Undertone (2026) Spoiler Free Review

Film Details

Director: Ian Tuason

Run Time: 1hr 33m

Cast: Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michelle Duquet

Synopsis

A podcast host who covers the spooky supernatural, moves in to care for her elderly mother. But the content from her latest episode brings in a lot more than just viewers…

My Review

Undertone utilises a simple premise to create something that feels rather revolutionary for the horror genre. Director Ian Tuason opened the press screening describing the film as ‘Found Audio’ and I have been contemplating the brilliance of that concept ever since! This latest A24 horror flick relies less on your usual jump scares and violence and more on uncomfortable tension that glues audiences to the edge of their seats!

The first act is a bit of a slow burner here, exacerbated by the one set location, Undertone takes its time to establish that sense of loneliness and isolation for its lead character Evy. But once it really gets going, your heart rate isn’t given a moments respite. The ‘3D sound’ approach projected from the Dolby cinema surround sound, created a truly immersive haunting that sets itself apart from its genre counterparts. The choice to go with a fixed camera style, with steady rotations, created a really eerie atmosphere that reflected the feeling of being watched. Then the religious paraphernalia plastered across the set worked really well with that shooting style, building the tension immensely, even with the lack of a physical supernatural presence. Some may criticise the films lack of action, perhaps expecting a slightly different experience, but I have the upmost respect for creating something that genuinely feels unique in an oversaturated market. It’s definitely one to experience on the big screen with a top class sound system!

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

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