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A24’s ‘Undertone’ Opens in Theaters, Earning Praise for Its Nerve-Jangling Sound

Reviewers say the audio-driven chiller plays best in Dolby theaters, where its design becomes the film’s chief scare engine.

Overview

  • Undertone opened nationwide on March 13 following a festival run and a seven-figure A24 deal.
  • Nina Kiri leads as a podcaster caring for her dying mother who confronts unsettling recordings, with the film confined to her viewpoint and a single location.
  • Critics widely commend the immersive soundscape and a tense final act, with some citing uneven visuals, pacing issues, or an ambiguous payoff.
  • Writer-director Ian Tuason shot the feature in his Toronto childhood home, and he is reportedly set to direct a new Paranormal Activity for Blumhouse.
  • A streaming run on HBO Max is expected after theaters under A24’s output deal, though no date has been announced.