A24 studio has brought the Horror Nation fresh blood over the last decade. From critically acclaimed films such as Hereditary, to fan favorites like X. Writer/Director Ian Tuason presents his debut film through the celebrated production company with Undertone. Will this be the next atmospheric gem or an overindulgent trip such as Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.
Evy is a popular podcaster along with her friend Justin. Their show is based around supernatural phenomena. Currently living with and caring for her dying mother, Evy is battling several personal demons while attempting to discover real ones from public stories. As the hosts from the show begin to play a series of anonymous audio files, weird occurrences begin to happen around Evy’s home. The mystery behind the files slowly unravels as Evy slowly loses her grasp on reality. Always the cynic, Evy attempts to convince herself of coincidences until the dark reality behind her profession springs forth from the shadows.
Some of the most popular paranormal films have been a slow burn, Undertone is a no burn. Nina Kiri does the best she can with her portrayal of Evy, as she is essentially the only on-screen performer through the entire run time; however, there is nothing she can do with a plot that is perfect for insomniacs. Tuason’s script feebly attempts to give Evy massive empathy but runs through every basic troupe ever presented in film, making the lead a cardboard character who is more annoying than heroic. If Tuason’s script is tired, his shot selection is exhausted, with what might be the most jumbled, disjointed, and disinteresting ending ever. The few creepy tales told during the film along with even fewer audible jump scares cannot save this blunder of an effort.
Scream Score: 5/10