Netflix's new limited series "Below" has arrived, and the first reviews treat its premise the same way while disagreeing about its tone. Created by Jesse McKeown, the six-episode thriller stars Josh Hartnett as a man whose family and fading town are menaced by something large beneath the water. Variety called it exhilarating. The Hollywood Reporter settled on "likably silly."
The Setup
Both outlets describe a prologue set in 1986. A family is moving its entire house across the water, towing it behind a boat, when something goes wrong. According to Variety, young Calvin Penney, played by Azriel Dalman, has to cut the tow, and his father drowns as a result. The story then jumps ahead forty years, with Hartnett playing the adult Calvin.
Calvin lives in Snook's Arm, a community where fishing has dried up. Variety reports that he and his son Wade, played by Charlie Heaton, earn money by collecting ice for a vodka maker and by renting out part of their home. When the company rejects a batch of ice because of its smell, Calvin turns to Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis. Variety describes her as the head of a local science center, while The Hollywood Reporter calls her a marine zoologist.
The Hollywood Reporter adds a ticking clock. Residents rejected a buyout to relocate five years earlier, when closing the town required a 90 percent vote. A new vote needs only 75 percent, and it is gaining support. Calvin's family, in the outlet's reading, could tip the result. Meanwhile a reunion weekend is bringing Calvin's children, Mary (Ruby Stokes) and Jay (Rohan Campbell), back to town, and a huge iceberg appears in the harbor.
Two Readings of the Same Monster
Variety frames "Below" as a perfectly paced thriller that uses its creature to examine human nature and the climate crisis. The review singles out the fourth episode, "The Ocean Will Have Us All," for showing what people will sacrifice for selfish gain. It says the final minutes of that episode only make full sense in the fifth, "Little Pot Rock." The reviewer's one reservation is Hartnett's accent, which the review calls hilarious.
The Hollywood Reporter is more playful. It praises the opening scene as one of its favorite of the year and says the series never fully matches it. It describes the rest as a fast-moving, intermittently funny and suspenseful story, somewhere between "Come From Away" and "Jaws." That review also takes up the accent question at length. It allows that the cast's choices may be imperfect, but says it valued their commitment and the believable father-and-son pairing of Hartnett and Heaton.
The Hollywood Reporter singles out Stokes as a possible breakout and says Davis shines in moments of wonder. It also notes the presence of Natasha Henstridge and, arriving at midseason, David Wenham. The outlet reports that most episodes run roughly 40 minutes. Variety says each runs 45 minutes or less.
Why It Matters
The two reviews show a creature feature drawing on classic monster-movie structure while also being read as a story about a community facing decline. Both outlets point to climate change as part of that backdrop. The Hollywood Reporter says the town's struggles are relatable even to viewers unfamiliar with its setting. At six short episodes, the series asks for a modest time commitment from anyone curious to see which review fits better. "Below" is streaming now on Netflix, according to Variety.
Reporting sources: Variety, “Josh Hartnett Leads Netflix’s Exhilarating Sea Monster Thriller ‘Below’: TV Review” · The Hollywood Reporter, “‘Below’ Review: Josh Hartnett Battles a Sea Creature in Netflix’s Likably Silly Newfoundland-Set Thriller”.
