One of Canada’s Biggest Horror Sleeper Hits Is Coming to HBO Max in June 2026

HBO Max is adding one of Canada’s most talked-about horror movies to its library next month, with Undertone officially heading to the platform on June 26, 2026. The supernatural horror film, written and directed by Ian Tuason for his directorial debut, premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival last year and received theatrical release in the United States via A24 on March 13, 2026. VVS Films distributed the movie in Canada.

Considered a sleeper hit, the film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, earning over $21 million against a budget of $500,000 (via The Numbers, as of May 24, 2026). Critics and horror fans alike have compared its slow-burning tension to some of A24’s most disturbing modern releases.

With its upcoming streaming debut, a much wider audience will finally get the chance to experience the nightmare that helped the film become an unexpected horror phenomenon in Canada.

A24 Delivers Another Supernatural Nightmare With Undertone

A24 never fails to deliver the most intense and chilling movie releases. Undertone is set to arrive on streaming very soon, and here’s a warning that this isn’t for the faint of heart. The story follows a couple, Mike and Jessa, who claim their home is being haunted by an evil presence while expecting their first child.

The story unfolds through ten unsettling audio recordings, including disturbing moments like Jessa singing nursery rhymes in reverse, before escalating into the couple’s tragic fate towards the end of the movie.

Tuason said this is partly inspired by his personal experiences caring for his terminally ill parents. He originally planned it as a radio play before deciding to turn it into a feature film.

The production was filmed in February 2025 in Rexdale, Toronto, including locations from the director’s own childhood home, adding a deeply personal layer to its atmosphere. Rather than relying on traditional visual horror, the film builds tension through sound, absence, and implication, creating dread from what is never fully seen.

What makes Undertone especially effective is how it forces the audience to “hear” the horror rather than see it, making every silence and distorted sound feel invasive and uneasy.

Are We Getting An Undertone Trilogy? Here’s What We Know

With the surprise success of Undertone both critically and commercially, many must be asking if there’s a planned sequel. Tuason spoke with Phantasmag and confirmed that fans can expect more from the A24 horror hit.

I won’t say much, but the next one is the story of Mike and Jessa. So we can see them now. I’ll leave the third one a mystery, but I am talking to A24 about it. It looks like it’s going to happen. There are a lot of questions that I left open. I want to answer them.

The cult following around Undertone comes largely from Tuason’s stripped-down approach to storytelling. The film is set mainly in a single location and focuses visually on just one on-screen character, while most others exist only through audio.

This creative choice forces viewers to imagine what they cannot see, making the experience more engaging. Instead of relying on jump scares or visible monsters, the film builds horror through sound and the audience’s own imagination.

Movie:	Undertone
Director:	Ian Tuason
Distributed by:	A24
Release Date:	July 27, 2025 (Fantasia) March 13, 2026 (United States)
Rotten Tomatoes – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of May 24, 2026)	74% | 50%

Have you watched this new horror film yet? Let us know in the comments!

Undertone arrives on HBO Max on June 26, 2026.