Are you uneasy about unsettling noises during the night? Does a sudden sound in the dark raise your anxiety? Canadian filmmaker Ian Tuason is tapping into these fears with his debut feature film, Undertone, which has quickly gained acclaim, being dubbed “the scariest movie you’ll ever hear” by critics.
With a background in virtual reality and 3D audio design, Tuason opts to leave much to the audience’s imagination, relying heavily on strategically placed sound effects to create tension. “I’m counting on the viewers to fill in the blanks themselves. Initially, I considered employing techniques similar to those of horror director Mike Flanagan,” the writer and director shared with ABC News. “However, after watching The Babadook and seeing a simple jacket hanging on a rack, I realized that minimalism could be just as effective. Sometimes, just a jacket draped over a chair can be enough.”
Produced for less than $1 million and filmed in Tuason’s childhood residence, Undertone exemplifies minimalist filmmaking. The narrative centers on Evy (Nina Kiri), a young woman providing hospice care for her comatose mother in their isolated, creaky family home. To cope, Evy records a supernatural horror podcast called The Undertone in the dead of night, adapting to her co-host Justin’s (Adam DiMarco from The White Lotus) time zone in the UK. While Evy is a staunch skeptic, Justin is a firm believer in the supernatural, and her skepticism begins to waver after she receives ten anonymous audio recordings of a couple on the brink of a breakdown.
Instead of bombarding viewers with visual horror, Undertone encourages them to pay closer attention to its nuanced soundscape to uncover the potential threats lurking beneath the surface. “A successful 3D soundscape allows you to experience the environment with your eyes closed,” Tuason explained. “If the surround sound can narrate a story without visuals, that’s a true accomplishment.”
For Tuason, this project is deeply personal. It was filmed entirely in the home where he grew up, and its storyline draws from his own experiences of caring for dying parents. “It was an introspective journey that compelled me to confront childhood fears,” he reflected. “However, going through the experience of caring for one’s parents instills a kind of bravery.”
The horror in Undertone arises not only from imminent threats but also from the shame and guilt Evy grapples with as she tends to her ailing mother. Tuason adorned the walls of Evy’s mother’s home with Catholic imagery—crosses, statues, and tableaux—mirroring his own struggles with religious expectations. “Growing up Catholic, these symbols evoke intense emotions, some of which may be buried. Feelings of guilt can surface, leading to a downward spiral of doubt and guilt,” he remarked.
Crafting Evy’s cinematic journey offered Tuason a form of catharsis. “On set, when Nina Kiri delivered that poignant confession to the last caller, it felt like she was voicing my own guilt and doubts,” he recalled. “I glanced at the timecode on the monitor, and it turned out to be my mother’s birthday.”
Strange occurrences were not limited to the screen; Tuason noted that supernatural happenings became almost a whimsical aspect of the filming process. “If you asked any crew member, they’d each share a distinct experience,” he noted, citing an incident where the lights flickered in the very rooms being prepped for shooting. “One day, our director of photography, Graham Beasley, was walking upstairs past the drawings and remarked, ‘Ian, I think I believe everything you’re saying now.’”
Even after filming concluded, eerie events continued to follow Tuason. As an indie film produced on a tight budget, getting Undertone in front of viewers was a challenge. However, Tuason remained optimistic. In an interview accompanying the film’s electronic press kit, he boldly stated that at the world premiere, he envisioned the film being picked up by either Neon or A24 for $5 million.
When Undertone premiered at Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival in July 2025, it sparked a bidding war among six studios, ultimately won by indie powerhouse A24, which secured the film in a reported seven-figure agreement. “So many serendipitous moments occurred that I knew this was just the beginning,” Tuason remarked.
Initially conceived as a trilogy, Undertone represents only the first chapter of Tuason’s narrative. Following an impressive box office take of $20 million, a sequel seems likely. “From the looks of things, it’s going to happen soon,” Tuason confirmed. “All the questions you have about the film will be addressed.”
Undertone is currently showing in theaters.
