What Is Undertone About?
The premise of Undertone in 295 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
markdown In a quiet home where duty and exhaustion blur together, Evangeline “Evy” Babig tends to her ailing mother Evelyn while navigating the fragile rhythms of daily life. Her escape comes through “The Undertone,” a weekly horror-themed podcast she co-hosts with her friend Justin Manuel, where their contrasting perspectives create a compelling dynamic—Evy approaches the supernatural with skepticism, while Justin embraces the unexplained with genuine belief. Their late-night recordings offer a brief respite from caregiving, yet the boundaries between entertainment and reality begin to fray.
When an anonymous source sends Justin a collection of cryptic audio files, the duo finds themselves drawn into something far darker than their usual fare. The recordings document a couple’s unsettling experiences—strange occurrences in their home, disturbing lullabies played backwards, and an escalating sense of dread that seeps through every speaker. As Evy and Justin analyze each file for their show, the content grows increasingly disturbing, with hidden messages and connections to ancient folklore surfacing where least expected.
The atmosphere grows heavier as strange phenomena begin manifesting in Evy’s own home, mirroring the very stories she dismisses. Flickering lights, unexplained sounds, and objects moving on their own suggest that whatever darkness inhabits those recordings may not be confined to the past. Complicating matters, Evy receives news that adds a deeply personal dimension to her situation—one that forces her to reconsider what kind of future she envisions for herself.
What begins as another podcast episode transforms into an investigation that blurs the line between skeptic and believer, between professional distance and terrifying intimacy. As the files reveal their secrets one by one, Evy and Justin must confront the possibility that some stories don’t simply want to be told—they want to be heard, with consequences that extend far beyond the recording booth.
What Happens in Undertone?
The complete story of Undertone, from the first scene to the last, in 1,111 words (about 5 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In a quiet home, Evangeline “Evy” Babig tends to her ailing mother, Evelyn, singing soft lullabies as night deepens. The scene sets a gentle, intimate mood that quickly tilts toward unease when Evy and her friend Justin Manuel decide to record their weekly horror podcast, The Undertone. Evy remains the skeptic, while Justin leans into belief, and the pair trade notes about their vulnerable living situation—Evy’s mother’s fragile health and a partner who isn’t always present, Darren. What begins as a routine recording soon spirals into a disturbing mystery fueled by a string of ominous audio files.
Their first topic centers on a viral video titled “I Feel Wonderful,” an image of a smiling woman that appears to distort—and, as stories claim, drives dozens to tragedy. Justin then shares ten audio recordings from an anonymous sender, all centered on a couple named Jessa and Mike. The first clip captures Mike recording Jessa as she sleep-sings “London Bridge.” In the second, Jessa sleepwalks and repeats the same song in reverse; when played backward, it seems to murmur the words “Mike kill all.” This prompts Justin to dig into history and folklore, including a reference to Eleanor of Provence and the ominous lore surrounding London Bridge. The duo also probes the darker meaning behind the nursery rhyme “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” foreshadowing a thread that will braid myth, music, and menace.
As the night unfolds, the third file shows Jessa waking Mike after a disturbance in the house—the running water—an event that makes Evy feel as though the noises are creeping through her own walls. The atmosphere thickens with the sense that something ominous has seeped into Evy’s home. The podcast winds down with a decision to resume in a few days, leaving the audience with more questions than answers.
The following morning brings a more personal storm: Evy learns she is pregnant, but the news sits heavy with uncertainty as she grapples with whether to keep the baby. Evelyn’s condition worsens, and a nurse warns that Evelyn’s breath carries a “death rattle,” a chilling hint that time may be running out. Throughout the week, Evy shoulders the demanding tasks of caregiving—bathing, cleaning, lifting, and comforting her mother—while a creepy crayon drawing of a dark, faceless woman surfaces in Evy’s drawers, hinting at a lurking danger.
That night, Evy revisits the audio files and plays the fifth clip in reverse, only to hear a chilling phrase that seems to morph into something far more sinister: a backward whisper that, when reversed again, hints at a figure who speaks through the recordings. Evy’s vigilance grows as eerie phenomena intensify—flickering lights, unexpected noises, and the return of a Virgin Mary statue that materializes in defiance of Evy’s attempts to banish it. The podcast moves on to new discoveries: the fourth audio file features Jessa interacting with a creepy doll that whispers unsettling lines like “I like it here in the dark,” while Mike and Jessa awaken to what sounds like a heavy thump, which Evy suspects is faulty plumbing but may be something more insidious. The fifth file’s backwards phrases terrify Mike, pushing the duo to continue the investigation even as fear takes hold.
