How The Stars Of A24’s Intense New Horror Movie Became Immersed In Unique Filming Format

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Audiences aren’t the only ones who A24’s Undertone immersed in the world of terrifying sound.

The new A24 horror film draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including online creepypastas and even the children’s show Sesame Street. It stars Nina Kiri, known for her role in The Handmaid’s Tale, as Evy, who co-hosts a podcast about paranormal investigations. Evy is dealing with a difficult personal situation: her mother is seriously ill and nearing the end of her life, so Evy moves in to provide care.

Evy feels incredibly alone and throws herself into her podcast, Undertone, which she co-hosts with her friend Justin. Their show takes a strange turn when they receive an email containing ten mysterious audio files and a challenge to play them on the air. The files are recordings of a young couple, Mike and Jessa, documenting Jessa’s sleep-talking. As Evy and Justin listen, Evy starts having unsettling hallucinations and experiences that seem connected to a dangerous, evil force.

The film Undertone, starring Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet (known for The Virgin Suicides), Keana Lyn Bastidas (The Hardy Boys), and Jeff Yung, has been well-received by critics. Written and directed by Ian Tuason in his debut, the movie earned a 77% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes after premiering at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival.

To celebrate the release of the film, Grant Hermanns from ScreenRant spoke with stars Ian Tuason, Nina Kiri, and Adam DiMarco about Undertone. They discussed the film’s unusual audio-focused approach to filmmaking, how it deepened their connection to the scary elements of the story, and revealed the most frightening sound they encountered while making the movie.

Kiri & DiMarco Had Their Own Tools For Filming Apart From Each Other

Most films feature several actors, but Undertone is unique because Kiri is the only character who speaks. Her mother, played by Duquet, remains silent throughout the entire movie. Kiri initially felt anxious about carrying the film on her own, worrying about remembering all her lines and the technical aspects of the A24 horror project.

At first, I wasn’t sure about the role, but after I started preparing and discussing the character of Evy with Ian – understanding her motivations and background – it became really enjoyable. Also, the small cast and crew created a collaborative atmosphere where everyone felt responsible for the project, which took the pressure off of me.

When filming scenes alone, she described feeling a natural flow of energy, explaining she simply had to generate it and express it on set. The Undertone star also praised the supportive production team, noting they consistently provided the energy she needed for each scene. Sometimes, even a brief moment of eye contact with a crew member was enough to help her connect and feel grounded.

The film used a special recording method, and actor DiMarco contributed entirely through voice work, as he and Evy chatted on the phone while recording their podcast. Though he wasn’t visible in the film, DiMarco shared he was fortunate enough to spend a few days on set, recording much of his dialogue there. Interestingly, he did his recordings in Ian’s childhood bedroom, with Nina watching on a monitor – a setup he found helped him get into character.

I really felt like I was hosting my own podcast while recording. They set things up perfectly – I even had my own microphone and two laptops. One laptop displayed the show’s artwork and had a red light, which helped me get into character. It felt very authentic. Being in the sound booth to re-record lines and work with the equipment was also really helpful, especially for getting the right vocal performance. The physical aspect of being in the space made a big difference.

When discussing the film’s most frightening sounds, both lead actors highlighted the mysterious audio recordings their characters hear. Kiri found them “really unsettling,” while DiMarco described them as having a unique “texture” and feeling incredibly realistic. He even waited to listen to the recordings until filming began, hoping to capture a genuine reaction.

Tuason explained that the genuine emotion in the Undertone recordings came from the fact that they were recorded using a real iPhone while the actors were moving around. Kiri added that the recordings felt incredibly raw and had a way of capturing the listener’s imagination, leaving a lasting impression.

Nina Kiri describes the experience of listening to certain recordings as deeply personal and even unsettling. Sound, particularly through headphones, feels incredibly intimate – like whatever you’re hearing is happening right next to you, creating a very immediate and almost invasive sensation. These recordings specifically evoked that feeling of something happening nearby.

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2026-03-13 23:21