About the film (courtesy of A24):
The host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.
In a film that presents “found audio” rather than “found footage,” undertone is a unique and at times deeply enthralling piece. Directed by Ian Tuason, undertone tries to do a lot with very little, from its seemingly intentional one-set location, to only visually featuring two real characters throughout the movie. It feels claustrophobic in a way that someone sitting down to watch might not initially expect.
undertone follows Evy (Nina Kiri), a 20-something trapped in a dual state of isolation. By day, she is the sole caregiver for her comatose, dying mother in a quiet suburban house. By night, or whenever she can find the strength, she co-hosts a paranormal podcast with her friend Justin (Adam DiMarco). The dynamic is classic: Evy is the hardened skeptic, while Justin is the “believer.” Ready to work on their next episode, the two receive an anonymous email containing ten audio files that tell the story of Mike and Jessa, a faceless couple who succumb to a supernatural entity. Over the course of their “viewing” of these files, Evy begins to experience paranormal events happening throughout her home.
undertone sets itself up well from the first time they go to record an episode. The creators throw a proverbial rope over the audience, and it becomes evident that this is going to be more of an auditory experience rather than a visual one. With the camera almost seemingly telling a completely different story from what’s being presented from the microphone, the contrast is incredibly enjoyable. However, it does leave the eyes wanting for an anchor or something to grab onto in a meaningful way.
Where undertone falls short is that, in typical A24 fashion, it clambers over itself in the last act to bring itself to a close. It does so in a way that almost leaves one wondering what the significance of certain things shown earlier in the film even was. It does not put a neat little bow on the story, even from a horror perspective. Alongside that, the genuine scares were few and far between. It relies heavily on a feeling of unease and tension that it does an excellent job of building, but it does little to actually capitalize on that tension.
Overall, undertone did almost all of the right things, but it ended in such a way that it can’t help but leave a sour taste in the audience’s mouth (or ears, in this case). Nina Kiri did an incredible job presenting the necessary micro-expressions one would want when left to watch as a character unravels. The acting from everyone is more than solid and the sound design was stellar, but the last 15 minutes or so just almost ruins the movie as it trips on itself on its way out.
undertone opens in theaters Friday, March 13th.
