A24's low-budget horror film, Undertone, has climbed to the number one spot on HBO Max, achieving significant streaming success shortly after its theatrical debut. The film, directed by Ian Tuason, premiered in theaters on March 13, 2026, and grossed over $21.6 million in the US and Canada against a production budget of $500,000.
Undertone follows a pair of podcast hosts who discover audio files detailing a couple's possession, leading them to confront a paranormal entity. The narrative narrows its focus to one of the hosts, who returns home to care for her ailing mother.
Tuason described the film as "a creepypasta movie," noting that its narrative is built upon creepypasta media, including ten audio files central to the plot. This digital-era influence has positioned Undertone within a broader trend in the horror genre exploring online storytelling phenomena.
The film was added to HBO Max on June 26 and quickly rose to the top of the platform's rankings, outperforming titles such as How To Make a Killing and Ready Player One, according to tracking site FlixPatrol. This streaming success marks a significant achievement for Tuason, who is now set to direct a reboot of the Paranormal Activity franchise. Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan, the new Paranormal Activity film is slated for a May 2027 release.
Tuason, previously known for his VR horror shorts, made his feature directorial debut with Undertone. He expressed excitement about contributing to the Paranormal Activity series, stating his intention to deliver significant reveals for fans. His work, influenced by internet-based scary stories from his youth, aligns with a growing exploration of digital-age horror themes among filmmakers.
While Tuason stated he was not consciously trying to join a trend, he acknowledged the emergence of similar genre experiments. The successful reception of Undertone on streaming platforms suggests a strong audience appetite for contemporary horror narratives rooted in digital culture.