Undertone

Plot summary

Evangeline "Evy" Babic, a young woman with a Catholic upbringing, cares for her comatose mother in their family home while co-hosting a paranormal podcast called The Undertone with her friend Justin. Evy is the skeptic of the duo, dismissing supernatural claims as hoaxes, while Justin is a true believer. Their dynamic shifts when they receive an anonymous email containing ten audio files recorded by a couple named Mike and Jessa. The recordings initially capture Jessa's sleep-talking, but when played backwards, they reveal disturbing messages linked to children's songs. Evy's own research into her favourite childhood song, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep," yields a reversed message saying lick the blood off, which deeply unsettles her.

Evy soon discovers she is six weeks pregnant, a revelation she shares with her unresponsive mother while confessing her feelings of inadequacy. As she and Justin investigate further, the reversed audio from the files reveals an invocation to come in, Abyzou, a demon from Mediterranean folklore known for causing miscarriages and driving mothers to infanticide out of jealousy. Strange phenomena begin to plague Evy's home, including her mother's body moving, flickering lights, and a statue of the Virgin Mary reappearing in different rooms. The podcast receives calls from individuals connected to the audio files, including a neighbour who reveals Mike and Jessa were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide, with Jessa pregnant at the time.

The horror escalates when a caller named Abby, driven to desperation by her crying infant, murders the child live on air despite Evy and Justin's pleas. Evy then confesses that her mother has died, a death for which she feels responsible. Rushing upstairs, she finds the walls covered in crayon drawings of Abyzou and dead infants. The film culminates with Evy seeing her mother's corpse standing in the bathroom, seemingly being attacked, and finally uttering the demon's invocation, come in, Abyzou. The story is conveyed almost entirely from Evy's perspective, with all other characters, including Justin, heard only as voices.

Cast and characters

The film features a small cast, with Nina Kiri as the sole on-screen performer for the majority of the runtime. Kiri portrays Evangeline "Evy" Babic, the podcast host and caregiver whose skepticism is eroded by terrifying paranormal evidence. Michèle Duquet plays Evy's comatose mother, referred to only as Mama, a silent but physically present figure in the home. All other characters exist as off-screen voices heard through the podcast or recordings, a central creative choice that amplifies the film's reliance on sound design. This approach forces the audience to imagine these characters, heightening the sense of unease and isolation.

The vocal performances are led by Adam DiMarco as Justin Manuel, Evy's optimistic and believing podcast co-host. Keana Lyn Bastidas and Jeff Yung provide the voices of Jessa and Mike, the married couple whose audio diaries form the core of the podcast's investigation. Sarah Beaudin voices Abby, the distressed mother who calls into the show during its climactic sequence. Brian Quintero provides the voice of Dr. Ram, Evy's physician. The film's narrative structure ensures that these characters are defined entirely by their voices and the horrifying situations they describe, making their fates all the more impactful despite never being seen.

Production and development

Undertone was written and directed by Ian Tuason, marking his feature film directorial debut. The project was deeply personal, inspired by Tuason's own experiences caring for his parents as they faced terminal cancer in the early 2020s. The script began its life as a radio play before evolving into a film screenplay that incorporated these caregiving themes into a supernatural horror framework. To further root the story in personal history, Tuason chose to shoot the film in his own childhood home, adding an authentic layer of familiarity and unease to the central setting. Principal photography took place over February 2025 in the Rexdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. He described a moment of clarity upon seeing how a simple jacket hanging on a rack in The Babadook could be unsettling, deciding to employ similar subtlety. This philosophy extended to the film's central gimmick of keeping characters off-screen, relying on the audience's imagination and sophisticated sound design to build terror. The director stated his intent was to rely entirely on the audience to construct the horror in their own minds, using negative space and suggestion rather than explicit imagery.

