Undertone (2026) Spoiler Free Review

In recent years, horror has often leaned heavily into themes like grief, trauma, and faith, sometimes to the point where they begin to feel repetitive. Undertone (2026), the debut feature from Canadian filmmaker Ian Tuason, manages to revisit these familiar ideas while presenting them through a fresh and surprisingly effective approach. Distributed by A24 in the United States, the film proves that sometimes what you hear can be far more terrifying than what you don’t see.

The host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.

Film synopsis

The story follows Evy, played by Nina Kiri, a paranormal podcast host who balances the believer energy of her co-host Justin with her own skepticism. While Evy is at home caring for her dying mother, she and Justin receive disturbing audio recordings from a couple with strange, unexplained noises. What begins as a simple paranormal investigation quickly evolves into something far more unsettling as the sounds begin to blur the line between reality, paranoia, and something possibly supernatural.

One of the most fascinating creative choices in Undertone is how limited its visual scope is. Evy and her mother are the only characters ever seen on screen. Everyone else exists only as voices, heard through recordings, phone calls, and podcast conversations. This unusual structure transforms the film into something closer to an audio-driven psychological horror experience, where sound design becomes the primary storytelling tool. And that sound design is exceptional.

Tuason understands that horror often works best when the audience is forced to imagine the threat rather than see it outright. The film constantly plays with spatial sound, making viewers question where noises are coming from and whether they are real at all. Subtle creaks, whispers, distant movements, and distorted recordings create an environment where every moment feels slightly unstable. The result is a creeping anxiety that builds gradually until the film’s chilling final act.

Visually, the movie uses space in a clever way despite taking place in a single location. The framing and camera angles create a strong sense of confinement, amplifying the claustrophobic atmosphere of Evy’s home. Even when nothing overtly supernatural is happening, the environment feels oppressive and unpredictable.

At the center of the film is Nina Kiri’s performance, which carries the story almost entirely on her own. Evy’s emotional arc, balancing skepticism, fear, and personal grief, grounds the supernatural elements in something relatable. Kiri brings a raw vulnerability to the role that makes the character’s growing paranoia feel believable rather than exaggerated. Even the off-screen cast deserves credit, as the voice performances convey enough emotion and urgency to make the unseen characters feel real.

Narratively, Undertone is very much a slow-burn horror film. The story takes its time establishing mood and tension, gradually layering its themes of grief, belief, and faith without over-explaining its mysteries. Tuason wisely avoids relying on constant twists or heavy exposition, trusting the power of sound and imagery to create the film’s most unsettling moments. There are even subtle nods to classic supernatural horror, such as the idea that speaking an entity’s name can invite it in, or the manipulation of time and clocks, which may remind genre fans of films like The Evil Dead. But rather than feeling derivative, these elements are woven into the film’s unique atmosphere.

Ultimately, Undertone is an immersive, anxiety-inducing horror experience that thrives on restraint. It’s the kind of film that rewards attentive viewing, and especially attentive listening. More importantly, it’s a movie that demands to be experienced in a theater, where its sound design and visual composition can fully envelop the audience. With confident direction, a standout performance from Nina Kiri, and a refreshingly minimalist approach to horror storytelling, Undertone stands out as one of the more innovative genre entries in recent years.

Undertone (2026) is now available in theaters.