The Hype and Horror of 'Undertone': A24's Latest Venture Leaves Me Wondering
There’s something about a low-budget horror film that can either captivate or completely miss the mark. Undertone, A24’s latest release, falls somewhere in between—but not in the way you might expect. Personally, I think the film’s biggest challenge isn’t its microbudget or its single-location setting; it’s the weight of expectation that comes with the A24 label. When a studio known for elevating indie cinema puts its stamp on something, you expect brilliance. But Undertone feels more like a missed opportunity than a masterpiece.
The Podcast Paradox: A Fresh Take or a Familiar Trick?
At its core, Undertone tries to do for podcasts what Paranormal Activity did for found footage. It’s an ambitious idea, especially given the film’s $500k budget. The premise is intriguing: a woman hosting a paranormal podcast stumbles upon eerie recordings of a couple, uncovering a mythology tied to demonic possession and nursery rhymes. What makes this particularly fascinating is the way it taps into our modern obsession with true crime and paranormal podcasts. But here’s where it falters: the execution feels more like a gimmick than a genuine exploration of the medium.
In my opinion, the film’s reliance on audio recordings as its primary source of tension is both its strength and its weakness. The sound design is undeniably impressive—it’s creepy, atmospheric, and does a lot of heavy lifting. But when you strip away the audio, you’re left with a protagonist who feels more like a vessel than a fully realized character. Nina Kiri’s Evie is competent, but she’s given so little to work with that it’s hard to connect with her. This raises a deeper question: can a horror film truly succeed if its characters are merely placeholders for the scares?
The Build-Up vs. The Payoff: A Delicate Balance
One thing that immediately stands out is the film’s pacing. Eighty minutes of build-up followed by ten minutes of payoff is a bold choice, but it doesn’t quite land. Horror thrives on tension, but tension needs release. Undertone feels like it’s holding its breath for far too long, and when the payoff finally arrives, it’s underwhelming. What many people don’t realize is that horror isn’t just about the scares—it’s about the journey. And in this case, the journey feels more like a slog than a thrill ride.
From my perspective, the film’s biggest missed opportunity lies in its mythology. The idea of demonic possession tied to nursery rhymes is intriguing, but it’s never fully explored. Instead, it’s hinted at, leaving the audience to fill in the gaps. While ambiguity can be effective, here it feels like a cop-out. If you take a step back and think about it, the film’s reluctance to commit to its own mythology undermines its potential impact.
A24’s Gamble: Hype vs. Reality
What this really suggests is that A24 might have overestimated the film’s appeal. Don’t get me wrong—I respect the studio’s willingness to take risks. But Undertone feels like a film that would have benefited from a more modest rollout. Instead, it’s been positioned as a must-see event, which only highlights its flaws. A detail that I find especially interesting is how the film’s reception seems to split audiences: younger viewers might find it spooky and innovative, while veteran horror fans are likely to see it as derivative and tedious.
In my opinion, Undertone is a film that tries to do a lot with very little. Director Ian Tuason deserves credit for what he’s achieved on such a tight budget, but the end result feels more like a proof of concept than a fully realized film. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s not a great one either. It’s somewhere in the middle—a film that sparks curiosity but ultimately leaves you wanting more.
Final Thoughts: A Thoughtful Experiment or a Missed Opportunity?
If there’s one takeaway from Undertone, it’s this: hype can be a double-edged sword. When a film is marketed as the next big thing, it sets expectations that are nearly impossible to meet. Personally, I think Undertone would have been better served by a smaller, more targeted release. It’s a film that has its moments—the sound design, the premise, the ambition—but it never quite comes together.
What this really suggests is that horror, as a genre, is as much about execution as it is about ideas. Undertone has the ideas, but the execution falls short. It’s a film that will likely find its audience, but for me, it’s a reminder that not every experiment pays off. And sometimes, that’s okay. Not every film needs to be a masterpiece—but when it’s backed by a studio like A24, you can’t help but wish it had been.
