Moderátorka podcastu zabývajícího se strašidelnými tématy se přestěhuje, aby se starala o svou umírající matku. Když dostane nahrávky paranormálních zážitků těhotného páru, zjistí, že jejich příběh se podobá tomu jejímu, a každá další nahrávka ji přivádí blíž a blíž šílenství.
- Garrett Wilkins2. července 2026Undertone demonstrates how far a compelling idea and disciplined filmmaking can stretch a modest budget. Writer-director Ian Tuason builds his debut around an inspired premise: a paranormal podcast host caring for her dying mother begins receiving increasingly disturbing audio recordings whose haunting events begin mirroring her own reality. Rather than relying on elaborate visuals or conventional jump scares, the film places extraordinary confidence in its sound design, allowing unseen voices, subtle distortions, and oppressive silence to generate much of its unease. Nina Kiri anchors the film with a restrained performance that convincingly conveys mounting isolation and psychological exhaustion, while Tuason's decision to keep nearly every other character off-screen gives the story an intimacy that distinguishes it from more traditional supernatural horror. Unfortunately, Undertone never develops that remarkable premise into an equally compelling narrative. Once the central mystery is established, the film falls into a repetitive rhythm that gradually diminishes the effectiveness of its otherwise exceptional sound design, and its final act struggles to deliver a payoff worthy of the tension that precedes it. I found myself admiring the craftsmanship more than becoming fully invested in the story itself. Even so, this is the kind of ambitious independent horror that deserves appreciation for attempting something genuinely distinctive rather than settling for familiar genre formulas. It may rank among the lesser entries in A24's horror catalog, but its creative use of sound and unwavering commitment to its central concept make it an intriguing debut that leaves me more interested in Ian Tuason's future than completely satisfied by this particular film.
- Patrick Wai21. června 2026What impressed me most was not the horror itself, but what the filmmakers managed to accomplish with so little. Kiri was asked to carry virtually the entire movie by herself and delivers a remarkably strong performance. With a limited budget, a tiny cast, and only a handful of locations, the filmmakers create an atmosphere that many larger productions fail to achieve. The secret weapon is the sound design. If possible, watch this with headphones. The director understands that what the audience imagines is often far more frightening than anything that can be shown on screen. Strange noises, distant sounds, and subtle audio cues create a sense of dread that lingers throughout the film. It reminded me of Iron Lung, another indie production that used limitations as strengths rather than weaknesses. The movie is undeniably slow, but I never found it boring. There are several genuinely creepy scenes, and the mystery is intriguing enough to keep pulling you forward. More importantly, the film gives you something to think about afterward. This is not a movie that neatly explains itself. It practically invites a rewatch. What surprised me most was how sad parts of it were. The scenes involving Evy’s ailing mother felt painfully authentic. Anyone who has cared for a sick parent or loved one will instantly recognize the isolation, exhaustion, fear, loneliness, loss of routine, and strange distortion of time that comes with being a caregiver. Those moments hit harder than any jump scare. One detail that stood out was Evy’s drinking. In that situation, alcohol would be the last thing most caregivers would want. There is simply too much responsibility and too much vigilance required. For her to start drinking suggests someone who is approaching a breaking point emotionally and mentally. The ending is intriguing, though I am still not entirely sure what to make of it. Whether that ambiguity is a strength or a weakness will depend on the viewer. Either way, it kept me thinking long after the credits rolled. A remarkably effective indie horror film that proves atmosphere, sound, and emotional authenticity can accomplish far more than a large budget.
- Zokkiie16. června 2026I was genuinely impressed by this, especially considering the movie was made with such a small budget. It’s a great example of how atmosphere and creativity can matter more than expensive effects. The film creates a constant sense of unease, with a creepy feeling that sticks throughout. I found myself paying attention to every corner and every shot because it does a great job making you feel like something could be lurking anywhere. The biggest weakness is the final 20 minutes, where some of that carefully built tension starts to fall apart. It becomes more chaotic and loses the momentum it had going, making the ending feel a bit weaker than everything that came before. Still, the overall experience is much stronger than I expected. A genuinely creepy, well-crafted horror movie that gets a lot out of very little.
- Adam Azul10. června 2026Undertone is a horror film directed by Ian Tuason and released by A24. I am often pleasantly surprised by the quality of horror films released by this studio, and this one is no exception. It does really great job at getting under your skin, relying on more auditory scares than visual ones. With a name like Undertone, it should not be a surprise how much sound plays an important part. From the screaming whistle of a tea kettle, to the ominous clicking of an analog clock, this film has sounds that can be truly unnerving. Even the usage of cellphone vibrations really drives home the point of the annoyances of the outside world that weigh down Nina Kiri’s character Evy as she struggles to cope with her ailing mom. Honestly, it was that aspect that hit home hard for me. Anyone who has witnessed the decline and death of a parent can understand the stress that Evy goes through. Coupling that with the strange phenomenon that starts to manifest around her really amps up the sense of dread. The plot centers around a podcast between Evy and her friend, where they delve into the strange and bizarre. During an episode, they begin to listen to some audio files sent to them by a mysterious email. As they progress, paranormal occurrences begin to occur. This idea brings a modern take to the trope of demonic conjuring while also giving a node to stories about cursed tapes. This aspect is done quite well, which is further reinforced by Evy’s skepticism towards the whole thing as she strives to poke holes in the occurrences. My only complaint would have to be the ending. It does leave things a bit ambiguous, which is fine, but I’d rather have seen and experienced more. Things just get ramped up to 10 before the film cuts to black which is a bit of a shame. Even so, the experience leading up to this was enjoyable and unique.
- Avery Thornburg7. června 2026Giving very much pandemic movie. As in there were so few characters, it felt like they had no choice or something. Literally two people ever seen, one in a coma practically. And two voices without even any flashover to see them at any point. I suppose that was to hsve some special effect on the vibe but it kind of just gave low budget and low pathogens. There was almost zero character development or context of even the premise of it which leaves u a bit listless since a lot of the movie is cameras panning around a dim house. The panning wasnt terrible; u felt a little on edge cuz normally something happens eventually when that happens and for the most part, it kind of never did which kind of sucks. Maybe one or twice in literally the last 5 mins. Very slow burn. Basically nothing happened until the last 20 minutes. Even for all of that, a lot of missed potential in moments that could have rattled the viewer a little more to make it more worthy.
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Undertone byl vydán 13. března 2026.
Undertone byl režírován Ian Tuason.
Undertone je dlouhý 1 h 33 m.
Undertone byl produkován Dan Slater, Cody Calahan.
Moderátorka podcastu zabývajícího se strašidelnými tématy se přestěhuje, aby se starala o svou umírající matku. Když dostane nahrávky paranormálních zážitků těhotného páru, zjistí, že jejich příběh se podobá tomu jejímu, a každá další nahrávka ji přivádí blíž a blíž šílenství.
Klíčové postavy v Undertone jsou Evy Babic (Nina Kiri), Justin (voice) (Adam DiMarco), Jessa (voice) (Keana Bastidas).
Undertone je hodnocen R.
Undertone je film s žánrem Horor, Thriller, Vědeckofantastický.
Undertone má hodnocení diváků 5 z 10.
Undertone měl rozpočet 500 tis. US$.
Undertone vydělal v kinech 21,6 mil. US$.