2025 (R)
Starring: Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco
A24’s “undertone” took the most terrifying creative medium— podcasting—and gave it an occult twist. The film follows Evy (Nina Kiri), a paranormal podcaster, as she tries to care for her mother in her last moments while keeping up with her cohost (and ex-
boyfriend) Justin (Adam DiMarco) and their series, The Undertone. It all takes a turn for the worse when they receive mysterious submissions with an occult twist. The movie utilizes lighting and camera angles that amplifies the creeping paranoia throughout its 94 minutes. Prolonged, panning shots accompanied by excruciating extended silences from just around the corner leaves the viewer on edge, waiting for something to go wrong, to finally break. But the real monster, arguably, was the acting.
It’s hard to tell if the two main speaking roles would have performed any better with a more competent script, but it remains that the sound design, lighting and camera work is the only redemption. A stale plot that doesn’t take advantage of the unique premise and a waste of talent everywhere except the writing and acting. Top it all off with a bland, confusing ending, and “undertone” leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Maybe the real horror was the podcasts we made along the way. –Stella Fabinski
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