Liu, this proves an intimate and unnerving drama and a fascinating exploration of family dynamics, and mothers and daughters, ending on a shocking note. 

Soderbergh shows again what a thrilling master film-maker he is whether he is making an arthouse film or a blockbuster like Ocean’s Eleven. 

In cinemas now. 

Flight Risk (15)
Directed by Mel Gibson
★★

 
AFTER nine years, actor-turned-director Mel Gibson returns behind the camera to bring us this ridiculous but surprisingly tense and claustrophobic thriller. 

It follows an air marshal (Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey) who is accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to a mafia boss trial on a flight from Alaska when things go awry as they cross the Alaskan wilderness. The pilot (Mark Wahlberg) isn’t what he seems. 

Most of the action takes place on an old rickety plane as Madolyn (Dockery) has to ensure Winston (Grace) arrives alive and in one piece. It feels like a stage play at times as it is a three-hander but Gibson keeps the tension mounting. 

Grace provides the light relief, cracking jokes, as Dockery, sporting a decent American accent, has to battle with Wahlberg as the villain. Wahlberg, who appears to be having a blast, and seems to be channelling Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder although Wahlberg shaved his own hair off. 

Although absolute nonsense and predictable, it is entertaining. 

In cinemas now. 
 

Emmanuelle (18)
Directed by Audrey Diwan
★★

 
SADLY there is nothing steamy or sizzling about this remake of the 1974 French erotic thriller Emmanuelle. 

Written and directed by Audrey Diwan, it stars the fabulous Noemie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) as Emmanuelle who is sent to Hong Kong to audit the manager (a wasted Naomie Watts) of a luxury hotel there. She soon becomes obsessed with one of the hotel guests (Will Sharpe) who keeps ignoring her and refuses to play her sexual games. 

It is based on the 1967 novel by Emmanuelle Arsan and despite all the sex it seems very detached and keeps the viewer at arm’s length, though the hotel is absolutely gorgeous. 

Merlant deserved better than this pointless remake. Though if you are into hotel porn knock yourself out. 

In cinemas now.

Back in Action (12)
Directed by Seth Gordon 
★★★

 
AFTER 10 years, Cameron Diaz was enticed out of retirement to team up with Jamie Foxx for this predictable spy action comedy by numbers. 

They play former CIA spies Emily and Matt who went off-grid for 14 years during which they married and raised two kids. When their secret identities are compromised they are pulled right back in and have to deal with killer enemies, a moody teenage daughter (McKenna Roberts) and a whip-smart son (Rylan Jackson). 

Co-written and directed by Seth Gordon, it features a stellar cast which also includes Glenn Close and Andrew Scott. 

While it is great fun to watch Diaz (who frankly deserved better) and Foxx in action together even their star power isn’t enough to save this mediocre spy film.

In cinemas now.