UNDERTONE Uses Clever Tricks to Tell a Standard Horror Yarn (Review)

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Horror films from the late 90s and early 2000s, especially those coming out of Japan (J-Horror), often combined modern technology with ancient curses. We saw this with haunted internet connections in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse, creepy mobile phones in Takashi Miike’s One Missed Call, and, most famously, a cursed videotape in Hideo Nakata’s Ring. Now, about 30 years later, it’s hard to find a new technology that feels as scary. While AI might seem like a possibility, it doesn’t quite hit the same classic nerve. I think writer-director Ian Tuason made a smart choice with Undertone by focusing on paranormal podcasts, audio recordings, and the style of ‘analog horror’. However, while the concept is strong, the movie doesn’t entirely succeed.

The movie Undertone, recently acquired by A24, is striking because its main idea is so powerful and consistently executed that it overshadows everything else. It almost feels pointless to discuss other parts of the film. However, it’s those less-developed elements that prevent Undertone from being truly terrifying and staying with you long after you’ve seen it – it remains clever and works well, but doesn’t quite reach its full potential as a truly haunting experience.

Undertone tells the story of Evy, who is caring for her mother as she nears the end of her life. Evy’s mother is deeply religious and barely conscious, and Evy is simply waiting for her to pass peacefully. On top of this difficult situation, Evy has just received some unexpected news that complicates her own future.

Evy hosts a podcast called The Undertone, where she and her co-host, Justin, investigate paranormal events. Evy is the skeptic of the pair, while Justin is a firm believer. Recently, Justin received a strange email containing ten audio recordings detailing unsettling experiences of a couple, Jessa and Mike—including Jessa’s sleep talking. They decide to share these recordings with their listeners as part of their podcast. As the recordings unfold over several episodes, a disturbing pattern emerges, suggesting a possible demonic presence. And, as you might expect in a horror movie, all of this seems connected to Evy and her mother.

I especially want to commend Tuason for consistently using the unique premise of Undertone: nearly every character besides Kiri and Duquet is only heard as a voice – on the phone, online, or from another room. This means the film focuses almost entirely on Evy’s face as she speaks or listens. This could become monotonous, but Kiri’s captivating performance and the consistently unsettling cinematography keep you hooked. The entire film takes place inside a house, and every corner feels like it might conceal something frightening – and it just might!

The film’s main draw is definitely its use of sound. The marketing boasts it’s “the scariest movie you’ve ever heard,” and that’s a clever description. We experience the story alongside the main character, Evy, through incredibly well-done sound design and mixing – almost like a frightening ASMR experience. It truly delivers on its promise, but there’s still something missing.

While watching Undertone, I often found myself reminded of other films – everything from J-horror movies to groundbreaking films like The Blair Witch Project, popular hits like Hereditary, and experimental indie projects such as Skinamarink. This constant comparison meant I wasn’t fully engaged with the movie itself. It’s admirable that the director managed to stretch the premise to 93 minutes, but the way the story unfolds often feels forced and unnatural.

As a critic, I found the story relied too heavily on contrivance. Every plot point felt meticulously timed, but in a way that pulled me out of the experience. I could predict every dramatic beat because the narrative needed it to happen, not because it felt organic. It was full of unbelievable coincidences – like how neither character bothered to review crucial audio until the revealing recording, or how Justin always found exactly what he needed with a quick Google search. And Evy? She seemed to have an uncanny sense of timing for when to dramatically cut the recording. Ultimately, it felt overly scripted and lacked genuine spontaneity.

Despite relying on a few tricks, Undertone is generally a successful film. I watched it with Dolby Atmos sound, which is ideal for this kind of movie. It makes me wonder, though, if the film would be as effective without a really good sound system – whether at the cinema or at home. I’m not convinced it would work as well.

Undertone is a smart and well-made horror movie that taps into the current popularity of paranormal podcasts and the ‘analog horror’ style. While the story itself isn’t entirely new, the fantastic sound design makes it a fun watch, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impact.

⭐ (3.5 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, where he dives deep into pop culture. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find him on Letterboxd.

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2026-03-11 21:34