Netflix's new drama/horror series Below, streaming now, positions itself as a sea-faring tale set in a remote Newfoundland town facing a mysterious oceanic threat. While starring Josh Hartnett, a performer currently experiencing a career upswing, the six-episode series struggles to distinguish itself and ultimately falters in its latter half.
Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a man haunted by a childhood trauma involving his family's forced resettlement and a mysterious event at sea that claimed his father. The incident, set in 1986, saw Calvin witness a colossal, unidentifiable 'eye' in the water as his family's home was submerged. Forty years later, Calvin remains in Snook's Arm, a widow making a living harvesting iceberg fragments. The town's economy is largely controlled by the Crocker family, who also own Calvin's boat and have investments in the local Ocean Science Center, where researcher Dr. Fonda Howander studies unusual marine phenomena.
The series touches on themes of climate change and capitalism, symbolized by the iceberg's arrival and the town's precarious economic state. Initially, Below presents a compelling mystery: the iceberg's ice is somehow corrupted, and people and animals begin dying near the water, hinting at a presence lurking beneath the surface. The show skillfully allows for speculation, allowing viewers to consider supernatural or scientific explanations before leaning towards marine zoobiology and human greed.
Below unfolds during a 'Come Home Year,' drawing back scattered residents. Calvin's relationships with his son Wade, whom he lives with, and his two adult children, Mary and Jay, who have returned from the city, form a significant part of the narrative. The dynamic between Hartnett and Charlie Heaton, who plays Wade, is highlighted as one of the series' strongest elements.
However, the series takes a sharp turn in its fourth episode, leading to a rushed conclusion. While some questions are answered, the resolutions are largely unsatisfying, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete. The initial promise of the series' first half, which effectively built suspense, gives way to a muddled and anticlimactic resolution, ultimately leaving the audience with a sense of disappointment.