Nina Kiri Faces the Sounds of Fear in ‘Undertone’

A24 has unveiled the official trailer for Undertone, the Canadian horror debut from writer-director Ian Tuason. The film, which premiered at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival where it won the Gold Audience Award for Canadian features, will arrive in cinemas on Friday, 13 March 2026.

Starring Nina Kiri (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Evy, Undertone centres on a paranormal podcaster who returns home to care for her dying mother (Michèle Duquet). When Evy receives a series of audio recordings from a couple plagued by unexplained noises in their house, her scepticism is tested as she becomes drawn into an escalating web of dread and paranoia. The film’s unique structure means Kiri is the only actor seen on screen, while the remaining cast – including Kris Holden-Ried, Keana Lyn Bastidas and Jeff Yung – are heard only through off-screen voices.

Tuason’s approach foregrounds sound as the primary source of tension, drawing inspiration from The Exorcist, The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity – three of his stated horror favourites. In an industry dominated by visual spectacle, Undertone relies on the subtle interplay of sound and silence, suggesting rather than showing the terror that consumes its protagonist. Early festival reactions praised its immersive use of audio design, describing it as both technically precise and psychologically claustrophobic.

Filmed in Rexdale, Toronto, in February 2025, the production took place largely within a single house, enhancing the sense of isolation that defines the story. The minimalist setting and one-woman performance invite comparisons to the chamber horrors of The Night House and The Autopsy of Jane Doe, though Tuason’s sound-driven execution sets it apart from his influences.

Following its festival success, A24 acquired worldwide distribution rights in August 2025. The studio, which has recently supported other high-concept horror debuts, will also produce Tuason’s next project – the upcoming Paranormal Activity reboot. With Undertone heading to Sundance later this month, its arrival marks the emergence of a filmmaker whose voice, quite literally, demands to be heard.

Undertone trailer