‘undertone’ Director Says His ‘Paranormal Activity’ Reboot Will Be “Serious” and Scary: “I’m giving back” [Exclusive]
As A24’s terrifying audio-driven horror film undertone arrives in theaters this Friday, director Ian Tuason is already preparing to step into one of the most recognizable supernatural franchises of the modern era.
The first-time feature filmmaker has been tapped by Bad Robot and Blumhouse to direct the next Paranormal Activity reboot. It’s an assignment he earned, impressively, even before his debut reaches audiences. Speaking exclusively with Dread Central, Tuason shared why the creative DNA of undertone directly influenced why he was chosen to take on the iconic found-footage series.
“Oh, because I scared people without showing them anything,” Tuason explained.“Which is kind of what Paranormal Activity does too. I kind of stole from it. I stole from it. And now I’m giving back.”
The filmmaker hinted his approach to the reboot will lean into the same restrained terror that defines undertone, a film that builds dread through sound and suggestion rather than spectacle.
Asked whether audiences can expect a similarly intimate and grounded tone, Tuason confirmed the direction: “Yeah, pretty serious.”
That approach could mark a tonal reset for the franchise, aligning it more closely with the stripped-down tension that made the original Paranormal Activity a phenomenon.
In my 4-star review of the film out of Sundance 2026, I mentioned undertone “succeeds because it understands its scope without being confined by it. Instead, Tuason finds creative freedom in its structure. Grounded performances, precise control of story, and a clear command of sound and space anchor the film as it stretches its arms well beyond its handful of walls.”
If undertone proves anything, it’s that Tuason understands how to generate fear with a modest toolbox, and that minimalism could be the perfect full-circle fit for the long-running horror series.
undertone infects theaters this Friday, March 13, 2026.
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