undertone (2026)

CinemaSerf April 15, 2026

★ 6/10

'Evy' (Nina Kiri) is having an hard time caring for her bed-ridden and comatose mother and her only distraction is a regular podcast she co-hosts with her friend 'Justin'. That deals with all things spooky, with him being the more open-minded and she the sceptic. This week, he has received an enigmatic email containing ten voice notes. As ever, she is hard-wired in hoax mode, but as they plough through the snippets of bedtime conversations between 'Jessa' and 'Mike' they begin to open quite a confusing and sinister can of worms. 'Jessa' claims to have no knowledge of her night-time ramblings, so when they are recorded and she appears to be singing children's nursery rhymes backwards, the intrigue starts to mount - even for the doubtful 'Evy'. Before long we are steeped in the ancient cult of 'Abyzou' whose sole purpose was to feed upon children. Ok, so as far as that goes this could have…

Gordon April 17, 2026

★ 1/10

WOW! I kept waiting for the director to get something set up and then GO in that direction...But, I waited, and waited.. And nothing. A big nothing burger of a movie, this is a LOVELY IDEA, but the execution lacks a construct to keep ones interest. The acting is top notch to be sure, but, it seems wasted on a nowhere script and a confused director. Not being able to choose between going the way of "haunted audio files" of the inner dynamics of family tumoil when tragedy strikes, it could have been something if a story was anywhere to be found.

Sierbahnn May 1, 2026

★ 4/10

The scares do not engage in this movie. It is understated, but far too much to actually pull you in. And since the characters are not worth engaging with, you don't care enough about them to build any true stakes. No true stakes means there can be no true horror. The cast is well directed, but it is too slow to hold interest, and even the ending is a bit of a convoluted mess. I would not recommend this.

Dean May 24, 2026

★ 4/10

The idea was interesting, but first of all movie was very slow. You're waiting that something gonna happen, but nothing scary happens. I think execution was not very good for this kind of movie. Could have been better in my opinion. Overall, it was boring to watch.

Manuel São Bento May 25, 2026

★ 5/10

Check out my full review @ https://www.manuelsbento.com/undertone-a-deafening-soundscape-muffled-by-familiar-terrors/ Rating: C Ian Tuason's UNDERTONE is an unforgettable audio-centric debut that boasts a powerhouse performance from Nina Kiri and some of the most suffocating, brilliant sound design I've experienced in years. However, its incredibly fresh podcast-driven concept eventually gets trapped in a repetitive narrative loop and safe, predictable horror tropes. The final act becomes too messy to fully deliver on its heavy themes of caregiver isolation and guilt, but it remains a bold, deeply atmospheric calling card that will absolutely leave people talking.

Getoff13 June 3, 2026

Nothing new. A little boring.Expected much more whith all the pomp about a movie.Like I said nothing new.Blair witch is much much better with a very lower budget.

Alunauwie August 4, 2026

★ 6/10

Undertone (2025) delivers a refreshing psychological horror experience by replacing traditional scares with unsettling sound design, emotional trauma, and an eerie atmosphere. Although the film suffers from narrative gaps, unanswered mysteries, and a few logical inconsistencies, its creative use of audio and restrained storytelling keeps the tension engaging throughout. Ultimately, it proves that silence and sound can be just as terrifying as any monster, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of slow-burning psychological horror. > by alunauwie