Driven by a growing sense that something supernatural is tied to the tapes, Evy and Justin reverse the mysterious recordings to uncover a single, chilling name: Abyzou. They learn that Abyzou is a mythical demon—the patron saint of cursed mothers—who preys on women with children, causing miscarriages or pushing mothers to harm their infants. This revelation casts a new light on the grim pattern unfolding around Evy and Jessa and raises a horrifying possibility: the tapes may be more than hoax or fiction; they could be a conduit for a dark presence.
As Justin plays the sixth and seventh files, the couple’s voices overlap in unsettling ways, and a baby’s cry intrudes on Jessa’s snoring. Jessa’s scream—frantic and fear-driven—seems to hint at something lurking by the kitchen sink, though Mike dismisses it as a neighbor’s baby. The sender’s identity remains a mystery, and emails keep bouncing back as the duo contemplates whether to abandon the investigation. Despite the creeping dread, Evy urges them to press on, curious to see where the truth will lead.
The eighth file escalates the tension: Jessa awakens Mike again to banging in the walls, and the familiar lullaby of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” resurfaces, mingling with increasingly disturbing baby noises and escalating screams. The ninth file contains a chilling combination of fear and revelation, as Jessa’s voice hints at being watched and warns that Abyzou may be coming for them. Viewers begin to call in with stories of neighboring families affected by the tapes, including a pregnant woman who once rented a basement and later faced a tragedy involving her own child. The two hosts wrestle with the possibility that the recordings are not a hoax but a doorway to real danger.
A series of calls deepens the sense of peril: a caller asks to speak with “Mary,” Evy’s considered name for her unborn child; another caller warns that listening to the ten tapes awakens Abyzou; a final caller, “Abby,” pleads for help with a crying baby, and the line fades into the night with the sense that something has already claimed control behind the walls. The duo’s investigation becomes a haunted chorus of voices and visions: Abyzou’s symbols appear on walls, the “I Feel Wonderful” video morphs into a terrifying image, and Evy glimpses Evelyn moving on the edge of consciousness in the bathroom.
With the tension spiraling, Evy ascends the stairs only to find her mother awakening and the bathroom light turning on by itself. Evelyn rises slowly as Evy tries to speak to her, and the sense of danger thickens into a final, devastating moment. As the podcast closes, Evy and Justin are overwhelmed by distorted sounds and a blurring line between reality and the recording. Evy sees the first concrete signs of Abyzou in the house, and the imagery tightens around the two women as the film hurtles toward its climax. The camera cuts to black while Evy’s scream echoes, and her voice distorts, repeating a backward phrase, “Come in, Abyzou,” as the haunting final image lingers.
Come in, Abyzou
In the end, the story threads together a cautionary tale about belief, the vulnerabilities of caretaking, and the way old myths can seep into the present, turning a night of shared horror into a confrontation with forces that may be beyond anyone’s control. The film leaves Evy—and the audience—facing a haunting question: what happens when the lines between a carefully crafted podcast, a dark legend, and a mother’s fear become indistinguishably intertwined?
Undertone Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Evy starts The Undertone recording at 2:30 AM” to “Final tapes unleash a fatal climax”. 12 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Evy starts The Undertone recording at 2:30 AM
At Evy's home, she calls Justin to begin their weekly horror podcast, The Undertone. Evy remains skeptical while Justin is a true believer, and they discuss her ailing mother and Darren's lack of help as they set up. The moment marks the birth of the ominous project that will unfold with disturbing tapes.
When:2:30 AM Where:Evy's home
- 2
First audio files arrive and the viral clue surfaces
They begin recording; Justin mentions a viral video called I Feel Wonderful and sends Evy ten audio files from an anonymous source. They play the first clip, which features Mike recording Jessa singing London Bridge in her sleep. The seed of danger is planted as the sounds hint at something supernatural.
