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Plot Summary

Undertone (1972) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1972 · 35 mins · English
Starring
Vito Acconci

In this infamous early‑performance video, Acconci sits at a table and narrates a masturbatory fantasy about a girl rubbing his legs beneath it. His rambling monologue shifts between addressing the camera and himself, foregrounding the voyeuristic contract that makes the viewer essential to the work by completing the imagined scene.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Undertone: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Undertone (1972) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In a quiet home, Evangeline “Evy” Babig tends to her ailing mother, Evelyn, singing soft lullabies as night deepens. The scene sets a gentle, intimate mood that quickly tilts toward unease when Evy and her friend Justin Manuel decide to record their weekly horror podcast, The Undertone. Evy remains the skeptic, while Justin leans into belief, and the pair trade notes about their vulnerable living situation—Evy’s mother’s fragile health and a partner who isn’t always present, Darren. What begins as a routine recording soon spirals into a disturbing mystery fueled by a string of ominous audio files.

Their first topic centers on a viral video titled “I Feel Wonderful,” an image of a smiling woman that appears to distort—and, as stories claim, drives dozens to tragedy. Justin then shares ten audio recordings from an anonymous sender, all centered on a couple named Jessa and Mike. The first clip captures Mike recording Jessa as she sleep-sings “London Bridge.” In the second, Jessa sleepwalks and repeats the same song in reverse; when played backward, it seems to murmur the words “Mike kill all.” This prompts Justin to dig into history and folklore, including a reference to Eleanor of Provence and the ominous lore surrounding London Bridge. The duo also probes the darker meaning behind the nursery rhyme “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” foreshadowing a thread that will braid myth, music, and menace.

As the night unfolds, the third file shows Jessa waking Mike after a disturbance in the house—the running water—an event that makes Evy feel as though the noises are creeping through her own walls. The atmosphere thickens with the sense that something ominous has seeped into Evy’s home. The podcast winds down with a decision to resume in a few days, leaving the audience with more questions than answers.

The following morning brings a more personal storm: Evy learns she is pregnant, but the news sits heavy with uncertainty as she grapples with whether to keep the baby. Evelyn’s condition worsens, and a nurse warns that Evelyn’s breath carries a “death rattle,” a chilling hint that time may be running out. Throughout the week, Evy shoulders the demanding tasks of caregiving—bathing, cleaning, lifting, and comforting her mother—while a creepy crayon drawing of a dark, faceless woman surfaces in Evy’s drawers, hinting at a lurking danger.

That night, Evy revisits the audio files and plays the fifth clip in reverse, only to hear a chilling phrase that seems to morph into something far more sinister: a backward whisper that, when reversed again, hints at a figure who speaks through the recordings. Evy’s vigilance grows as eerie phenomena intensify—flickering lights, unexpected noises, and the return of a Virgin Mary statue that materializes in defiance of Evy’s attempts to banish it. The podcast moves on to new discoveries: the fourth audio file features Jessa interacting with a creepy doll that whispers unsettling lines like “I like it here in the dark,” while Mike and Jessa awaken to what sounds like a heavy thump, which Evy suspects is faulty plumbing but may be something more insidious. The fifth file’s backwards phrases terrify Mike, pushing the duo to continue the investigation even as fear takes hold.

Driven by a growing sense that something supernatural is tied to the tapes, Evy and Justin reverse the mysterious recordings to uncover a single, chilling name: Abyzou. They learn that Abyzou is a mythical demon—the patron saint of cursed mothers—who preys on women with children, causing miscarriages or pushing mothers to harm their infants. This revelation casts a new light on the grim pattern unfolding around Evy and Jessa and raises a horrifying possibility: the tapes may be more than hoax or fiction; they could be a conduit for a dark presence.

