Undertone film achieves global success for independent horror

The independent North American film industry continues to demonstrate high profitability compared to major Hollywood blockbusters, particularly within the horror genre. A notable recent example is ‘Undertone’, a debut film by Canadian director Ian Tuason.

Produced for approximately $500,000 and filmed in Tuason’s childhood home in Toronto, the film was acquired by distributor A24 following its screening at the Sundance Film Festival for an undisclosed sum between $3 million and $5 million. To date, ‘Undertone’ has earned over $21 million globally.

The film’s plot is inspired by Tuason’s own experience as a podcast host for ‘DimensionGate’. It follows two horror podcasters, played by Nina Kiri and Adam DiMarco, who receive anonymous audio files that disrupt their live broadcasts.