In a fierce bidding war, American indie powerhouse A24 has clinched the global distribution rights to The Undertone, a psychological horror feature penned and directed by genre newcomer Ian Tuason. The acquisition, finalised shortly after the film’s well-received premiere on 27 July at Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival, is said to have reached a mid-seven figure sum—an impressive feat for a debut filmmaker.
Sources suggest no fewer than six parties were vying for the project, underlining the considerable buzz surrounding the film and its director.
The Undertone stars Nina Kiri (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” The Heretics) as Evy, a rational-minded woman caring for her ailing mother in a house that becomes increasingly menacing. By day, Evy is a dutiful daughter; by night, she co-hosts a paranormal podcast with her friend Justin. Though she maintains a sceptical on-air persona, her beliefs are tested when the duo receives a series of sinister audio recordings from an anonymous source.
The tapes—containing warped nursery rhymes and unsettling noises—appear to chronicle the eerie nocturnal rituals of a couple named Mike and Jessa. As the recordings grow more disturbing, so too does Evy’s reality, with the boundary between the paranormal and the personal beginning to blur.
The film marks the inaugural feature for Tuason and is backed by a trio of production companies: Slaterverse Pictures, Black Fawn Films, and KINO Studios. This venture also launches a wider partnership between Black Fawn and KINO aimed at delivering further horror and thriller content in the coming years.
Produced by Dan Slater and Cody Calahan, The Undertone boasts an impressive slate of executive producers, including Chad Archibald, Daril Fannin, Brit MacRae, Anthony Eu, Douglas Lee, Al Akdari, Charles Bern, Mathew Sterling, David Sproat, and Tuason himself.
The deal was brokered by Stuart Manashil of Novo, alongside Black Fawn Distro and 3 Arts Entertainment. The filmmaker is represented by 3 Arts’ Will Rowbotham and Luke Maxwell.
