Forget ‘Widow’s Bay,’ Netflix’s 6-Episode Horror Series Is the Perfect Replacement
Netflix’s six-episode horror series *Below* uses a mysterious threat beneath the water to tell a broader story about grief, family and community. Set in a Newfoundland fishing village, it explores how past trauma and forced resettlement shape the next generation, while also touching on climate change and corporate exploitation.
Fisherman Calvin Penney, played by Josh Hartnett, investigates strange offshore events with marine biologist Dr Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis. A giant iceberg brings the threat to the harbour, reviving Calvin’s memories of his father’s death and the family’s relocation; Charlie Heaton plays Calvin’s son Wade. The series was filmed in Newfoundland, drawing on local landscapes, fishing culture and community, and features real residents alongside the cast.
- An iceberg brings a mysterious threat to a Newfoundland village.
- Calvin’s family history ties him to the danger offshore.
- The six-episode series blends horror with themes of grief and community.
New here? Start with this
Newfoundland is an island on Canada’s Atlantic coast, where many communities have long relied on fishing and the sea. Some residents were forced to leave their homes when villages were resettled, a history that can shape family memories and ties to place.
In Below, fisherman Calvin Penney and marine biologist Dr Fonda Howander investigate strange events offshore. The threat beneath the water connects the village’s present to Calvin’s memories of his father and his family’s relocation, while his son Wade represents the next generation.
The story also touches on grief, climate change and companies’ use of local resources. Filming in Newfoundland, with local residents and landscapes, links the series to the fishing culture and communities it portrays.