In Brief:
- Netflix's new limited series "Below," created by Jesse McKeown and starring Josh Hartnett, is now streaming.
- Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a widower in Newfoundland who is haunted by his father's death and probes strange events in the water.
- The six-episode thriller blends horror and suspense with a climate crisis theme, with episodes running 45 minutes or less.
Below: The ocean is vast. It is also deeply mysterious. Scientists have studied it for generations. Yet much of what lies beneath remains unknown.
That uncertainty drives Netflix's new limited series "Below." Creator Jesse McKeown sets the story in a tiny Newfoundland town.
The result is a tense, well-paced thriller. It is eerie, gripping and at times truly frightening.
A Tragedy That Never Fades
The story begins in 1986. Nine-year-old Calvin Penney, played by Azriel Dalman, is moving with his family.
They are leaving Little Pot Rock for a larger island called Snook's Arm. Their boat is towing their house across the water. At first, the trip goes smoothly.
Then something strange happens. Calvin must cut the line between the boat and the house.
His father drowns. Forty years later, Calvin is still haunted by that day.
A Town Running Out of Time
Adult Calvin is played by Josh Hartnett. He is a kind, hardworking widower. The fishing industry in Snook's Arm has long since dried up.
So Calvin and his son Wade, played by Charlie Heaton, find other ways to earn a living.
They harvest ice for a local vodka brewery. They also rent out part of their home as an Airbnb.
This week should be a happy one. The town is celebrating Come Home Year. Calvin's other children, Mary and Jay, are visiting. Ruby Stokes and Rohan Campbell play them.
Trouble arrives fast. The brewery rejects Calvin's latest ice because of its foul smell.
That sends him to Dr. Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis. She runs the local science center.
Then Wade is caught in a horrific accident. Residents begin acting strangely. Calvin and Fonda soon sense that something is wrong in the water.
More Than a Monster Story
McKeown paints a warm portrait of a fading, close-knit community. At its center is a man determined to save it.
Calvin's sister Ruth, played by Willow Kean, is the town's harbor master. She and his children see how few resources remain. Calvin refuses to give up.
Chaos erupts when a massive iceberg rises from the sea. Calvin begins to suspect a link to his father's death.
The only small flaw is Hartnett's Newfoundland accent. It is often unintentionally funny. Even so, the series holds viewers tightly.
Short, Sharp and Memorable
"Below" runs just six episodes. Each lasts 45 minutes or less. A terrifying sea creature sits at the heart of the story.
But the show is really about something deeper. It explores grief, a family in pain and a man clinging to the past. It also shows how greed can create real monsters.
Episode 4, "The Ocean Will Have Us All," stands out. The creature takes center stage.
The episode also reveals how far some people will go for selfish gain. Its final minutes are painful to watch.
Their full meaning becomes clear in the next-to-last episode, "Little Pot Rock."
The Verdict
"Below" blends horror and suspense with the very real climate crisis. McKeown brings fresh energy to a familiar genre.
The series looks at how fragile life is. It shows how places can disappear. It reminds viewers how small humans are in the universe.
Its final message is simple. Change is unavoidable. The only choice is to adapt.
"Below" is now streaming on Netflix.
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