When:2:32 AM Where:Evy's home
- 3
Dark folklore pings the investigation
Justin researches Eleanor of Provence and the London Bridge legend, connecting it to fear of the bridge collapsing and orphans buried in the foundation. He also explores Baa Baa Black Sheep for hidden meanings, uncovering a dark undertone that foreshadows the tapes' menace. Evy and Justin realize there may be more than a hoax at play.
When:2:40 AM Where:Internet research / Evy's home
- 4
Third file unsettles Evy with house sounds
During the same session, they listen to the third file where Jessa wakes Mike after hearing something, which turns out to be the sound of water running. Evy becomes unsettled as the noises seem to echo from her own house. They end the episode for the night with a creeping sense of danger.
When:2:50 AM Where:Evy's home
- 5
Morning sickness and a grim health update
The next day Evy wakes with morning sickness and schedules a prenatal appointment; Evelyn's nurse warns that Evy's breath carries the death rattle, hinting at her mother's coming decline. Evy continues caring for her mother throughout the week, balancing fear with duty. The weight of impending motherhood and loss presses in.
When:Next day morning Where:Evy's home
- 6
A creepy drawing and backward whispers
While cleaning, Evy finds a creepy crayon drawing of an evil woman in her drawer. That night she plays the Baa Baa Black Sheep clip in reverse and seems to hear a whispered phrase about blood. A doctor later confirms she is six weeks pregnant with Darren's child, forcing Evy to face possible consequences as strange phenomena intensify.
When:That night Where:Evy's home
- 7
Haunting intensifies: statue and flickering lights
Lights flicker, strange noises persist, and a Virgin Mary statue appears despite Evy's attempts to keep it hidden, signaling a malevolent presence in the home. Evy grows more convinced that the house is reacting to the tapes and to her pregnancy. The boundary between the living room and something darker begins to blur.
When:That week Where:Evy's home
- 8
Fourth and fifth files deepen the dread
Evy and Justin begin the fourth and fifth audio files; Jessa plays with a creepy doll that speaks phrases like I like it here in the dark, disturbing Mike and suggesting they were expecting a child. Later a loud thump is heard, which Evy credits to faulty plumbing, and the fifth file repeats backwards phrases that terrify Mike. They decide to keep going anyway.
When:During the ongoing podcast Where:Evy's home / studio
- 9
Backwards messages reveal Abyzou
Evy replays the backwards messages and discovers that Abyzou, a demon of cursed mothers, may be behind the haunting. They realize the tapes are not simply a hoax but a doorway to a malevolent force. Abyzou is described as a demon who targets mothers and births.
When:That night Where:Evy's home / online research
- 10
Sixth to eighth files and escalating danger
The sixth and seventh files reveal memory gaps and unsettling sounds: a baby crying over Jessa's snoring followed by a frightening scream about something by the kitchen sink. The eighth file has Jessa waking Mike to banging in the walls while Baa Baa Black Sheep plays, and Evy worries that danger is near. Justin debates trashing the episode, but Evy insists on continuing.
When:That night Where:Evy & Justin's studio
- 11
Evy checks on her mother as the haunting tightens
Evy goes upstairs to check on her mother as the bathroom light turns on by itself and Evelyn slowly rises, suggesting an eerie link between the tapes and the home. Evy fears that Abyzou is reaching out through the environment and into her family. The tension in the house peaks as the line between podcast and nightmare blurs.
When:That night Where:Evelyn's room / Evy's home
- 12
Final tapes unleash a fatal climax
The final two audio files trigger a flood of viewer calls as the danger climbs toward a nightmare conclusion. Abby calls for help while whispers imply someone may drown or be harmed; the tapes culminate in distorted lullabies and a vision of Abyzou, with Evelyn appearing and Evy screaming as the film cuts to black. Evy’s voice ends by repeating Come in Abyzou backwards.
When:End of the film Where:Evy's home / studio
Who Are the Main Characters in Undertone?
6 characters, among them Evangeline 'Evy' Babig, Evelyn Babig and Justin Manuel: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- E'
Evangeline 'Evy' Babig
A caring daughter and skeptic-turned-investigator who hosts The Undertone with her friend. She juggles caregiving for her ailing mother and an unexpected pregnancy, which intensifies her vulnerability to the escalating hauntings. Evy’s practical demeanor clashes with the demonic forces that exploit her fears and memories.
