Something is lurking beneath the waters of Newfoundland, and Josh Hartnett is about to find out exactly what it wants. Netflix has released the official trailer and key art for Below, a new six-part thriller series starring Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, and Charlie Heaton. The series follows a Newfoundland fisherman who finds his community under attack from a mysterious sea creature. Check out the trailer in the embed above!
Below premieres October 8, exclusively on Netflix. The series is also set to make its world premiere as the Primetime Opening Night selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.
What Is Below About?
Below centers on Calvin Penney, a stubborn but big-hearted fisherman whose life has been shaped by tragedy. When a mysterious sea creature begins terrorizing his hometown, Calvin becomes determined to protect his family and the close-knit community he calls home. His investigation brings him together with marine researcher Fonda, and the two begin uncovering secrets connected to the island’s past.
Netflix’s official synopsis describes the series as a story about family, community, and a way of life facing terrifying change.
The main cast includes:
- Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney
- Mackenzie Davis as Fonda Howander
- Charlie Heaton as Wade Penney
- Ruby Stokes as Mary Penney
- Kaleb Horn as Noah
- Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney
- Willow Kean as Ruth Penney
Josh Hartnett Was Immediately Drawn to Below
Hartnett said he knew almost immediately that he wanted to play Calvin. Speaking with Netflix Tudum, the actor said:
“I read the first two scripts so quickly, in less than an hour. The voice was so clear, the concept was so engaging, and the character was fantastic. I’d never read anything like it before.”
Hartnett’s character isn’t simply a fisherman who happens to encounter a monster. Calvin is a man dealing with years of personal setbacks while trying to keep his fractured family together.
Below Was Inspired by Newfoundland
Creator and showrunner Jesse McKeown has a personal connection to Newfoundland, and the location was an important part of the show’s creation.
“It’s such a unique landscape and so rugged, dangerous, isolated, and scary in a lot of ways,” McKeown told Tudum. “But then there’s also this other side to it — the community is so warm, and the people are so funny, and there are many eccentricities about the place.”
The Cast Actually Filmed on the Water
One of the more interesting aspects of the production is that the cast didn’t spend the entire series pretending to be on the ocean in front of a green screen. The production filmed on location in Newfoundland, including scenes on the water. Heaton explained:
“We were out with the Coast Guard on the water, driving these boats, and I’m actually out in the ocean kayaking.”
The Stranger Things actor added that he had worked on practical locations before, but had never experienced anything quite like filming out on the ocean.
Netflix says the production chose to film in Newfoundland to capture the area’s landscape and culture.
Hartnett also immersed himself in the local culture while preparing for the role, while Heaton spent time meeting people in the area.
Mackenzie Davis Calls Below a Different Kind of Mystery
Davis plays Fonda Howander, the marine researcher who joins Calvin in investigating what is happening to the community. The actress described her relationship with Hartnett’s character as something resembling a buddy-cop partnership.
“Josh and I were like two buddy cops solving a mystery. I’ve never done that in anything else … I like being in that world so much.”
Davis also said Below combines several qualities she looks for in a series.
“Below is a show I’d want to watch. I want to watch shows that are funny and scary and smart and propulsive and have a brain behind them.”
Below Looks Like a Promising October Horror Binge
The combination of an isolated coastal setting, a mysterious creature, and a family struggling to survive gives Below plenty of horror potential. With Hartnett leading the cast and Stranger Things‘ Heaton joining him, Below could appeal to viewers looking for something that blends creature horror with a mystery-driven thriller.
There’s something creepy hiding beneath the water, and we’ll find out exactly what it is when Below arrives on Netflix October 8. Will you be watching? Take a look at the trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment.
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