The Hype and Horror of 'Undertone': A24's Latest Venture Leaves Me Wondering
There’s something about a low-budget horror film that either captivates or confounds, and Undertone seems to do a bit of both. Personally, I think the film’s biggest challenge isn’t its microbudget or its single-location setting—it’s the weight of expectation. A24, a studio known for its arthouse darlings and genre-bending masterpieces, has a reputation that precedes it. When they pick up a film, especially one that’s been making waves at festivals like Fantasia and Sundance, the hype machine kicks into overdrive. But does Undertone live up to it? In my opinion, not quite.
The Podcast Paradox: A Modern Twist on Found Footage
One thing that immediately stands out is the film’s attempt to do for podcasts what Paranormal Activity did for found footage. It’s a clever idea—podcasts are everywhere, and their intimate, audio-driven nature lends itself well to horror. But here’s the rub: Undertone feels more like a gimmick than a genuine exploration of the medium. The protagonist, Evie, hosts a paranormal podcast with her friend Justin, and they stumble upon eerie recordings of a couple experiencing strange phenomena. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential it had to tap into the psychological horror of sound. Yet, the film relies so heavily on this one trick that it starts to feel repetitive.
From my perspective, the real missed opportunity here is the lack of character depth. Evie, played by Nina Kiri, is a skeptic, while Justin is a believer—a classic dynamic, but one that feels underdeveloped. We know almost nothing about Evie beyond her role as a caregiver for her comatose mother. This lack of personality makes it hard to invest in her journey. If you take a step back and think about it, horror works best when we care about the characters. Without that emotional anchor, the scares feel hollow.
The Sound of Silence (and Creepy Recordings)
A detail that I find especially interesting is the film’s sound design. It’s undeniably impressive, with the backwards messages and nursery rhyme motifs creating a sense of unease. The recordings of Jessa, the sleep-talking wife, are genuinely unsettling. But here’s the irony: the sound design is so effective that it almost overshadows the rest of the film. What this really suggests is that Undertone might have worked better as a short film or a podcast episode itself. Stretched into an 80-minute runtime, it feels padded, with too much build-up and too little payoff.
What many people don’t realize is that horror often thrives on restraint. The less you show, the more the audience’s imagination fills in the gaps. Undertone seems to understand this in theory but fails to execute it fully. The demonic entity hinted at in the recordings remains just that—a hint. By the time the film finally delivers its climax, it feels rushed and anticlimactic.
A24’s Gamble: Hype vs. Substance
This raises a deeper question: Why did A24 pick this up? The studio has a knack for finding hidden gems, but Undertone feels like a misstep. In my opinion, the film’s festival buzz was likely driven by its novelty rather than its quality. It’s a microbudget experiment that connected with some audiences, but it doesn’t hold up under the scrutiny of a wider release.
What this really suggests is that A24 might be spreading itself too thin. With so many projects under its belt, not every film can be a Hereditary or The Lighthouse. But the studio’s brand carries expectations, and Undertone doesn’t meet them. It’s not a bad film, just an unremarkable one—a fact that feels more glaring given its high-profile backing.
The Future of Horror: Where Do We Go From Here?
If there’s one takeaway from Undertone, it’s that horror needs more than just a good concept. It needs characters we care about, a narrative that builds tension effectively, and a payoff that feels earned. Personally, I think the film’s biggest lesson is for filmmakers: don’t let the gimmick overshadow the story.
Looking ahead, I’m curious to see how horror evolves in the age of podcasts and digital media. Undertone had the right idea but failed to execute it fully. Perhaps the next film will strike the right balance between innovation and substance. Until then, I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next big thing—hopefully one that lives up to the hype.
Final Thoughts
Undertone is a film that will likely divide audiences. For some, it’s a spooky, atmospheric experiment. For others, like me, it’s a missed opportunity. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it highlights the gap between potential and execution. In the end, it’s a reminder that even in horror, substance always trumps style.
