Indie filmmaker Ian Tuason shot his directorial debut, the audio-based horror movie Undertone, in his own home, turning personal experiences into a chilling tale of haunted podcast recordings. Acquired by A24 and Blumhouse, the film debuts at Sundance's Midnight program before a March 13 theatrical release. Tuason discusses how caregiving during the pandemic shaped the story's eerie atmosphere.
Ian Tuason's 'Undertone' transforms everyday isolation into terror through innovative sound design and a found-footage style. The film follows Evy, played by Nina Kiri, who lives with her comatose mother and co-hosts a nighttime spooky podcast from her home. When the duo receives distressing audio clips of a couple seemingly tormented by demons, the boundaries between recorded horror and real life dissolve, unleashing evil into Evy's world.
Tuason conceived the project in 2019 as a free audio drama framed as a lost podcast episode discovered by police. The COVID-19 pandemic altered his plans; he returned to his parents' house to care for them during their illness, which became the filming location. This intimate setting amplified the production's challenges: no permits needed, but Tuason felt the house 'got haunted,' leaving him desensitized yet uneasy while sleeping there.
Drawing from childhood fears of 'The Exorcist,' Tuason sought to weaponize safety. Caring for his dependent mother sparked the core idea: 'What if she starts talking in a different voice?' He integrated this into Evy's off-recording moments, blending personal vulnerability with horror. Sound was paramount; in editing, Tuason instructed, 'Whenever headphones go on, I want the sound sucked out,' mimicking noise-canceling isolation to heighten paranoia about unseen presences.
The process proved cathartic. 'It was like I was confessing,' Tuason says. Seeing Kiri embody Evy's empathy mirrored his emotions, offering therapy. 'Undertone' has propelled his career; in December, he was tapped to direct and write the eighth 'Paranormal Activity' film, a theatrical relaunch produced by Oren Peli, James Wan, and Jason Blum post-merger. Tuason notes the franchise's influence on his audio techniques and plans a personal story for it.
As a horror fan hard to scare, Tuason was thrilled when his script unnerved him. He anticipates Sundance audiences' reactions, confident in the film's ability to deliver unique scares through sensory immersion.
