Undertone Review: More like underwhelming
While the promotion of "the scariest film you'll ever hear" was a tad corny and didn't excite me too much since it felt a bit like self-proclaimed hogwash, the premise and A24 label sold me on the film. I adore A24's method of funding films, with their support for wild, lower-concept premises, as well as their commitment to letting directors see their visions through, even if they don't always work or end up leaning into the overly pretentious side of filmmaking. So, was this film really as scary as it was hoping to be? Another certifiable hit for A24? Or did it leave a poor taste in my mouth like its tagline? That's what I, Brighton Nelson of The Reel Ranker, will be delving into in today's review. Thanks for stopping by the website, and I hope you enjoy it!
First off, the sound design in this film was at times unique, but it wasn't really that... Frightening. I love both subdued and intense scares, but this film didn't do well with either. As such, the film's gimmick was rather weak for me, and it didn't do that much. I would literally expect something to scare me, so I'd go to cover my ears (because this is supposed to be the scariest movie I'll ever hear), and nothing would ever happen, except for the odd phone call.
The film's horror is structured into ten audio files, and while the mystery is present in most of them, it's not until the last two that anything really begins to scare. There's one part relating to a baby that was easily the best and most horrifying scene of the film, but most of it was generic demon possession sounds and speech. While I can absolutely enjoy a horror movie without actually being scared, I still want something to stick with me about the way the horror elements are presented, yet nothing here felt memorable to me.
In fact, I'd venture to say that this film's visual elements worked better for me than its audio. I enjoyed how the camera would pan over to the objects that made sounds in the recording. I also enjoyed how the sound would cut off when headphones were put on... The audio and video were best in the mundane moments of audio-visual harmony.
However, while the execution wasn't the strongest, I loved the podcast's premise and discovering small tidbits of information about the mystery. I'd love to see more iteration and innovation on this idea, because it was truly solid. While many thought this wasn't their favorite, the podcast narration and characters were actually my favorite element of the film... It had an awkward charm to it: like a relatively new yet growing podcast with the potential to be something more down the line. That was, I liked it until I realized how nonsensical it was to be following a plot where a podcast is recorded in five-minute segments. Such plot conveniences are so ridiculous that I can't help but criticize a bit!
Nonetheless, as fun and nonsensical as the podcast is, and as good a setup for a mystery as it has, the payoff was quite obvious from the very first time the film lingered too long on a certain somebody. When your mystery and horror elements are weak in a film wholly reliant on them, it's hard to love a film.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Unreel
The Reel Ranker Score: 46%
Letter Score: D
Star Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
While Undertone has a great premise, the film's execution (particularly in its ability to scare) is quite lackluster by comparison. However, there's just enough fun to be had through the podcasting and demon weirdness that it may be worth checking out once if you're into slow-burn horror, à la Paranormal Activity.
Interested in checking out some recent reviews for some other horror and thriller films? See them below!
Brighton Nelson
Brighton NelsonEnjoy this review? Stay tuned for more articles from The Reel Ranker! Enjoy video games, music, or books? Check out our sister site, RPG Ranked, Mr. Maestro, and Brighton's Bookshelf, respectively!
