Below

Premise and Setting

Below is set in the fictional remote Newfoundland town of Snook's Arm. The story begins when the community is terrorized by a mysterious sea creature. The central protagonist is Calvin Penney, a hard-bitten fisherman and iceberg harvester played by Josh Hartnett. Calvin must fight to protect his family, his community, and his vanishing way of life from this threat. The series uses the rugged Newfoundland coastline and close-knit fishing village as a backdrop for this suspenseful tale. Creator Jesse McKeown stated that Newfoundland's history of dealing with unexplained phenomena and tragic events made it an ideal setting for a story blending natural horror with human drama.

Cast and Characters

The series features an ensemble cast led by Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney, the fisherman at the heart of the story. Mackenzie Davis plays Dr. Fonda Howander, a marine biologist at the Seal Cove Ocean Science Centre who becomes involved in the investigation. Charlie Heaton portrays Wade Penney, Calvin's oldest son, while Ruby Stokes plays Mary Penney, Calvin's daughter who attends university in Montreal. The supporting cast includes Willow Kean as Ruth Penney, the harbourmaster and Calvin's sister, and Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney, Calvin's youngest son who works in Alberta. Recurring roles feature notable Canadian actors such as Mary Walsh as Mayor Linda Best, Natasha Henstridge as local potter and Resettlement Liaison Officer Jan Hicks, and Joshua Close as Fishery Officer Jaxon Noseworthy. Guest appearances include Joel Thomas Hynes as a rival iceberg harvester and Tantoo Cardinal as Anik, a contact of Dr. Howander.

Production and Development

Netflix ordered the six-episode limited series in February 2025, with Jesse McKeown serving as creator, writer, and showrunner. McKeown assembled a writing team that included Karen Walton, Perry Chafe, and Natty Zavitz. The directing duties were shared by Jamie Child, Helen Shaver, and Stephen Dunn. McKeown cited Newfoundland's rugged coastlines and local supernatural legends as inspiration, noting the province's long history of surviving unimaginable difficulties. He believed the location would be a great place for an epic story. The executive producers included McKeown, Jamie Childs, Jessica Rhoades, Chris Hatcher, Louise Sutton, and Sharon Hall.

Casting announcements began in May 2025 with Josh Hartnett tapped for the lead role, and he also served as an executive producer. Mackenzie Davis was cast in June 2025, followed by Charlie Heaton, Natasha Henstridge, Joshua Close, and Rohan Campbell in July. Willow Kean, Ruby Stokes, and Kaleb Horn joined the cast in August 2025. Principal photography began in June 2025, with much of the filming taking place in Brigus South, Newfoundland. Existing homes in the town were dressed to look like other buildings such as a church and a fish plant for the fictional Snook's Arm. The series' title shares its name with the former Newfoundland village of Snook's Arm, which was resettled in 2018.

Release and Festival Screening

Prior to its Netflix debut, Below received a preview screening in the Primetime program at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. This provided an early look at the Canadian production. All six episodes of the series were then released globally on the Netflix streaming service on October 8, 2026. The release was promoted with an official trailer highlighting the suspenseful, Newfoundland-set story and its starring cast. The series was rated TV-MA, indicating content suitable for mature audiences.

Critical Reception

Below received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 87% approval rating based on 45 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus stated that the series features the classic tropes of better creature features but uses its limited time wisely, ensuring viewers come out thoroughly thrilled. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 70 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating generally favourable reviews. Critics highlighted the strong central performance by Josh Hartnett and the effective use of the Newfoundland setting to create atmosphere and tension.

Cultural and Thematic Elements

The series examines themes of community survival, environmental mystery, and the pressures on traditional ways of life. The creature threat serves as a catalyst for exploring the dynamics within Snook's Arm, including family loyalties and economic struggles. Characters like Jay Penney, who works in Alberta and owes money to a loan shark, reflect real economic pressures facing rural Newfoundland. The inclusion of a marine biologist character, based on real-life scientist Dr. Annie Mercier, adds a scientific perspective to the supernatural mystery. The series also incorporates elements of local legend and the province's history with maritime disasters and the collapse of the cod fishery, framing the horror within a specific cultural context. The finale episode features a notable use of the song "The Passenger" by Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Questions about Below

What is the Netflix series <em>Below</em> about?

Below is a thriller miniseries about a mysterious sea creature that terrorizes the remote Newfoundland fishing town of Snook's Arm. The story follows fisherman Calvin Penney, played by Josh Hartnett, as he fights to protect his family and community from this threat. The series explores the impact of the creature on the town's close-knit residents and their vanishing way of life. It blends suspense and drama against the backdrop of Newfoundland's rugged coastline.

Who stars in the Canadian series <em>Below</em>?

The series is led by American actor Josh Hartnett as fisherman Calvin Penney. Canadian actress Mackenzie Davis stars opposite him as marine biologist Dr. Fonda Howander. British actor Charlie Heaton plays Calvin's son, Wade Penney. The supporting cast features many Canadian performers, including Willow Kean, Mary Walsh, Natasha Henstridge, and Joshua Close. Josh Hartnett also served as an executive producer on the project.

Who created and wrote the series <em>Below</em>?

The series was created, written, and showrun by Jesse McKeown. He developed the concept, inspired by Newfoundland's landscape and legends. The writing team also included Canadian writers Karen Walton, Perry Chafe, and Natty Zavitz. McKeown stated that he wanted to set an epic story in Newfoundland due to its rugged coastlines and the community's history of surviving difficult and sometimes inexplicable events.

How was <em>Below</em> received by critics?

The series received generally positive reviews from television critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 87% approval rating based on 45 reviews, with the consensus noting it uses classic creature feature tropes effectively. On Metacritic, it achieved a score of 70 out of 100, indicating generally favourable reviews. Critics praised the series for its suspenseful pacing, strong performances, and atmospheric use of its Newfoundland setting.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.