'Below' Review: Josh Hartnett Anchors an Entertaining Creature Feature
By Romey Norton - October 8, 2026
There is something rather satisfying about watching an actor rediscover the sort of roles that remind audiences why they became stars in the first place. Josh Hartnett has had a particularly interesting few years, appearing in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer before stepping into the very different world of M. Night Shyamalan's Trap. Now, with Netflix's Below, he finds himself battling something considerably less human: a mysterious creature lurking beneath the waters of Newfoundland. And I have to admit, I am rather enjoying this Hartnett comeback.
I remember Hartnett as one of those actors who seemed destined to dominate the big screen. From The Faculty and Pearl Harbor to Black Hawk Down and 30 Days of Night, he moved comfortably between blockbuster filmmaking and darker genre material before stepping away from the Hollywood spotlight for a while. His appearance in Oppenheimer was a particularly welcome reminder of what he could do with the right material, while Trap allowed him to lead a much more playful thriller. Below feels like another smart choice because it allows him to carry a story without requiring him to behave like a traditional action hero.
What is Below about?
In this six-part limited series, Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a stubborn but big-hearted fisherman living in a small Newfoundland community. He is also a single father dealing with a fractured family and the lingering mystery surrounding his father's death. When a strange sea creature (a giant squid and even bigger iceberg) begins terrorising the town, Calvin has considerably more to worry about than his fishing prospects.
It’s rich in backstory, rich in detail, and rich in performances, this series is a creature comfort you’ll revisit time and again. What I like about Below is that it doesn't immediately throw the monster into every available scene. The threat is much more effective when it remains hidden. There is something particularly unnerving about looking out across a vast stretch of water and knowing that something could be beneath it without being able to see exactly what it is. The landscape feels remote, rugged and genuinely isolated, which gives the series an atmosphere that would be difficult to manufacture somewhere more familiar.
Calvin isn't some slick monster hunter who suddenly discovers he has a talent for killing sea creatures. He is a local man with responsibilities, regrets, and a family to protect. And Hartnett plays this loving man wanting to be more than he is very convincingly. He’s always a delight to watch and has chemistry with everyone he shares a scene with.
Mackenzie Davis is also a strong addition as Fonda Howander, a marine researcher who becomes involved in investigating what is happening beneath the water. The partnership between Calvin and Fonda gives the series an entertaining dynamic, particularly because they approach the mystery from very different directions. It’s refreshing the series hasn’t opted for a love story beneath the two - their purpose is a lot bigger than romance. Charlie Heaton has swapped one monster fighting character for another, as he plays Calvin's son Wade, adding another layer to the family's already complicated situation. He plays Wade with a vulnerability and charm, and surprisingly rises to the occasion when you might doubt him. I did think his character would be the first to die - it’s nice to be proven wrong.
There is humour here too, which I didn’t see coming but appreciated. Below isn't relentlessly grim, and that helps prevent six episodes of sea-monster mystery from becoming one long exercise in staring nervously at the ocean. The series cares about the community as much as its creature, exploring family, tradition and a way of life that is gradually disappearing. I enjoyed the series building an actual world rather than parading the creature in front of the camera every ten minutes. This is where a series can add depth, and where creature features can feel far too far-fetched.
The series, like many involving water, delves into themes around climate change, and the science behind the reasons why the creature is attacking, will make you question who the real ‘monster’ is by the end of the series.
Below is an entertaining limited series, where the ocean is vast, the community is isolated and something very unpleasant appears to be living beneath the surface. That is more than enough to keep you watching. It may occasionally spend too long on the land when I am desperate to know what is happening below it, but Hartnett anchors the series well and the Newfoundland setting gives the story a distinctive personality. For any fans of creature features, drama’s and series with a surprising amount of heart, Below is a must-watch!
All six episodes of 'Below' are available to watch on Netflix, following its release on October 8, 2026.
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Romey Norton
Senior Writer
Romey is a senior writer for Film Focus Online, covering the latest film reviews, news, features and interviews, with a passion for all things cinema.
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