Netflix has released a new six-episode thriller titled Below, set in the small coastal community of Snook’s Arm in Newfoundland, Canada. The series centers on a mysterious sea creature that terrorizes the town’s residents, disrupting their fragile existence and stirring up old traumas.

The story follows Calvin Penney, played by Josh Hartnett, an unemployed widower and fisherman whose life has been marked by the loss of his own father to the ocean four decades earlier. A flashback early in the series shows Calvin’s family attempting to relocate their house by boat as part of a government resettlement program, only for the house to be dragged underwater by an unseen force, taking his father with it.

In the present day, strange phenomena begin unfolding in the waters off Snook’s Arm when Calvin discovers a “frozen mucous membrane” while working for an ice-harvesting business, initially mistaking it for a small iceberg. The substance, however, is linked to the sea monster lurking beneath the surface. As signs of the creature's presence intensify—including the gruesome return of a local fisherman missing half of his body—Calvin and his family confront the danger anew, confronting painful memories and present threats.

Calvin’s son Wade, portrayed by Charlie Heaton, adds dynamic energy to the narrative as he challenges the notion of a generational curse tied to the ocean. The series incorporates elements of local folklore, including references to sea hags, while portraying the community's efforts to cope with both the monster and the larger economic hardships facing the region.

While Below features many of the hallmarks of a classic creature feature—capsizing boats, disappearances, and suspenseful encounters with the unknown—the show also engages with broader environmental themes. The arrival of the “bad ice” and the creature itself serve as metaphorical elements hinting at ecological disruption, with the show’s creators incorporating an eco-thriller dimension uncommon for the genre. The arrival of scientist Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis, underscores this angle as she investigates the marine anomalies tied to the unfolding crisis.

Critics have noted the series’ distinctive setting, rugged characters, and atmospheric tensions, though opinions vary on aspects such as the authenticity of accents and the narrative’s ultimate cohesion. The local community is depicted as a weathered but tight-knit group, grappling with economic decline and their own fears, adding depth beyond the monster’s physical threat.

Below attempts to balance suspense, horror, and environmental caution, offering viewers a compact thriller rooted in Newfoundland’s maritime culture. Across its six episodes, it explores themes of loss, survival, and the intersection of human and natural worlds amid mounting unease beneath the waves.