A24's Undertone Brings Collaborative Internet Horror to the Big Screen
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
A24's upcoming horror film Undertone channels the collaborative spirit of creepypasta forums and viral internet lore, directed by digital filmmaker Ian Tuason.
A24 is expanding its horror catalog with Undertone, a new film that draws heavily from the collaborative internet culture of early creepypasta forums and viral digital lore. Written and directed by viral VR filmmaker Ian Tuason in his feature debut, the movie follows a pair of podcast hosts investigating a mysterious series of eerie audio files. Featuring tropes like cursed videos, unnerving drawings, and liminal three a.m. pacing, the project captures the specific, late-night unease that defined a generation of online storytelling. Polygon recently interviewed Tuason about how his background in digital spaces shaped the film's unique aesthetic and narrative structure.
This release arrives during a broader cultural shift where studios are finally learning how to adapt internet-born horror authentically. Earlier studio attempts to commercialize these viral myths often missed the mark, but recent breakout hits have proven that creators who genuinely understand digital subcultures can successfully translate that hyper-specific dread to cinema. With projects like Markiplier adapting Iron Lung and A24 also tackling the Backrooms, horror filmmakers are increasingly pulling inspiration from the same digital rabbit holes where modern audiences spend their free time.
For a community that treats online spaces as primary hubs for entertainment and storytelling, seeing grassroots internet lore make the jump to prestige cinema feels like a natural evolution. Tuason's journey from writing serial fiction on Wattpad to directing for A24 highlights how creators from digital-first backgrounds are shaping the future of entertainment. Undertone leans directly into that participatory energy, reminding us that the scariest stories are often the ones we build together online.
Tags: A24, Horror Movies, Creepypasta, Internet Culture, Film
Original article: Polygon