Present (2024) is a supernatural thriller movie written by David Koepp and directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh. The movie takes place in a quiet suburban home that is haunted by a ghost. The story is told from the first-person point of view, which makes the audience feel like they are actually experiencing the haunting. Chris Sullivan plays Chris Payne, Callina Liang plays Chloe Payne, Eddy Maday plays Tyler Payne, West Mulholland plays Ryan, and Julia Fox plays Rebekah Payne. The movie has an immersive and personal storytelling style that makes it hard to tell the difference between the viewer and the ghostly presence.
THE STORY OF “PRESENCE”
In PRESENCE, a dark, empty suburban house is inhabited by an unknown, unseen being. When Cece, the real estate agent, shows the Payne family (parents Rebekah and Chris, and children Tyler and Chloe) the house, they don’t know that it’s haunted. Tensions rise as the family fixes up the house and gets used to their new surroundings. Chloe starts to feel the Presence as she grieves the death of her friend Nadia. Things get worse: secrets are revealed, relationships fall apart, and danger appears, especially from Chloe’s new friend Ryan. In an exciting ending, people die, secrets from the past are revealed, and the Presence does what it was meant to do.
The story has a lot of emotional weight and scary suspense, but PRESENCE’s atmosphere comes mostly from its unique setting. It’s not just a background; the house is a character in its own right.
WHERE WAS “PRESENCE” (2024) FILMED?
Steven Soderbergh’s Presence was filmed entirely on location in Cranford, New Jersey. Principal photography for PRESENCE took place over a condensed 11-day schedule in September 2023, under an interim SAG-AFTRA agreement during the ongoing actors’ strike. The entire film was shot from the point of view of the titular ghost, using innovative camera work led by Soderbergh himself, operating under his cinematography pseudonym Peter Andrews.
 CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY: THE MAIN SETTING
The suburban town of Cranford, located in Union County, New Jersey, became the heart of the film. Approximately 18 miles southwest of Manhattan, this quiet, tree-lined township offered a timeless, classic American feel that perfectly aligned with Soderbergh’s vision for the haunted home.
After working with location manager Katherine Delaney, the team found five houses whose owners were open to the idea of temporarily moving out — furniture and all — to allow for filming. That’s a huge commitment, but one family agreed, and their house at 405 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey, USA, became the central setting for Presence.
This private residence served as the central filming location—the Payne family house where nearly all scenes of the movie unfold. It was chosen for both its visual style and practical layout. Soderbergh needed a two-story home that included:
• A workable staircase for pivotal scenes.
• Closets that could be filmed from within.
• A living room with fireplace space (a mantel and antique mirror were added).
• A layout conducive to the use of long, uninterrupted shots.
The house’s design blended modern updates with antique charm—ideal for capturing the film’s themes of memory, time distortion, and ghostly echoes.
To prepare the house, the production team requested that residents temporarily relocate and remove all their furniture. Remarkably, five Cranford homeowners volunteered for such an intense arrangement, with the final selection being the Springfield Avenue home.
INSIDE THE PAYNE HOUSE: SET DESIGN DETAILS
Though real, the Springfield Avenue house underwent specific modifications to suit the supernatural narrative:
A fireplace and mantel were constructed to give the living room a warm, yet eerie focal point.
A vintage mirror, key to the film’s emotional climax, was added. The mirror acts as a spiritual link to the Presence.
Interiors were styled in a way that evoked a lived-in, updated-antique aesthetic—making it believable yet mysterious.
Soderbergh operated a Sony mirrorless camera with a DJI Ronin stabilizer, often shooting while wearing rubber and nylon slippers to reduce footstep noise. The film’s long, quiet takes required minimal crew and a house that could accommodate such mobility and silence.
HOW CRANFORD WON THE LOCATION SPOT
Producer Julie M. Anderson began the location search in the summer of 2023. While spending time in New York, she decided to scout nearby areas herself. She reached out to David Schoner of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission with the project’s requirements. Schoner’s first recommendation? Cranford.
Anderson visited the town and immediately felt it had the right atmosphere. Known for its picturesque suburban streets and a touch of timeless character, Cranford has served as a filming site for other notable productions like Sweethearts, Anne Hathaway’s Eileen, and the upcoming Tow.
CHALLENGES OF FILMING ON LOCATION
Transforming a family home into a film set isn’t easy. It meant completely clearing out the existing furniture, retrofitting the space for lighting and camera movement, and then layering in the visual atmosphere — everything from wall decor to props like the antique mirror.
Moreover, Cranford’s calm and quiet nature worked in the production’s favor. Despite the tight 11-day schedule, the community’s cooperation and the town’s cinematic charm helped the team achieve their goals.
Soderbergh, known for his efficiency, maximized every corner of the house. From the claustrophobic confines of the closet to wide shots of the staircase and landing, the space was used in creative and narratively significant ways.
CRANFORD’S GROWING APPEAL TO FILMMAKERS
Cranford has quietly become a go-to destination for filmmakers looking for a suburban setting with character and history. Its streets, homes, and proximity to New York City make it both convenient and visually compelling. Presence continues the town’s growing legacy of being more than just a backdrop — it becomes part of the story.
The singular location of PRESENCE—a home in Cranford, New Jersey—is more than just a film set. It’s where memory, fear, grief, and supernatural energy collide in an unnerving story told through the eyes of an unseen ghost. Director Steven Soderbergh and his team transformed a quiet suburban house into a psychological labyrinth of emotion and terror.
For fans of the film, knowing that this unique and chilling tale took place in a real New Jersey home adds another layer of intrigue..
WATCH PRESENCE OFFICIAL TRAILER:
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