Ian Tuason, already a formidable voice in science fiction circles, now steps behind the lens to unravel the fragile boundaries between life, death, and faith in his haunting directorial debut, The Undertone — guaranteed to unsettle audiences at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival on July 27th and 29th.
The story centers on Evy, portrayed by genre favorite Nina Kiri (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” The Heretics), who faces a grim reality: limited time with her dying mother, who remains at home rather than a hospice. Evy’s days pass in quiet vigil, accompanied only by her co-host Justin on their paranormal podcast, The Undertone. Evy plays the skeptic to Justin’s open-mindedness, their show delving into “all things creepy” as a temporary refuge from the slow approach of loss.
The plot takes a darker turn when Justin receives an anonymous email containing ten eerie audio files. Together, they listen live on air to recordings documenting Mike and his partner Jessa’s strange bedtime rituals. Each file grows more unsettling, marked by distorted nursery rhymes and inexplicable noises. Meanwhile, as Evy’s mother’s condition worsens, Evy uncovers disturbing signs in the house: strange drawings, religious icons, and other unnerving occurrences that make the empty rooms feel increasingly oppressive.
The Undertone is produced by Dan Slater and Cody Calahan, with executive producers Chad Archibald, Daril Fannin, Brit MacRae, Anthony Eu, Douglas Lee, Al Akdari, Charles Bern, Mathew Sterling, David Sproat, and Ian Tuason.
This film marks the first collaboration between Slaterverse Pictures, Black Fawn Films, and KINO Studios — a partnership forged through the efforts of executive producer Chad Archibald (Black Fawn Films), alongside Brit MacRae and Daril Fannin (KINO Studios). This alliance also signals the beginning of a multi-film venture between KINO Studios and Black Fawn Films, focused on producing a slate of horror and thriller titles.
“With The Undertone, I’m crafting a horror experience that doesn’t just evoke fear—it swallows you whole, using immersive sound design to make silence as terrifying as the unknown,” Tuason said. “Inspired by my own experience as a caregiver, the film explores how the stories we tell ourselves — of fear, guilt, and isolation — can become the very horrors that haunt us.”
“We’re always on the lookout for projects that stand out and tell meaningful stories,” said producer Cody Calahan (Black Fawn Films). “Ian has a unique vision, breaking free from tradition to create a horror experience that’s as bold as it is unsettling.”
If you’ve ever been rattled by Skinamarink or chilled by I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, then The Undertone is sure to scratch that same itch, burrowing deep into your nightmares. Tuason’s direction also employs innovative camerawork and immersive sound design that transform the familiar home setting into a liminal space filled with dread and despair.
The film will premiere at Fantasia on July 27th. For screening details, visit the festival page here.