Release and distribution

Undertone premiered on July 27, 2025, at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won the Gold Audience Award for Best Canadian Film. This festival success generated significant industry buzz, leading to its inclusion in the 2026 Sundance Film Festival lineup. In August 2025, the independent studio A24 acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film in a deal reported to be in the seven-figure range. The theatrical release was set for March 13, 2026, in both the United States and Canada, with VVS Films handling the Canadian distribution after acquiring those rights in January 2026.

Following its North American debut, international distribution rights were secured for other major markets. Vertigo Releasing acquired the rights for the United Kingdom, scheduling a release for April 10, 2026. Rialto Distribution handled the Australian release, launching the film there on April 9, 2026. This staggered international rollout in the spring of 2026 allowed the film to build on its strong North American box office performance and critical reception, expanding its reach to global horror audiences.

• July 27, 2025: World premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival.
• August 2025: A24 acquires worldwide rights.
• January 2026: VVS Films acquires Canadian distribution rights.
• March 13, 2026: Theatrical release in the United States and Canada.
• April 9, 2026: Release in Australia by Rialto Distribution.
• April 10, 2026: Release in the United Kingdom by Vertigo Releasing.

Box office performance

Undertone achieved remarkable commercial success, grossing a total of $21.6 million worldwide against a production budget of only $500,000. Released alongside the film Reminders of Him on March 13, 2026, early projections estimated an opening weekend gross of approximately $7 million from 2,500 theatres. The film significantly overperformed, earning $4.37 million on its first day, which included $1.05 million from Thursday preview screenings. The opening weekend in North America concluded with a strong $9.34 million, demonstrating substantial audience interest. The film held well in subsequent weeks, remaining in the top 10 at the box office for three consecutive weekends. It earned $3,015,003 in its second weekend and $1,651,762 in its third. By its fourth weekend, it had dropped to number 13, adding $379,248 to its total. The international expansion in April 2026 saw modest but solid openings, with the United Kingdom contributing $365,227, Australia $156,530, and New Zealand $17,452 in their respective first weekends. This performance cemented the film's status as a major financial success in the indie horror sector.

Critical reception and analysis

Critical response to Undertone was generally positive, with reviewers praising its innovative sound design and atmospheric dread. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 74% of 194 critics' reviews were positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's critical consensus highlighted the film's mastery of negative space and unsettling audio, calling it a diabolically immersive aural nightmare. Metacritic assigned a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 based on 32 reviews, indicating generally favorable notices. However, audience reactions were more mixed, with CinemaScore polling yielding an average grade of C and PostTrak indicating 41% of viewers would definitely recommend it.

Many reviews focused on the film's formal achievements. John Nugent of Empire awarded the film 4 out of 5 stars, acknowledging its use of familiar genre tropes but praising its fresh execution as fluent and frightening. Wendy Ide of The Observer noted the film was proof that a terrifying experience could be crafted from an actor, a computer screen and some creatively unsettling sound design. Tara Brady of The Irish Times gave it 3.5/5 stars, specifically highlighting the work of sound designer David Gertsman and mixer Jon Lawless, and Nina Kiri's layered performance portraying caregiver strain.

Some critics were less impressed, feeling the film relied too heavily on recycled concepts. Benjamin Lee of The Guardian gave it 2/5 stars, arguing it provoked a scary case of deja vu by borrowing elements from numerous past horror hits without finding a unique voice. Richard Lawson of The Hollywood Reporter similarly critiqued the film's reliance on reappropriated tropes, calling for a moratorium to inspire newer stories. Despite these dissenting views, the film's technical prowess and effective low-budget chills were widely recognized, positioning it as a standout debut for director Ian Tuason.

Key themes and style

The film explores several interconnected themes, primarily the psychological toll of caregiving and the erosion of skepticism in the face of the inexplicable. Evy's role as a caregiver for her dying mother forms the emotional core, with her feelings of guilt, responsibility, and inadequacy mirroring the supernatural invasion represented by the demon Abyzou. The theme of motherhood is further complicated by Evy's unplanned pregnancy and the folklore surrounding Abyzou, a demon who targets pregnant women and children out of jealous infertility. This creates a narrative where personal dread and supernatural horror are intimately linked.

