Look… I pride myself on being a very smart movie watcher. I think when a director has a point to make, I’m pretty astute. I can pick up what he/she is putting down, and can normally put myself in the shoes of the characters in the film.
That is not an experience I had watching A24’s most recent effort, Undertone.
I found this movie to be a slow slog that, to be fair, does pick up in the final 10 minutes, but that does not make up for a lackluster first 80 minutes.
All atmosphere, no substance.
Suffice it to say, I was snookered yet again by a pretty creative marketing effort.
It’s hard, not impossible, but hard, to make a good “elevated horror” experience.
Jordan Peele’s first installment Get Out comes to mind. It Follows was alright, I guess. Undertone though… I just didn’t get it, and to be frank, I’m not interested in getting it.
Balky and I broke down the movie for about an hour (spoiler free). Click the player above to hear all of our thoughts about this movie as we tangent off and discuss other movies it reminded us of that were done much better.
