undertone (2026) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in Evy's house, where she cares for her comatose mother. The house becomes increasingly haunted as supernatural events escalate, with a Virgin Mary statue appearing in different rooms and objects moving on their own. The local town and a nearby women's clinic also feature, grounding the horror in everyday spaces.

• setting
• evy's house
• location
• haunted house

Undertone explores three interconnected themes: Pregnancy as a source of fear and responsibility, Demonology centering on Abyzou a folklore demon linked to fertility and infant death, and Hidden Messages through backward audio clues that reveal danger. These themes intertwine to create a story about maternal anxiety, supernatural threat, and the danger hidden in ordinary media.

• themes
• pregnancy
• demonology
• hidden messages
• folklore

Evy (Evangeline Babic) is the protagonist, a young woman with a Catholic upbringing who cares for her comatose mother while hosting a paranormal podcast called The Undertone. She conceals her pregnancy while dealing with guilt, faith struggles, and the responsibility of impending motherhood as supernatural events intensify.

• evy
• protagonist
• host
• podcast
• pregnancy

Justin is Evy's co-host on The Undertone paranormal podcast. Unlike Evy, he fully believes in the supernatural and relentlessly pursues clues from the mysterious audio files. His drive to uncover hidden truths fuels the investigation and often clashes with Evy's skepticism.

• justin
• co-host
• podcast
• believer
• investigator

Abyzou is a demon from Mediterranean and European folklore, referenced throughout the recordings that torment Evy. The demon is associated with fertility, miscarriages, and maternal jealousy. Its influence appears through whispered messages, inverted songs, and ominous symbols around Evy's home, personifying the supernatural threat driving the story.

• abyzou
• demon
• folklore
• fertility
• supernatural threat

The Undertone is a paranormal podcast hosted by Evy and Justin. The show investigates supernatural occurrences, though Evy approaches it with skepticism while Justin fully believes in the phenomena they explore. The mysterious recordings sent to Evy become the catalyst for the film's horror events.

• podcast
• paranormal
• investigation
• supernatural

Evy's unexpected pregnancy is central to the film, heightening her sense of responsibility and fear. The pregnancy becomes a catalyst for secrecy, moral conflict, and vulnerability as supernatural forces target both mother and child. Her quest to protect her unborn child intertwines with themes of faith, guilt, and survival against demonic influence.

• pregnancy
• motherhood
• fear
• protection
• unborn child

The repeatedly reappearing Virgin Mary statue serves as a supernatural signal in Evy's home, representing the clash between faith and demonic influence. Its presence amid the haunting events highlights the film's exploration of religious symbolism being twisted by dark forces, contrasting sacred imagery with horror.

• virgin mary
• statue
• symbolism
• faith
• religious

Undertone is a psychological horror film that blends folkloric terror with modern technology. The horror stems from audio recordings, backward messages in songs, and escalating supernatural phenomena in a domestic setting. The film maintains a steady, dread-building pace without relief, centering on pregnancy anxiety and maternal fear.

• psychological horror
• folkloric
• audio recordings
• domestic horror

Mama Babic is Evy's comatose mother, who lies silent and immobile throughout the film. Her condition creates a sense of urgency and duty that underpins Evy's decisions. She remains a silent, affecting presence that adds emotional weight to the story, representing the living must confront death while facing supernatural threats.

• mama babic
• mother
• comatose
• family
• responsibility

Mike is Jessa's partner who hopes to capture concrete evidence of the supernatural, recording and analyzing encounters. Jessa, his partner, provides crucial cryptic clues through sleep-talk, with her utterances becoming essential when played backwards. Their actions set off a chain of events that intensify the horror.

• mike
• jessa
• sleep-talk
• evidence
• investigation