2026 is shaping up to be another fantastic year for horror fans, continuing the momentum from the exceptionally strong year in 2025. One early standout is Undertone, a highly anticipated new supernatural horror film from A24. Since premiering to critical acclaim at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival, buzz has been growing about its fresh and unique approach to the genre.
Undertone is a spooky podcast story about a woman who returns home to care for her sick mother. While reviewing listener-submitted recordings for her podcast, she starts experiencing strange and unexplainable events herself. What makes this show different is that you only see one character, Evy (played by Nina Kiri), and the entire story takes place in her mother’s house.
Director Ian Tuason discussed the making of his film, Undertone, in an interview with Variety, sharing insights into the challenges and creative process of independent horror filmmaking. He revealed a classic horror movie that heavily influenced the film’s atmosphere, which is sure to intrigue fans of the genre.
Undertone Draws Inspiration From The Exorcist
Ian Tuason directed Undertone mostly at his own house, which meant he constantly faced the fear he was creating on screen. This personal approach came from thinking about what truly frightened him.
He explains he’s always wondered why ‘The Exorcist’ frightened him as a child. He realized the film was so effective because it turned the most secure place – home, and the most vulnerable person – a daughter – into something terrifying. This led him to consider what even safer and more comforting concepts could be twisted into something frightening.
What terrified audiences about The Exorcist was the shocking contrast between intense evil and a child’s innocence – the film powerfully showed a young girl being corrupted. Tuason’s new movie uses a similar approach, contrasting the security of family and home with the unsettling fear of a supernatural haunting.
Sound Design Is Key To The Creepiness Of Undertone And The Exorcist
Like The Exorcist, the new film Undertone will rely heavily on sound to create a frightening experience. The Exorcist famously used sound effects – such as the snapping of Regan’s head, the sound of her crawling, and her distorted voice – to amplify its scares. This wasn’t just about what you saw; the sound design heightened the terror by engaging your sense of hearing, making the film even more impactful.
The upcoming film Undertone will use sound design extensively to create frightening moments. Because the story depends so much on eerie sounds, it’s best experienced in a theater. The director aims to replicate the feeling of using noise-canceling headphones, allowing the audience to feel like they are experiencing the unsettling paranormal recordings at the same time as the main character, Evy – a key element of what makes Undertone stand out.
Many modern horror films try to imitate older classics, but Undertone feels different – it’s clearly inspired by the feeling of classic horror, rather than just copying the plot or creatures. Based on early buzz, it could be a surprisingly big success.
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2026-01-24 07:48