The Undertone (2025)

«Semitone» (2025) from director Yen Tuason offers an immersion into an atmosphere of auditory horror, where ordinary sounds transform into harbingers of the supernatural. The film promises an intense psychological ordeal for the main character and viewers, exploring the fine line between reality and delusion. This film, positioned as a horror, demonstrates the potential for a deep and unsettling story.

Plot

At the center of the story is Evie, whose life is burdened by caring for her sick mother, who is in a coma. Together with her friend Justin, she hosts a podcast dedicated to paranormal phenomena. The routine activity takes a sinister turn when they are sent disturbing audio recordings. At first glance, it's the innocent singing of children's songs by the sleeping wife of a certain married couple. However, upon playing the recordings in reverse, Evie discovers chilling messages addressed specifically to her. With each listen, the recordings become more frightening, and inexplicable and disturbing events begin to occur around Evie, blurring the boundaries of her perception and threatening her sanity.

Why watch

• Innovative approach to horror: The emphasis on auditory effects and reverse sound playback creates a unique mechanism for building fear, differing from visual jump scares.
• Psychological tension: The story of the main character, burdened by personal tragedy, against the backdrop of a growing nightmare promises a deep immersion into her psychological state and struggle with reality.
• Mystery and mysticism: The absence of clear explanations for what is happening and the constant feeling of a supernatural presence maintain intrigue and anxiety until the very end.
• Relevant podcast theme: The use of a modern media format to reveal ancient, world-old horrors adds relevance and tangibility to the events.
• Potential for deep dramaturgy: Caring for a sick mother can become an additional layer of the heroine's vulnerability in the face of encroaching evil, intensifying the emotional impact.

Themes

«Semitone» touches on themes of grief and personal responsibility as Evie faces a double burden: her mother's illness and an external threat. The exploration of the paranormal, initially a hobby, turns into a personal nightmare, calling into question her sanity and the reality of what is happening. This is a film about how seemingly innocent things can hide deeply sinister secrets, and how perception can be distorted by fear when rational explanations cease to work.

Editorial opinion

Director Yen Tuason offers the viewer not just a series of jump scares, but an immersion into an atmosphere of oppressive, slowly developing horror, where the main source of fear is sound. The cast, including Austin Tuason, Ryan Turner, Christina Notto, Michelle Duque, Ari Millen, Adam DiMarco, Jaeda Woods, Nina Kiri, Jeff Yung, and Sarah Bodin, has the potential to convincingly bring this story to the screen. The stated synopsis promises something more than traditional horror, offering an exploration of personal traumas in the context of the supernatural. If «Semitone» manages to skillfully utilize its auditory discoveries and develop the deep drama of the heroine, it could become one of the most interesting and memorable horrors of 2025.