Undertone hailed as 2026 scariest movie so far is a found-audio horror film about a demon named Abyzou, a female demon from folklore who is said to possess mothers and kill their children. The film, from A24 and directed by Ian Tuason, is based on real paranormal encounters reported by a couple named Jessa and Mike.
A24 has done it again. Undertone, described as 2026 scariest movie so far, brings a centuries-old demon from Jewish and Middle Eastern folklore into the mainstream consciousness.
What Happening
Film: Undertone
Director: Ian Tuason
Studio: A24
Premiere: Montreal Fantasia International Film Festival (July 2025), Sundance (early 2026)
Box Office: $500,000 budget, grossed $9 million theatrically
Format: Found audio/podcast style horror
The Plot
The film follows Evy (Nina Kiri), who co-hosts a podcast called The Undertone with her best friend Justin (Adam DiMarco). When a fan sends them an email containing an eerie audio recording documenting a couple (Jessa and Mike) paranormal encounter with Abyzou, Evy becomes obsessed. She begins experiencing the same phenomena her comatose mother body moves inexplicably, lights flicker, and religious icons relocate themselves.
As reported by Filmmaker Magazine, director Ian Tuason filmed in the house where his parents died, adding real emotional weight to the story.
The Real Abyzou
Abyzou (also called the Mother of Demons) is a figure from Jewish and Middle Eastern folklore:
- Description: Often depicted as a female demon with long hair and disheveled appearance
- Target: Mothers and their children
- Method: Possession through envy of fertile women
- History: References date back centuries, with the demon appearing in texts from the Talmud to medieval European folklore
- Origin: Believed to have originated in Persia or Babylonia, spreading through Jewish diaspora into Europe
Why It Matters
1. Authentic Fear: Director Ian Tuason filmed in the house where his parents died, adding real emotional weight
2. Found Audio Format: The film represents a new wave of horror using podcast/audio aesthetics
3. Cultural Research: Tuason spent extensive time researching demonology and the occult
4. Mainstream Recognition: A24 involvement brings folklore-based horror to wider audiences
5. Personal Connection: The director experience caring for his dying parents mirrors the protagonist story
As Tuason said: I kind of got desensitized after the whole caregiving experience how dark it was. I used to be really scared of ghosts. If I saw a ghost now, I would just go back to sleep.