As Justin plays the sixth and seventh files, the couple’s voices overlap in unsettling ways, and a baby’s cry intrudes on Jessa’s snoring. Jessa’s scream—frantic and fear-driven—seems to hint at something lurking by the kitchen sink, though Mike dismisses it as a neighbor’s baby. The sender’s identity remains a mystery, and emails keep bouncing back as the duo contemplates whether to abandon the investigation. Despite the creeping dread, Evy urges them to press on, curious to see where the truth will lead.

The eighth file escalates the tension: Jessa awakens Mike again to banging in the walls, and the familiar lullaby of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” resurfaces, mingling with increasingly disturbing baby noises and escalating screams. The ninth file contains a chilling combination of fear and revelation, as Jessa’s voice hints at being watched and warns that Abyzou may be coming for them. Viewers begin to call in with stories of neighboring families affected by the tapes, including a pregnant woman who once rented a basement and later faced a tragedy involving her own child. The two hosts wrestle with the possibility that the recordings are not a hoax but a doorway to real danger.

A series of calls deepens the sense of peril: a caller asks to speak with “Mary,” Evy’s considered name for her unborn child; another caller warns that listening to the ten tapes awakens Abyzou; a final caller, “Abby,” pleads for help with a crying baby, and the line fades into the night with the sense that something has already claimed control behind the walls. The duo’s investigation becomes a haunted chorus of voices and visions: Abyzou’s symbols appear on walls, the “I Feel Wonderful” video morphs into a terrifying image, and Evy glimpses Evelyn moving on the edge of consciousness in the bathroom.

With the tension spiraling, Evy ascends the stairs only to find her mother awakening and the bathroom light turning on by itself. Evelyn rises slowly as Evy tries to speak to her, and the sense of danger thickens into a final, devastating moment. As the podcast closes, Evy and Justin are overwhelmed by distorted sounds and a blurring line between reality and the recording. Evy sees the first concrete signs of Abyzou in the house, and the imagery tightens around the two women as the film hurtles toward its climax. The camera cuts to black while Evy’s scream echoes, and her voice distorts, repeating a backward phrase, “Come in, Abyzou,” as the haunting final image lingers.

> Come in, Abyzou

In the end, the story threads together a cautionary tale about belief, the vulnerabilities of caretaking, and the way old myths can seep into the present, turning a night of shared horror into a confrontation with forces that may be beyond anyone’s control. The film leaves Evy—and the audience—facing a haunting question: what happens when the lines between a carefully crafted podcast, a dark legend, and a mother’s fear become indistinguishably intertwined?

Last updated: April 18, 2026 at 09:57

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Plot questions answered

Undertone Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Undertone (1972): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

What is Abyzou and why is it targeting the main character

Abyzou is a mythical demon known as the patron saint of cursed mothers who preys on women with children, causing miscarriages or driving mothers to harm their infants. The demon is specifically targeting Evy because she is pregnant - the tapes act as a conduit that summons or awakens Abyzou, drawing the demonic presence into her home. The reveal comes when Evy and Justin reverse the mysterious recordings and discover Abyzou's name embedded in the audio.

Foreshadowing: Earlier audio clips contain backward whispers and nursery rhymes that foreshadow the demonic entity's presence.

  • abyzou
  • demon
  • cursed mothers
  • pregnancy
  • supernatural
  • horror podcast
Q2

Do the audio tapes actually summon the demon

Yes, the tapes function as a summoning mechanism. When callers warn that listening to the ten tapes awakens Abyzou, this proves true as Evy's home becomes increasingly haunted with flickering lights, strange noises, and the Virgin Mary statue mysteriously appearing. The reversed audio contains Abyzou's name and likely serves as an invocation. The more Evy listens and investigates, the stronger the demonic presence becomes.

Foreshadowing: The third audio file's sounds of running water echo in Evy's own house, showing the tapes are affecting reality.

  • audio tapes
  • summoning
  • recordings
  • haunting
  • reverse audio
Q3

What does the ending mean when Evy says Come in Abyzou

At the climax, after the final audio files trigger viewer calls about danger and a crying baby, Evy screams and the film cuts to black. Her voice then distorts, repeatedly saying "Come in Abyzou" backward, revealing that the demon has fully taken control. The ending confirms that Evy has been possessed or consumed by Abyzou - the backward phrase is the final indication that she has become a vessel for the demon, mirroring how the reversed audio throughout the film carried hidden messages.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, backward whispers and phrases hidden in the audio foreshadow this final invocation.

