Undertone: Why This Horror Movie Is More Terrifying Than Most

Ian Tuason’s new film, Undertone dropped in theaters this weekend, and it’s a horror movie. However, it seems very different from the usual genre. Actually, there seem to be some interesting angles that make it more terrifying than usual. Read on to find out more.

Using Sound To Terrify You

Probably, you already understand how sound effects cause tension in the audience. Even old movies like Jaws often get remembered more for the “dun-dun… dun-dun” rhythmic sounds than the actual movie. And, let’s face it, even the dimmest person could see that the shark actually looked very unrealistic. But, it worked. Well, in Undertone, the use of sound goes much further.

In fact, sound tech blurs the line between the supernatural and the terror of isolation. Instead of simple jump scares, with actors like Nina Kiri and Adam DiMarco, the movie explores how what we hear can warp our grip on reality.

The Perfect Setting For Hororo

Okay, so in the movie, Evy (Nina Kiri) acts as a caregiver to her elderly and dying mom. Notably, the setting seems perfect for a scary film, as she’s in an old family home, and she’s rather isolated. Well, she helps out with podcasts about the paranormal, as the old home thankfully does have WiFi. That’s where Adam DiMarco comes in. He acts the role of Justin, her podcast co-host.

The Paranormal Podcast

As the storyline plays out, the duo get some anonymous recordings of a woman named Jessa. If you don’t know, the voice of Jessa is played by Keana Lyn Bastidas. At first, the recordings reveal a woman talking, singing, and sleepwalking. So far, everyone can cope with that level of non-scary, right?

However, as Evy and Justin check out the sounds for their show, something weirder starts. In the shadows or background of the recordings, they hear sinister whispers. And, these are the “undertones” that gave the movie its title. As for Evy, those sounds seep into her reality, turning her childhood home into a scary trap.

Some Factual Aspects

Some aspects of the movie are based on fact. Notably, some of it comes because there’s a degree of caregiver burnout. The reality? In his own life, director Ian Tuason spent a couple of years caring for his dying parents.

What makes the horror aspect believable isn’t only Evy’s similar situation. After all, she seems worn down by the “long, silent goodbye” of terminal illness, but she also works with the paranormal podcast.

Emotion & Loneliness Are Relatable

According to a review in Crooked Marquee, the film perfectly captures the isolation of being a full-time caregiver. And, it shows a daughter who constantly worries “whether she could be taking better care of her ailing parent.”

Of course, profound loneliness and emotional exhaustion make her mind extremely vulnerable. Now, the next bit of the tech side of the movie seems particularly interesting. That’s because it introduced the concept of aural pareidolia. The what? Well, it’s basically how our brain looks for patterns. For example, we might think we heard voices in random white noise.

Pre-Priming The Brain

Naturally, it seems that folks can relate beause who wasn’t ever terrified of the monster under the bed we knew wasn’t really there? However, when the house creaked, we felt  convinced it really was. In the case of Evy and Justin, because they actively search for ghosts in the tapes, their brains seem pre-primed to find them.

It’s the sort of movie that gets folks wondering about her state of mind. When supernatural elements kick in, is Evy truly haunted by a demon like the mythological Abyzou? Or, is her exhausted mind simply snapping under the pressure of isolation and suggestion?

Impressive Audio

Brilliantly helping the audience get to that stage of asking paranoid-style questions, Undertone used groundbreaking spatial audio. As noted by The Rolling Tape, the sound mix is “incredibly impressive,” particularly in Dolby Atmos, and it “sends a cold shiver down your spine.” In fact, it creates an immersive experience where horror comes from what you hear rather than from what you see.

Right from the start of the concept, sound overshadowed visuals. Actually, that’s also useful in the budget. But, the result seems totally scary and unsettling. Probably, you get a better impression of the terror if you watch it in a theater. After all, the scary whispers and creaks come from all around you there.

The Fight Or Flight Response 

Naturally, everyone in the rows of seats get that instinctive “fight-or-flight” response. As explained by the Child and Family Institute, it’s an automatic reaction that helps folks deal with any perceived threat. The body releases adrenaline, quickening the heart rate when the mind thinks danger feels immediate and real. 

That “threat detection zone” probably makes viewers feel hyper-aware of every tiny noise long after the credits roll. Actually, maybe get to the theater with friends, and definitely don’t watch it if you live in an isolated old family home as a caregiver.

Triggering Obsessive Thoughts

In fact, the “aural parasites” planted in your brain could even trigger obsessive thoughts. In all likelihood, Undertone worked so well as a horror movie because supernatural scares link so well with real psychological weights of guilt and religious trauma.

Above all, viewers who see the movie experience the really terrifying aspect of the power in what we hear.

What are your thoughts? Did you see the movie? Or, will you get there before it stops running in theaters? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your entertainment news and updates.