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Undertone (2026)


Undertone (2026) from A24 is a film that commits almost entirely to tension. From the moment the atmosphere settles in, it rarely lets up. About ninety percent of the runtime is built on sustained unease with very little relief, punctuated by a handful of terror moments. If you are already tense, the movie keeps you there until the credits.

Ian Tuason writes and directs, and the film ends up feeling more pretentious than carefully constructed. The movie begins as what looks like a story about a possessed podcast, but it quickly turns into a religious horror film that also tries to make the audience wrestle with themes about abortion. The bait and switch is noticeable, and the narrative focus becomes messy. Several scenes feel directly inspired by Paranormal Activity, sometimes to the point of distraction.

Nina Kiri, known for The Handmaid's Tale and the horror film The Heretics, carries the movie as the central character. She plays a very different type of role than her character Alma in The Handmaid’s Tale, showing a quieter and more restrained performance. Still, the material never gives her a standout moment that defines the film.

There are a few effective scares and some unsettling sequences, but the story struggles to hold everything together. The tension works, yet the ideas surrounding it feel scattered rather than cohesive. Undertone is intense but messy, with strong atmosphere undermined by an unfocused script. Result: B-

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