Below review roundup: Josh Hartnett's Newfoundland sea-creature thriller is a hit that divides critics
Below is a six-episode Netflix thriller in which Josh Hartnett plays a Newfoundland fisherman who realises something is wrong in the water. Critics mostly enjoyed its setting, cast and slow-burn suspense, but many felt the second half does not pay off its mysteries.
The story (no spoilers)
In 1986, nine-year-old Calvin Penney and his family tow their house by boat from one remote Newfoundland outport to another, and the crossing ends in a tragedy that stays with him for the rest of his life.
Forty years later, Calvin (Josh Hartnett) is a fisherman in Snook's Arm, a shrinking town where fishing is now largely banned and locals earn a living by harvesting floating ice. His grown children are home for a week-long visit and a new vote on paying everyone to leave the town is looming. When a buyer rejects his latest ice haul for its stench, Calvin turns to marine scientist Dr Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis). Soon neighbours begin acting strangely, and the two realise that something is very wrong in the water.
Where to watch or download
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The verdict
A good weekend binge if you like slow-burn creature features, small-town mysteries and strong performances. Critics agree the first three episodes are the strongest, so go in for the atmosphere and the characters rather than a satisfying puzzle. All six episodes are on Netflix now.
- 87%Rotten TomatoesTomatometer, 45 reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 70MetacriticMetascore, 17 critic reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 54%RT audiencePopcornmeter, 250+ ratings, 18 Oct 2026
What critics say
“Patient, involving, and far more emotionally grounded than its premise suggests, it's an unusually assured exercise in suspense that understands the value of restraint.”
“Deeply intriguing and at times terrifying, 'Below' is a perfectly paced thriller.”
“come together decently as a fast-moving, occasionally amusing, occasionally suspenseful story that's basically Come From Away meets Jaws”
“'Below' is a good enough time if you go in with low expectations and an open mind.”
“A relatively solid first half of episodes is done in by the back three that messily (and occasionally ridiculously) tie up a story that hasn't fully found its sea legs.”
What works
- Josh Hartnett and Mackenzie Davis anchor the story with committed, likeable performances.
- Restrained, slow-burn suspense that builds dread without relying on jump scares.
- A vivid, beautifully shot Newfoundland setting with a real sense of a community under threat.
- A tight six episodes makes it an easy binge.
What doesn't
- Several critics felt the last three episodes rush and fail to answer the mysteries satisfyingly.
- Some reviewers found its climate-change message heavy-handed.
- Hartnett's thick Newfoundland accent divided critics: a delight for some, a distraction for others.
Below arrived on Netflix on 8 October 2026 with all six episodes at once, after a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. It found an audience fast: TVLine, citing Deadline, reported 17 million views between 8 and 11 October, a record for a Canadian Netflix debut and more than any other English-language series that week.
What critics liked
The Playlist's Brian Farvour gave it an A-, praising its patience and restraint, and Variety's Aramide Tinubu called it a perfectly paced thriller that uses its sea creature to look at human nature and the climate crisis. RogerEbert.com went further, describing it as one of the year's best and most poignant series. Reviewers also enjoyed the setting: the show was filmed in Brigus South, Newfoundland, and critics describe a lived-in, close-knit community rather than a generic monster-movie backdrop.
Where it falls short
The most common complaint is the ending. IGN's Leanne Butkovic wrote that a solid first half is undone by three final episodes that tie the story up messily, and IndieWire's Ben Travers, who graded it C+, felt the series is caught between goofy thrills and meaningful drama. The Irish Independent thought the environmental message is sometimes pushed too hard. Audiences have been cooler than critics too, with a 54% Popcornmeter against an 87% Tomatometer.
The performances
Hartnett carries the show as Calvin, a man still haunted by the accident that shaped his childhood, and Mackenzie Davis gives its science a warm, grounded face. Hartnett's thick Newfoundland accent is the most talked-about choice: Variety called it a hilarious attempt, while IndieWire thought the accents were magnificent. Charlie Heaton, Ruby Stokes and Rohan Campbell round out the cast.
Should you watch?
If you like Jaws-style creature features with a strong sense of place, critics think Below is worth a weekend. The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg summed it up as a fast-moving story that is basically Come From Away meets Jaws. Just expect the journey to be more rewarding than the destination.
Sources
This roundup summarises the reviews and reporting below. Follow the links for the full pieces.
- Josh Hartnett Leads Netflix's Exhilarating Sea Monster Thriller 'Below': TV Review · Variety
- 'Below' review · The Hollywood Reporter
- 'Below' Review: Josh Hartnett & Mackenzie Davis Anchor Netflix's Impressively Tense, Slow-Burn Creature Feature · The Playlist
- 'Below' Review: Josh Hartnett's Silly Netflix Creature-Feature Is a Treat for the Eyes and Ears and Not Much Else · IndieWire
- Below Review · IGN
- Josh Hartnett's Netflix Horror Miniseries Is A Global Streaming Hit · TVLine
- Below: Limited Series · Rotten Tomatoes
- Below season 1 · Metacritic
ElysiumHub Screen Desk roundups summarise published reviews and reporting, and are written with AI assistance. Scores belong to the sites that publish them. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.