Indie Horror Soundscapes: Slow Burn & Atmospheric Terror

The Allure of Silence and the Terror Within undertone

undertone centers on Evy Babic (Nina Kiri), the co-host of a paranormal podcast, “The Undertone” (“where we talk about all things creepy”). Evy’s life is marked by profound isolation. She’s returned to her childhood home to care for her catatonic mother (Michèle Duquet), a situation that weighs heavily on her, both emotionally and practically. Kiri delivers a masterclass in understated performance, conveying Evy’s weariness and quiet desperation with remarkable subtlety. We rarely see Justin (Adam DiMarco, of The White Lotus), Evy’s podcast co-host; his presence is primarily auditory, filtered through Evy’s headphones during remote recording sessions.

Tuason masterfully constructs a claustrophobic atmosphere, emphasizing the psychological toll of Evy’s circumstances. The film doesn’t rely on jump scares, but rather on a slow-burn tension that creeps under the skin. The narrative takes a disturbing turn when Evy and Justin begin receiving a series of anonymous audio recordings. These files, initially unsettling, reveal deeper, more sinister messages when played in reverse, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination.

Is Evy’s unraveling a result of grief, caregiver fatigue, or something genuinely supernatural? Tuason leaves the answer deliberately ambiguous, inviting viewers to confront their own interpretations. The film’s sound design is particularly noteworthy, creating a landscape of nightmarish silences, distorted echoes, and unsettling reverberations. It’s a testament to Tuason’s meticulous attention to detail – producer Cody Calahan revealed that the director provided a 300-page document detailing every sound cue in the film, essentially a “giant Bible” for the sound team.

Despite Tuason’s unfortunate absence from the Sundance screening due to health issues, his vision resonated deeply with the audience. Kiri shared during the post-screening Q&A that Tuason’s personal experiences – the loss of both his parents in recent years and his time as a caregiver during the COVID-19 pandemic – were central to the film’s creation. She emphasized the generosity of allowing the crew to film in his childhood home, a space imbued with a palpable sense of history and emotion.

undertone’s journey to Sundance began with a premiere at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival, where it quickly garnered attention from A24. The film’s success speaks to a growing appetite for intelligent, atmospheric horror that prioritizes psychological depth over cheap thrills. What does it say about our current cultural anxieties that a film exploring isolation, grief, and the fragility of perception is resonating so powerfully with audiences?

Producer Dan Slater suggests there’s more to undertone than meets the eye, hinting at a guiding force behind the film’s creation. “We keep joking that the movie is haunted… But the flip side is that something is with us, pushing it forward.” He adds, “I think this is a movie that the more you rewatch, the more you’ll see. If you watch it backwards, you’ll see a lot more.”

Frequently Asked Questions About undertone

• What is undertone about?

  undertone is a psychological horror film that follows Evy Babic, a podcast host grappling with isolation, grief, and a series of disturbing audio recordings that threaten to unravel her reality.

• Who stars in undertone?

  The film stars Nina Kiri, known for her role in The Handmaid’s Tale, alongside Adam DiMarco (The White Lotus) and Michèle Duquet.

• Where did undertone premiere?

  undertone premiered at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival before screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

• What makes undertone stand out from other horror films?

  undertone distinguishes itself through its slow-burn tension, psychological depth, and innovative sound design, prioritizing atmosphere and character development over jump scares.

• Is undertone based on a true story?

  While not directly based on a single true story, undertone draws heavily from writer-director Ian Tuason’s personal experiences with grief and caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• What is the significance of the podcast “The Undertone” in the film?

  The podcast serves as Evy’s primary connection to the outside world and becomes a focal point for the unsettling events that unfold, blurring the lines between her professional and personal life.