  • come in abyzou
  • ending
  • possession
  • backward audio
  • final scene
Q4

What happens to Jessa and Mike in the audio recordings

Jessa and Mike are the couple featured in the ten anonymous audio files. As the tapes progress, they experience increasingly disturbing phenomena - sleepwalking, mysterious sounds in their house, a creepy doll, and finally Jessa's desperate screams about something by the kitchen sink. The ninth file reveals Jessa warning that Abyzou may be coming for them, and subsequent caller stories suggest tragedies befell neighboring families who listened to the tapes. Their ultimate fate remains ambiguous but clearly dire - the recordings document their descent into terror as the demon targets them.

Foreshadowing: The early clips show subtle wrongness - Jessa singing in her sleep, the backwards "Mike kill all" - that escalates into full haunting.

  • jessa
  • mike
  • audio files
  • couple
  • fate
  • recordings
Q5

Why is Evy's pregnancy important to the story

Evy discovers she's six weeks pregnant early in the film, forcing her to decide whether to keep the baby. This pregnancy makes her a perfect target for Abyzou - the demon specifically preys on mothers and pregnant women, causing miscarriages or infanticide. The timing of the haunting coinciding with her pregnancy is not coincidental; the tapes have drawn the demon to her specifically because she represents the maternal aspect it corrupts. Her dual role as caregiver to her dying mother and potential mother to an unborn child intensifies the demon's focus on her.

Foreshadowing: The nurse's warning about the death rattle connects maternal death themes to the supernatural threat.

  • pregnancy
  • evy
  • mother
  • maternal
  • abyzou target
  • baby
Q6

What is the significance of London Bridge and Baa Baa Black Sheep in the film

The audio files prominently feature two nursery rhymes: London Bridge and Baa Baa Black Sheep. London Bridge appears when Jessa sleep-sings it, and in reverse, reveals "Mike kill all." The film connects this to Eleanor of Provence and folklore about orphans buried beneath London Bridge. Baa Baa Black Sheep becomes increasingly disturbing as the tapes progress, with backward play revealing whispered phrases about blood and escalating baby noises. These childhood lullabies become vessels for dark incantations, and their reverse playback reveals the demonic messages Abyzou sends through the recordings.

Foreshadowing: Justin researches these rhymes early, establishing them as vehicles for hidden, sinister meaning.

  • london bridge
  • baa baa black sheep
  • nursery rhyme
  • reverse audio
  • symbolism
  • folklore
Q7

What is the I Feel Wonderful video and why does it matter

I Feel Wonderful is a viral video mentioned at the start of the podcast - an image of a smiling woman that appears to distort and, as stories claim, drives dozens to tragedy. This video serves as the initial hook for the podcast and establishes the supernatural threat level. Later in the film, the video morphs into a terrifying image, showing the cursed content is real and connected to the larger demonic phenomenon. It represents a broader pattern of cursed media that lures people into contact with Abyzou.

Foreshadowing: The video is introduced early as a known viral horror, establishing the film'sfound-footage mythology.

  • i feel wonderful
  • viral video
  • cursed video
  • distortion
  • horror video
Q8

What does the death rattle warning mean for Evy's mother

The nurse tells Evy that her mother's breath carries a death rattle, indicating Evelyn is dying. This serves as both a literal health warning and thematic foreshadowing - the mother's impending death parallels the supernatural threats. However, the film's ending suggests something more sinister: as Evy investigates the tapes, Evelyn appears to move on her own, the bathroom light turns on by itself, and Evelyn rises in an eerie manner. This raises the disturbing possibility that Abyzou may be using Evelyn's dying body or that death itself is the demon's doorway.

