Some horror films rely on monsters. Others rely on blood. Undertone relies on something far more unsettling: sound.
Written and directed by Ian Tuason, this unnerving psychological horror experience leans heavily into the idea that what you hear can be far more terrifying than what you see. From the moment the film begins, it establishes itself as a sensory-driven piece of horror storytelling that thrives on paranoia, atmosphere, and the creeping fear that something is hiding just outside your perception.
The film follows Evy (played by Nina Kiri), the host of a popular paranormal podcast who begins receiving mysterious audio recordings that seem to contain disturbing messages buried within children’s songs and distorted signals. As Evy digs deeper, the recordings begin affecting her psychologically, blurring the line between investigation and obsession.
What begins as curiosity slowly turns into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, hidden meanings, and unsettling patterns that feel just believable enough to make you question what you’re hearing.
Horror Built Almost Entirely on Sound
If there is one element that defines Undertone, it is its audio design. The sound mixing and sound design do the heavy lifting here, transforming ordinary noises into something sinister and suffocating.
The film constantly toys with your senses. You think you hear something. Then you second-guess it. Then the film plays the same sound again, slightly altered, making you question whether you imagined it the first time.
Did you hear something?
Because the movie makes you feel like you did.
The use of silence becomes just as powerful as the bursts of sound. Long stretches of quiet force the audience to lean in and listen, which only amplifies the tension when something finally breaks the silence. It taps directly into the phenomenon known as audio pareidolia—the psychological tendency to hear patterns or voices in random sound.
At several points, the film will have you repeating phrases in your head, trying to decode what you just heard. The experience feels less like traditional horror and more like being pulled into a psychological experiment.
A Performance That Carries the Film
Nearly ninety percent of Undertone rests on Nina Kiri’s performance as Evy, and she more than rises to the challenge. Her screen presence anchors the film’s escalating tension as the character navigates the stress of caring for her bedridden mother while also becoming consumed by the strange recordings arriving at her doorstep.
There’s a constant sense of emotional exhaustion in her performance that feels authentic, especially as Evy begins questioning her own sanity.
Michèle Duquet, who plays her mother, delivers a performance that is almost unnervingly still. When she moves—even slightly—it instantly becomes unsettling. The minimalism of the performance works in the film’s favor, turning small gestures into moments that make the audience hold their breath.
Meanwhile, Adam DiMarco’s voice work as Justice plays an important role in expanding the audio world of the film, helping to reinforce the central idea that the horror here lives inside the soundscape itself.
A Visual Style That Keeps You Searching
Visually, the film uses wide framing and lingering camera placement that constantly leaves negative space in the frame. The effect is similar to exploring environments in games like Resident Evil, where your eyes instinctively scan the corners of the screen searching for clues—or waiting for something to emerge.
The camera rarely rushes. Instead, it lets the tension simmer. You find yourself waiting for something to jump out, even when nothing does.
That lingering anticipation becomes its own kind of horror.
The Sensory Experience of Dolby Cinema
If there is a film that demands premium sound, this is it.
Experiencing Undertone in Dolby Cinema amplifies the film’s design in a way that feels almost physical. Low-frequency sounds thump through the theater, whispers echo behind you, and moments of silence feel heavy enough to make the room uncomfortable.
It’s the kind of horror experience where the hairs on the back of your neck rise before anything actually happens.
The tagline for Evy’s podcast in the film says it best:
Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of the silence.
Final Verdict
Undertone is not a traditional horror film. It is a sensory-driven psychological experience that weaponizes sound, silence, and paranoia to pull viewers into a haunting audio mystery that feels disturbingly plausible.
By the time the credits roll, you may find yourself listening more carefully to the world around you—and wondering whether that strange noise you heard was really nothing at all.
From A24, Undertone opens in theaters on March 13, 2026.
Editor-in-Chief | Owner
I’m a dedicated aficionado of all things movies, pop culture, and entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and a love for the silver screen, I’m constantly immersed in the world of cinema, exploring new releases, classics, and hidden gems alike. As a fervent advocate for the power of film to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and recommendations with fellow enthusiasts.