Stylistically, Undertone is defined by its radical use of sound and restricted perspective. The creative decision to render all characters except Evy and her mother as off-screen voices is the film's most distinctive formal feature. This forces the horror to be conveyed aurally through podcast recordings, phone calls, and the increasingly disturbing ambient sounds within Evy's home. The sound design, by David Gertsman, becomes a character in itself, using reversed audio, whispers, and mundane noises rendered sinister to build tension. Visually, the film employs a minimalist, one-location approach, using the familiar spaces of a family home to create a sense of claustrophobia and allowing small, subtle changes like a moved statue or a crayon drawing to carry significant weight.

• Caregiving and Guilt: The film uses horror to externalize the stress and emotional burden of caring for a dying parent.
• Skepticism vs. Belief: Charts Evy's journey from dismissive podcaster to a believer confronted by undeniable evil.
• Motherhood and Jealousy: Explores fears of motherhood through both Evy's pregnancy and the myth of the infertile demon Abyzou.
• Aural Horror: Sound design is the primary engine of fear, replacing visual spectres with imagined ones.
• Minimalist Visuals: Relies on a single setting and subtle changes to create unease rather than elaborate effects.

Questions about Undertone

Is Undertone a Canadian film?

Yes, Undertone is a Canadian film. It was written and directed by Canadian filmmaker Ian Tuason and shot in the Rexdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario in February 2025. The film premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won the Gold Audience Award for Best Canadian Film. In Canada, it was distributed theatrically by VVS Films beginning March 13, 2026.

Who directed Undertone and what was their inspiration?

Undertone was written and directed by Ian Tuason, marking his feature directorial debut. The film was inspired by Tuason's personal experiences caring for his parents as they faced terminal cancer in the early 2020s. He began the project as a radio play before adapting it into a screenplay, and he chose to shoot the film in his own childhood home to add authenticity. Tuason cited the minimalist horror of The Babadook as an influence on his visual style.

Why are most characters not seen on screen in Undertone?

The creative choice to present all characters except Evy and her mother as off screen voices is a central stylistic device of the film. Director Ian Tuason relied on this to build horror through sound design and the audience's imagination. This approach creates a sense of isolation and paranoia for the protagonist, Evy. It makes the threats feel more pervasive and unseen, which amplifies the psychological terror of the story.

What did critics say about Undertone?

Critical reception was generally positive, with praise focused on the innovative sound design and atmospheric dread. On Rotten Tomatoes, 74% of 194 reviews were positive, with the consensus calling it a diabolically immersive aural nightmare. Reviewers from Empire and The Observer highlighted its fresh execution and effective use of sound. Some critics, like those from The Guardian and The Hollywood Reporter, felt it relied too heavily on familiar horror tropes. Audience scores were more mixed, with a CinemaScore grade of C.

Where can I watch Undertone?

Undertone received a traditional theatrical release. It was released in Canadian cinemas by VVS Films on March 13, 2026, following its festival premieres at Fantasia and Sundance. The film's worldwide distribution rights are held by A24. Information regarding subsequent digital, video on demand, or physical media releases typically follows several months after a theatrical run.

What is the film's box office and budget?

Undertone was produced on a budget of $500,000 and was a major box office success, grossing $21.6 million worldwide as of May 2026. The film earned $19.9 million in the United States and Canada and $1.4 million in other territories. It overperformed in its North American opening weekend, grossing $9.34 million against initial projections of around $7 million. The film remained in the top 10 box office rankings for three consecutive weeks following its release.

Sources and further reading

• Undertone (Wikipedia)
• undertone (rottentomatoes.com)
• undertone (a24films.com)
• ‎undertone (2025) directed by Ian Tuason • Reviews, film + ... (letterboxd.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-03.