Soundscape shock: director delivers terror through audio alone
Forget jump scares – a new breed of horror is creeping in, one subtle, unsettling sound at a time. Ian Tuason’s debut feature, Undertone, from A24, isn’t about cheap thrills; it’s a calculated assault on the auditory system, a chilling demonstration of how truly effective horror can be.
The unseen terror
Critics have often debated the core of horror: is it the visual spectacle, the grotesque imagery, or the underlying narrative that truly terrifies? Undertone throws that debate into sharp relief, prioritizing the aural experience with a ruthless dedication. Tuason isn’t interested in a relentless barrage of noise; instead, he expertly cultivates a low-grade, pervasive anxiety, layering unsettling sounds – whispers, distant crashes, the almost imperceptible shift of unseen objects – to build an atmosphere of profound unease.
It’s a deliberate rejection of the predictable jump scare, a tactic that, frankly, has long lost its potency. Undertone opts for a far more insidious approach: a slow, deliberate erosion of your sense of safety. The film meticulously controls the soundscape, using silence as a weapon as effectively as any screech or explosion. It’s a surprisingly sophisticated technique, and one that speaks volumes about Tuason’s understanding of cinematic psychology.
From vr to auditory terror
Tuason’s background in virtual reality experience clearly informs his work. He’s not simply adding sound effects to a visual narrative; he’s crafting a fully immersive sonic world. As he explained to TechRadar, “The audio is 90% of what scares people in horror Movies.” And he’s unequivocally correct. You can close your eyes, avert your gaze, even physically recoil from the screen – but the insidious creep of sound will always find a way to penetrate your defenses.
Beyond the jump scare
The interview with TechRadar also revealed Tuason’s disdain for relying on sudden, shocking moments. He considers them fundamentally shallow, delivering a momentary jolt followed by a swift return to normalcy. True horror, he argues, resides in the sustained discomfort, the lingering feeling that something is profoundly wrong. Think of the chilling contrast in 2001: A Space Odyssey – the sibilant hiss of oxygen followed by the absolute, suffocating silence of space. That’s the kind of auditory manipulation Undertone aims for; a calculated disruption of your expectations, a violation of the assumed safety of your own ears. It’s a masterclass in restraint, a testament to the power of subtlety.
Even TechRadar’s correspondent, after witnessing the film, couldn't bring herself to use noise-canceling headphones. A frankly damning indictment of the film's impact. Undertone isn’t just a film; it’s an experience – one that will linger long after the credits roll, a chilling reminder that the most terrifying monsters often reside not in the shadows, but within the silence.