Minimalist horror 'Undertone' uses audio and soundscapes to scare you

Horror filmmaker Ian Tuason is making his feature debut with 'Undertone.'

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:05pm

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Minimalist horror 'Undertone' uses audio and soundscapes to scare you. The film, directed by Ian Tuason, is making its feature debut and is already being called 'the scariest movie you'll ever hear.' The film is set in one location with essentially one character, Evy, a paranormal podcaster caring for her dying mother. Tuason, who has made a name for himself with immersive 3D sound for his horror shorts, wrote a 250-page script filled with audio cues, stripping down the visuals to focus on the power of suggestion through sound.

Why it matters

Tuason's approach to horror filmmaking, relying heavily on audio and soundscapes rather than visuals, represents a unique and innovative take on the genre. By engaging the audience's imagination through sound, 'Undertone' aims to create a deeply immersive and terrifying experience that challenges traditional horror conventions.

The details

In 'Undertone,' Evy, played by Nina Kiri, is a paranormal podcaster who is taking care of her dying, comatose mother upstairs. She does the podcast with a remote co-host, Adam DiMarco, in the middle of the night. When Evy receives a series of unnerving audio files sent anonymously, it rattles her skepticism. Tuason wrote the 250-page script with every audio cue included, resulting in a minimalist horror film that strips down the visuals to focus on the power of suggestion through sound. The film was shot with the help of a local Toronto postproduction studio, REDLAB, and the Dolby mix was done with the involvement of distributor A24 to fully realize Tuason's vision.

  • The film 'Undertone' opens in theaters on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • Tuason's parents both received terminal cancer diagnoses in 2020 during the pandemic, and his mother passed away a few months later, followed by his father two and a half years later.

The players

Ian Tuason

The director and writer of 'Undertone,' who is making his feature film debut. Tuason has previously made a name for himself as an early proponent of immersive 3D sound for his cinematic horror shorts.

Nina Kiri

The actress who plays the lead role of Evy, a paranormal podcaster, in 'Undertone.'

Adam DiMarco

Kiri's co-star in 'Undertone,' playing the remote co-host of Evy's paranormal podcast.

REDLAB

The local Toronto postproduction studio that helped shoot 'Undertone.'

A24

The distribution company that came on board to distribute 'Undertone' and helped with the Dolby mix to fully realize the director's vision.

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What they’re saying

“My favorite thing about this whole process is just watching it with audiences. I think that's probably why I wanted to make a horror film … just to kind of witness the reactions. The same way as when you tell a ghost story at a campfire, it doesn't feel that great unless you see your friend scared.”

— Ian Tuason, Director

“It's definitely meant to be seen in the theater in Dolby, because that is the exact vision that Ian had. But at home, on headphones, alone, it is a different experience … You can kind of watch it twice.”

— Cody Calahan, Producer

What’s next

In December, Tuason was tapped to direct a new 'Paranormal Activity' film, indicating that Hollywood has already taken notice of his unique approach to horror filmmaking.

The takeaway

Tuason's deeply personal journey of loss and grief has informed the creation of 'Undertone,' a minimalist horror film that challenges traditional genre conventions by relying on the power of sound and suggestion to terrify audiences. The film's innovative approach and Tuason's emerging status as a horror director to watch make 'Undertone' a must-see for fans of the genre.