Movie Review: ‘Undertone’

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Review by James Lindorf

“Undertone” is the latest atypical horror film to be brought to theaters by A24. The Canadian horror film, written and directed by Ian Tuason, premiered at last year’s Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where A24 purchased distribution rights. A major win for a project that cost well under $1 million. This impressive horror film is one you must hear to believe, and everyone will get the chance when it opens in theaters everywhere on March 13th.

Parents are great for a lot of things, and they can also be a great source of guilt. At least that is true for Evy (Nina Kiri, The Handmaid’s Tale) as her mother lies on her deathbed, at home, instead of a hospital. Evy maintains her deathwatch around the clock, waiting for the telltale change in her mother’s breathing. Her only comfort comes from The Undertone, a paranormal podcast she co-hosts with her friend Justin (Adam DiMarco), where she’s the resident skeptic to his more open-minded views. Unfortunately, Justin has moved to London, forcing Evy to record their shows at 3 am, trading sleep for comfort. When a mysterious email sends them 10 audio files of a married couple experiencing paranormal noises in their home, the duo decides to listen to them live on the show. As the clips become more sinister, the drive to investigate becomes unbearable, and the hosts become helpless spectators and participants in an unbelievable nightmare.

The more time that passes since I saw “Undertone,” the more impressive it becomes in my mind. Half of this movie is like watching a commentary track for “Paranormal Activity,” only you don’t get to see what is happening on the screen, only the audio and the reactions of the commentators. There are a couple of moments where the film drags over its 85-minute runtime. It may have been a better overall 20-minute short, but to be 95% successful, with this premise, is the most impressive thing I will see all year. It is no surprise that Paramount Pictures has tapped Tauson to helm the next entry in the Paranormal Activity franchise. That will mark the first time I have been excited for one of those films since the 2007 original.

The majority of the film is an exercise in low-budget filmmaking. The tension builds through slowly panning cameras, tilted angles, shadows, reflections, and, of course, the sound design. The key element is the award-winning level performance provided by Kiri. She spends most of the movie talking to a disembodied voice, a comatose body, or staring into the dark corners of the home. Evy has a complex relationship with everyone in her life. The cocktail of guilt, love, and frustration with her ill mother. Her relationship with boyfriend Darren, which is destined to fail, evil spirit or not, and there is Justin. They are clearly best friends, but there is a moment where you believe they may be each other’s “the one that got away.” Kiri handles it all wonderfully, and if you removed the horror elements, this could be a movie family drama.

As positive as my review has been, I don’t expect this film to have widespread appeal. It will easily be a financial success, but the lack of action will leave some audiences feeling undeserved. There is an eerie feeling from the very beginning. Still, the first scare is a long time coming, and Tauson isn’t afraid to fade to black, leaving only the sound to carry us through the horrific moment. I may be in the minority, but I am happy with my 4.5 out of 5 score for “Undertone,” and I am excited to see it again with friends.

Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): March 13th, 2026
Runtime: 1h 25m
Director: Ian Tuason
Screenwriter: Ian Tuason
Producer: Cody Calahan, Dan Slater
Production Co: Black Fawn Films
Distributor: A24