Undertone - ‘The Scariest Movie You’ll Ever Hear'

Rialto Distribution is thrilled to announce the high-concept auditory horror phenomenon Undertone will haunt New Zealand cinemas from Thursday 9 April 2026.

Undertone marks the formidable feature debut of Ian Tuason, a filmmaker who first captured global attention in the digital space, where his viral reality horror shorts amassed over 14 million views.

Following a standout North American debut that saw the film surge past its original opening projections to a $9.3 million opening weekend, Undertone enters the Australian market with significant momentum as a breakout genre hit.

Starring Nina Kiri (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Evy, the film follows a paranormal podcast host who moves back to her childhood home to provide end-of-life care for her dying mother (Michèle Duquet, The Virgin Suicides). Evy’s reality begins to unravel when her co-host Justin (Adam DiMarco, The White Lotus; Overcompensating) sends her a series of ten mysterious audio files. As Evy deciphers the tapes, the sonic terrors within them begin to manifest in her physical world.

Originally conceived with an immersive 250-page audio-cue script—more than double the length of a standard screenplay—Undertone was meticulously re-mixed in Dolby Atmos following its acquisition by A24. This technical expansion transforms the film into what critics describe as a 'full-body aural nightmare,' (AAP) weaponising directional audio to ensure that the horror isn't just seen but felt.

Shot with chilling intimacy on location at Tuason’s own childhood home in Toronto, the film’s innovative command of atmospheric suspense has already secured the breakout director’s place among horror’s elite. He was recently hand-picked by Blumhouse to helm the upcoming reboot of the multi-billion dollar Paranormal Activity franchise.

PREVIEW SCREENINGS APRIL 8

IN CINEMAS APRIL 9

“With undertone, Tuason has created one of the few horror films that’s even more horrifying to hear than it is to see”

Collider

"A properly scary movie...the kind that merits watching in a theater with a good sound system."

The New York Times

"I can’t remember the last time a movie made every hair on my body stand up... it is the scariest movie you'll ever hear."

Bloody Disgusting

© Scoop Media