Netflix's Below Brings Sea Monster Mystery to Newfoundland
Netflix's new mystery series Below premiered on 8 October, plunging a Newfoundland fishing town into dirty ice and a giant predator beneath the waves.
Josh Hartnett stars as fisherman Calvin Penney, with Mackenzie Davis as Dr Fonda Howander and Charlie Heaton in a central role. The story is set in Snook's Arm, a tight-knit community where a homecoming quickly turns strange.
Netflix's synopsis says Calvin welcomes his family home for a reunion as an unexpected arrival makes waves in Snook's Arm. Netflix The streamer describes Calvin as a bayman, a local word for someone who fishes and lives off the bay. He believes he is cursed after an unexplainable childhood tragedy upended his life. Tudum
To get answers, Calvin teams up with Fonda, a local marine biologist studying strange events in the water. Their investigation centres on an aggressive cephalopod, the animal group that includes octopuses, squid and cuttlefish and is known for intelligent behaviour. Tudum Calvin's son Wade is drawn in as well, trying to make sense of unsettling dreams.
The series comes from Jesse McKeown, the showrunner, meaning the lead writer-producer in charge, alongside executive producer Jessica Rhoades. McKeown pitched the idea to Netflix in a meeting and the streamer picked it up. Variety Hartnett, whose earlier credits include Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down and Penny Dreadful, leads the hunt to unravel the underwater mystery.
Getting the voices right took work. Hartnett prepared for the Newfoundland accent by listening to local radio call-in and talk shows, including The Fisheries Broadcast. He, Heaton and Ruby Stokes all undertook accent work for their roles. It is a tricky sound to land.
Season 1 closes with fresh danger on the horizon. Several more icebergs are seen approaching Snook's Arm, promising more deep-sea beasts. Variety Another account describes the tease as more giant squid heading for shore. Hartnett, Davis, Heaton and McKeown break down those final scenes in a Netflix Tudum interview. Tudum
Early coverage has focused on the creature thrills and the accents. Variety, in a review published 7 October, called Hartnett's Newfoundland accent a hilarious attempt and described the show as a gripping watch and a captivating ride blending horror. Variety The Hollywood Reporter also published a review on 7 October.
For fans, this means the first mystery is resolved but the water is not safe. The iceberg shot leaves the door wide open. No renewal has been announced.
