Undertone is a supernatural horror movie directed and written by Ian Tuason, who used his personal experiences caring for his parents during their battles against terminal cancer to weave elements into the protagonist's story. The movie was filmed inside the house Ian Tuason grew up in, creating a more authentic and personal atmosphere. Undertone was a major success, grossing more than 42 times its original budget at the global box office.
One of A24 's creepiest releases of 2026 is coming to streaming. Undertone centers on Evy , a skeptical paranormal podcast host who moves back home to take care of her mom .
Things take a dark turn when she and her co-host, Justin , receive ten strange audio clips through an email with a vague message. These disturbing recordings begin to seep into Evy's everyday life after she finds out that she is pregnant. The audio files mainly revolve around a couple, Mike and Jessa , who claim to be haunted by a demonic presence inside their home when they were expecting their first child.
The clips capture several horrifying moments, such as Jessa singing nursery rhymes in reverse while she's sleeping, and eventually the gruesome fate they suffered at the hands of an unseen entity. A24's Undertone was a breakthrough hit among independent horror films this year, and now it's finally on its way to haunt HBO Max.
On June 25, 2026, the streaming platform will be the new home of the sound-driven movie, giving audiences a chance to experience the chilling thriller at home. Directed and written by Ian Tuason, Undertone quickly became a major success, earning more than 42 times its original budget at the global box office and establishing itself as one of this year's best horror movies so far.
The supernatural horror cost $500,000 total to make and grossed approximately $22 million, making it a major commercial success. According to Tuason, Undertone was inspired by his own personal experiences caring for his parents during their battles against terminal cancer. The project originally started as a radio play before eventually being transformed into a feature-length movie, with the writer and director weaving elements of his own life into the protagonist's story.
To make the project feel even more authentic and personal, parts of Undertone were filmed inside the house he grew up in. Subscribe to our newsletter for indie horror insights Discover more on movies like Undertone by subscribing to our newsletter for thorough coverage: deep-dive analysis of indie horror, sound-led storytelling, production backstory, and box-office context to enhance your understanding of these films.
Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Production took place in February 2025 in Rexdale, a neighborhood in Toronto. Tuason told the story mostly through audio and small details, creating a more eerie sense of dread rather than using other over-the-top tactics and visuals that can be found in most mainstream horror movies.
He explained that Undertone mainly relies on tension caused by things that can't be seen on screen, which proved to be very effective. A24's Undertone will be available to stream on HBO Max on June 26, 2026. 5/10 undertone 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Horror Release Date March 13, 2026 Runtime 84 minutes Director Ian Tuason Writers Ian Tuason Producers Cody Calahan, Dan Slater Cast Powered by Expand Collapse
Undertone Horror Independent Film A24 Streaming Release HBO Max Sound-Led Storytelling Personal Experiences Filmed Inside Childhood Home Commercial Success Global Box Office Radio Play To Movie Transformation
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