Below

Strange things begin to happen in a small Newfoundland fishing community when a large iceberg materialises in the harbour overnight. Not only does the ice appear to be frozen mucus, but an unknown sickness descends upon the townsfolk, and something big has taken up residence in the water. At the centre of the madness is Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett), a struggling fisherman who saw his father and home get dragged under the water when he was a boy. With the help of a compassionate marine biologist played by Mackenzie Davis, Calvin must find a way to stop the creature and protect his family. Part creature-feature, part cosmic horror, with a dash of comedy and environmentalism, there is a lot going on in Below. However, this limited series from creator Jesse McKeown never quite manages to connect its ideas together.

There’s a strong sense of identity to the setting. Snook’s Arm is overflowing with an infectious small-town charm and populated by a collection of endearing and instantly likeable characters. Foremost among them is the rest of the Penney family. This includes the well-meaning but irresponsible eldest son Wade (Charlie Heaton), Calvin’s fiery sister Ruth (Willow Kean) and his determined daughter Mary (Ruby Stokes), who’s returning home for the first time in three years. The actors have a great rapport and bounce sharply written dialogue off each other in what are easily the series’ best moments.

As the plot thickens, Below shifts from ominous mystery to supernatural thriller. While the lean runtime of each of the six episodes keeps the pace moving at a brisk and engaging tempo, the show struggles to generate much suspense. This is partly due to the lack of build-up given to the creature’s reveal, but it’s also a result of the various plotlines and ideas that are constantly at odds with each other. When the script begins to toy with the idea that the creature could be Lovecraftian, for instance, this concept is quickly abandoned without further exploration.

Underneath the carnage and family drama, the series also tries to say something about global warming and comment on the resettlement programmes that have impacted Newfoundland’s fishing communities. Like the horror elements, these themes get drowned out by everything else. The best way to enjoy Below is to completely suspend disbelief and go along for the ride, trusting that the cast will keep viewers in safe hands.

Andrew Murray

Below is released on Netflix on 8^th October 2026.

Watch the trailer for Below here: