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Reviews Split on Undertone, the Audiophile Horror Built for Theaters

Critics say its immersive spatial sound is the real engine of fear.

Overview

  • Fresh reviews on Wednesday from Empire and Radio Times spotlight an audio-led horror and land on opposite sides of the verdict.
  • Empire praises an unsettling Dolby Atmos soundscape that uses 360-degree placement to make rooms, whispers, and phone calls feel present in the theater.
  • Director Ian Tuason says he built two distinct audio worlds and shot in his Toronto childhood home to keep the story tight and personal.
  • Several notes of caution stress format limits, with Tuason acknowledging that phone or tablet viewing loses much of the intended surround effect.
  • Radio Times delivers the harshest take, criticizing slow pacing and thin character work even as it notes a late uptick in scares.