For horror to be effective, terrifying visuals are not enough. To be truly spine-chilling, sound is perhaps the most important element of all. Written and directed by Ian Tuason, Undertone is a horror film which thrives in sequences underpinned by audio. As a whole, this is a solid horror experience.

While caring for her dying mother, a podcast host begins to experience paranormal events in her home. The movie stars Nina Kiri. She is joined by Adam DiMarco and Michèle Duquet.

Undertone is an extremely impressive foray into horror storytelling with sound as the key element. The narrative burns slowly and is surprisingly understated, but quite impactful all the same. In its scariest moments, it is what the film doesn’t show which is most petrifying. For this alone, Ian Tuason must be commended for having a sharp hand in direction.

The above pushes this picture into the territory of being worth watching. Every piece of audio is combined in a way that sets the film apart from similar releases in the genre. However, there are a few factors which feel underdeveloped or poorly implemented. For example, the subplot involving her dying mother clearly acts as the emotional heart of the story, but it seems too subtle for its own good. Another negative worth mentioning is the fact that the film relies a bit too much on “creepy nursery rhymes” for certain sequences. This audio is pretty spooky, but it often sways too far into the zone of cheap horror.

Undertone is a good movie which delivers on its sound-centric thrills. At 94 minutes long, audiences will undoubtedly be on the edge of their seat from start to finish. As a unique approach within the horror genre, this is certainly a film worth watching.