Nab your next Netflix obsession, hook line and sinker! From creator and showrunner Jesse McKeown, the aquatic horror-infused drama comes packed to the gills with an ensemble cast and a Newfoundland setting that’s utterly to die for. Weaving together dramatic tension, family dynamics, and a dash of sci-fi, Below nails that binge-worthy tone, and immediately sucks you into its vortex. This all-consuming mystery begs viewers to suit up and lock in for a vibrant six episodes.
The series opens during Newfoundland’s resettlement era, with families being moved from isolated fishing communities into larger towns. Forty years ago, Calvin’s father was pulled down into the waters along with their home while being rehoused. His death was ruled a tragic accident, but there may be more to chip away at under the surface. When an enormous iceberg appears off the coast of Snook’s Arm, their quaint fishing island, Calvin (Josh Hartnett) becomes convinced it could be connected to unsolved questions that have plagued him since childhood.
To call the Penney family unit disjointed would be an understatement. Calvin, still haunted by what happened to his father, is extra protective over his son, Wade (Charlie Heaton). He forbids Wade from embarking on fishing expeditions. Calvin’s other children come home for the season, and each of them come with their own set of eccentricities. Jay, played by Rohan Campbell, owes some dangerous men quite a lot of money: $80,000, to be exact. Pary (Ruby Stokes), on the other hand, brings home her hopeful boyfriend Noah (Kaleb Horn), who plans to propose. Calvin’s sister, Ruth (Willow Kean), remains working in town, despite the signs pointing her toward relocation. The Penneys feel like a real family rather than characters assembled around a monster plot, and Newfoundland gives the series a distinct seaside feel. The gorgeous locale always adds to the atmosphere.
As a horror fanatic, it was difficult not to geek out over the two degrees of separation between Josh Hartnett and Rohan Campbell from their respective roles in Halloween sequels. The fact that they are playing father and son only emphasizes the longevity of one of horror’s most enduring slasher franchises. Josh Hartnett gives Calvin a grizzled warmth that makes him incredibly endearing, and his commitment to the Newfoundland accent is certainly enthusiastic. The accents throughout occasionally get wonky, but Hartnett makes his part of the show’s heightened local flavor incredibly charming. Rohan Campbell also commits hard to the accent, and even when the dialect work gets a little questionable amongst some players, it remains enormously entertaining. Jay’s subplot initially feels disconnected from the monster story before colliding with it in spectacular fashion. He may secretly be the funniest Penney.
The other two major characters of interest are Dr. Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis) and Wade. Wade’s larger story directly relates to his relationship with Calvin. Having spent his life living beneath the weight of a tragedy that happened before he was born, Calvin’s refusal to let Wade onto boats directly reflects a fear of losing another person to the ocean. When Wade finds himself in harm’s way, his blossoming condition may be key to understanding the giant iceberg. Fonda, meanwhile, acts as a scientific counterbalance to Calvin. Where Calvin approaches the ocean through his generational knowledge, Fonda hunts for evidence. Their partnership allows the show to continually contrast folklore against science without necessarily declaring either worldview completely correct. Resisting the need to push Fonda and Calvin into a conventional romance, Below makes a few surprising detours.
McKeown’s writing immediately sucks you into its central mystery. The opening episodes have an eerie horror atmosphere, and the Penneys make for a genuinely lovable central family. The six-episode structure keeps things moving quickly, although the back half becomes more interested in explaining its mythology over sustaining the build of its cosmic dread. The trajectory of the episodes sputters out slightly, specifically in the finale that lacks proper fireworks. Still, the ensemble cast and their bond make this one feel special. Below doesn’t entirely fulfill the cosmic-horror promise of its opening episodes, but there’s still plenty to fish for. Seconds, perhaps?
Thaw out the debut season of limited series, Below, now squirming onto Netflix worldwide.