Foreshadowing: The death rattle warning establishes maternal mortality as a central theme throughout the film.

  • death rattle
  • evelyn
  • mother
  • dying
  • health
  • prognosis
Q9

Why does the Virgin Mary statue keep appearing

The Virgin Mary statue repeatedly appears despite Evy's attempts to hide or remove it, signaling a malevolent supernatural presence in her home. This can be interpreted as a corrupted religious symbol - rather than offering protection, it becomes an omen of the demonic invasion. Its mysterious appearance represents the blurring line between sacred and profane, and may indicate Abyzou's ability to manipulate objects within the home to create unease.

Foreshadowing: Earlier attempts to banish or hide the statue fail, showing something beyond natural explanation controls its movement.

  • virgin mary statue
  • appearing
  • haunting
  • religious symbol
  • supernatural
Q10

Who sent the anonymous audio recordings

The anonymous sender of the ten audio files is never definitively identified. Evy and Justin attempt to contact the sender but their emails bounce back, maintaining the mystery. The tapes appear to be a conduit for Abyzou - they may have been sent by a previous victim, the demon itself, or someone hoping to spread the curse. The mystery deepens when callers report similar experiences, suggesting a network of affected people. The sender's identity remains one of the film's unresolved mysteries, though the content clearly targets pregnant women and mothers.

Foreshadowing: Early in the investigation, the sender's anonymity is established as emails bounce back.

  • anonymous sender
  • audio files
  • mystery
  • tapes
  • sender identity
  • emails
Q11

How is Evy's mother Evelyn connected to the demon

Evelyn is Evy's dying mother whom she cares for throughout the film. Her declining health creates the primary setting - Evy records the podcast from home while caring for her mother. The nurse's death rattle warning establishes Evelyn's imminent death. In the climax, Evelyn appears to awaken on her own as the bathroom light turns on by itself, suggesting Abyzou may be using her dying body or that death provides the demon access. Evelyn represents the film's maternal theme - both the mother being lost and the potential new life Evy carries, making her the emotional center of the demon's targeting.

Foreshadowing: The death rattle warning and Evelyn's fragile condition foreshadow her role in the climax.

  • evelyn
  • mother
  • caring
  • death
  • demon connection
  • caregiving

Movie threads

More Movies Like Undertone, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Undertone tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Voyeuristic horror movies like Undertone

Stories where a character's intimate confession implicates the viewer in their disturbing reality. If you liked the unsettling intimacy of Undertone, explore more movies where a character's direct confession pulls you into their disturbing reality. These films create a unique sense of complicity and psychological dread through their narrative style.

  • voyeuristic
  • unsettling
  • claustrophobic
  • confessional
  • psychological
  • intimate
  • Tone: dark, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is built around a character directly confessing or revealing a disturbing personal experience to the camera or a recording device. This structure breaks the fourth wall, making the audience an active participant in the story's psychological tension and moral ambiguity.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared use of direct address or found footage to create a powerful, uncomfortable intimacy. They explore themes of voyeurism, complicity, and the breakdown between performer and observer, resulting in a uniquely unsettling viewing experience.

Slow burn psychological torment movies like Undertone

A methodical, steady unraveling of a character's psyche under relentless pressure. Fans of the methodical dread in Undertone will appreciate these movies that slowly tighten the screws on their protagonists. Discover similar stories of psychological torment and inescapable descent into darkness.

  • dread-filled
  • psychological
  • unsettling
  • anxious
  • ominous
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: dark, bleak, dread-filled
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story follows a linear but deliberate progression of increasingly distressing events or revelations. Each new layer of information or experience deepens the protagonist's psychological anguish, leading to an inevitable and bleak conclusion with no reprieve.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films that share a specific pacing and emotional trajectory: a steady, methodical build of psychological pressure resulting in a heavy, bleak conclusion. They prioritize a pervasive sense of dread over jump scares, making the horror feel more intimate and inescapable.

Every angle

Undertone (1972) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Undertone in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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