- 🧠 Intelligent
- 🎭 Protagonist
- 🕯️ Haunted
- 👶 Pregnant
- EB
Evelyn Babig
Evy’s ailing mother, bedridden and fragile, whose condition anchors the film’s stakes. Her declining health heightens Evy’s stress and the sense of a deadline looming over both mother and child. The late-night caregiving rituals blur into supernatural disturbances, suggesting she may be a vessel for or witness to the haunting. Her presence lingers as a catalyst for fear, even as she becomes more unresponsive.
- 🏥 Ill
- 👵 Elderly
- 🕯️ Haunting
- JM
Justin Manuel
Evy's friend and podcast co-host who leans into belief in supernatural phenomena. He introduces the anonymous audio files to Evy and drives their investigation, framing the events as real rather than hoax. His skepticism is tempered by mounting fear as the tapes reveal a pattern and a malevolent entity. He becomes a partner in the hunt, but his own safety and sanity grow precarious as the mystery deepens.
- 🎙️ Host
- 🧠 Believer
- 🕵️♂️ Investigator
- D
Darren
Evy’s partner, who is partially present but largely unhelpful, highlighting a strained relationship under stress. His limited involvement during the caregiving crisis underscores Evy’s isolation and adds another layer of tension to the domestic setting. He becomes a counterpoint to Evy’s determination, illustrating how personal relationships falter under haunting pressure.
- 💔 Distant
- 🧭 Strained
- 👤 Partner
- J
Jessa
One half of the couple whose voices populate the audio files. She appears through the recordings as someone who sings in her sleep and speaks backwards, hinting at a deeper disturbance. Her relationship with Mike and the looming pregnancy suggest a motive and vulnerability exploited by Abyzou. The audio clues paint her as both victim and participant in a growing horror.
- 🎶 Audio
- 🍼 Pregnancy
- 👁️ Shadow
- M
Mike
Jessa’s partner who features in the eerie audio files and the disturbing events surrounding them. He reacts with fear and reluctance as the tapes reveal threats and whispered commands. His presence in the recordings makes him part of the cursed duo that anchors the case. His perspective helps expose the terror behind the lullabies and backwards messages.
- 🎙️ Audio
- 😨 Fear
- 🕳️ Mystery
Where and When Is Undertone Set?
Undertone is set in Home of Evangeline 'Evy' Babig. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Home of Evangeline 'Evy' Babig
The story unfolds inside Evy’s family home where she cares for her ailing mother. The house becomes a container for creeping disturbances—flickering lights, strange noises, and eerie symbols that hint at a deeper curse. It doubles as the base for The Undertone podcast, blending daily caregiving with occult dread. The domestic setting grounds the horror in a tangible, lived-in space.
- 🏠 Domestic
- 👁️ Supernatural
- 🎙️ Podcast-driven
- 🕯️ Haunted
What Are the Themes of Undertone?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Motherhood, Media as conduit and Historical folklore.
-
01
Motherhood
Evy’s pregnancy intensifies the fear that haunts her. Abyzou, the demon linked to cursed mothers, haunts her from within and through the audio files. The looming decision about the pregnancy tests her resolve and blurs the line between protection and danger. The film uses motherhood as a battleground where love, vulnerability, and fear collide.
-
02
Media as conduit
The Undertone podcast functions as a narrative lens and a dangerous gateway. The taped clues blur fiction and reality, pulling Evy and Justin deeper into a malevolent pattern. The audience’s curiosity amplifies the danger as each file reveals a darker truth behind a lullaby. The podcast becomes a catalyst that turns a home horror into a shared, online experience.
-
03
Historical folklore
The plot pulls on myths like Abyzou and historical hints about London Bridge’s foundations. These legends provide a mechanism for the haunting, linking present events to ancient harm. The reference to Eleanor of Provence and the buried orphans suggests a curse tied to architecture and memory. Folklore grounds the terror in a longer history that outlives individual characters.
What Kind of Film Is Undertone?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A deeply unsettling and dread-filled horror experience that steadily tightens its grip through a series of disturbing audio tapes, creating an atmosphere of inescapable paranoia and psychological torment.
- paranoid
- unsettling
- claustrophobic
- anxious
- ominous
- disturbing
- supernatural horror
- found footage
- audio tapes
- demonic possession
Content notes: infant death, suicide, child murder, miscarriage, demonic possession, psychological horror.
Quiz
How well do you remember Undertone? Test yourself on the story.
