Netflix’s ‘Below’ Isn’t Based on a Book, But Its Sea Monster Has Real Newfoundland Roots
When a creature thriller starring Josh Hartnett lands on Netflix, the first question is usually whether it comes from a novel, a comic or a true story. With Netflix’s ‘Below‘, the answer is a little more interesting than a simple yes or no. The series is listed as an original production rather than an adaptation.
That does not mean it was cooked up from nothing. Netflix’s ‘Below’ pulls from real places, real history and local legend, and the people making it say so loudly. Here is what the show is built on, who is in it and when you can dive in.
Is ‘Below’ an Original Story on Netflix
Creator Jesse McKeown was clear about the show’s origins when he spoke with CTV News around the festival premiere. He said the series is “not based on anything else” and described it as entirely his own thing. That is a big deal for him, since it is his first time serving as showrunner on a series he created.
McKeown is not new to genre television, though. He previously worked on ‘The Sinner’ and ‘The Umbrella Academy’. He recently served as co showrunner on the fourth season of the latter.
The writing team has some horror credentials too. The series is written by Karen Walton of ‘Orphan Black’, Perry Chafe of ‘Saint-Pierre’ and Natty Zavitz of ‘Edging’. One early reviewer noted that the writers behind the show include the author of the original ‘Ginger Snaps’, and that the project is not a horror copy and paste job.
Newfoundland Folklore Behind the Sea Monster
The strangest detail in the show turns out to be real. In an interview with What’s on Netflix, McKeown confirmed that the flamingo element is true, and that a flamingo once turned up in Newfoundland, was shot by a random person and now sits in a museum called The Rooms. He added that the material draws from Newfoundland history and folklore that has existed for a long time.
The supernatural elements sit on top of very grounded concerns. The series falls into a sub genre called North Atlantic noir and touches on communities losing their livelihoods, climate change and family displacement. In other words, the monster is scary, but so is the idea of a way of life disappearing.
That mix gives the story a different flavor from a standard monster of the week setup. One early review described it as playing like a fun campfire story, a tall tale told in a part of the world audiences rarely see on screen. Some outlets have also compared the tone to a blend of ‘Jaws’ and supernatural horror set in an isolated fishing community.
The ‘Below’ Cast and Who They Play
At the center is Hartnett as Calvin Penney. Netflix describes him as a big hearted but stubborn fisherman who is still struggling to come to terms with his father’s unexplained death decades earlier. Hartnett has said he was hooked right away, noting that he read the first two scripts in less than an hour.
The supporting cast is full of familiar faces. Charlie Heaton, who played Jonathan Byers in ‘Stranger Things’, stars alongside Mackenzie Davis, whose credits include ‘The Martian’, ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and ‘Black Mirror’. Heaton plays Calvin’s son Wade, while Davis plays Fonda, a marine biologist who teams up with Calvin to uncover what lies beneath the water.
The ensemble does not stop there. Ruby Stokes and Rohan Campbell round out the Penney family as Mary and Jay, while Natasha Henstridge and Joshua Close fill out the rest of the cast. Kaleb Horn and Willow Kean are also part of the lineup.
‘Below’ Release Date and What to Expect
Fans do not have long to wait. All six episodes of ‘Below’ arrive on Netflix on Oct. 8. Each episode runs about 45 minutes. That makes it an easy binge for a single weekend.
The production also leaned hard into authenticity. The team skipped green screen and filmed scenes on Newfoundland’s actual ocean to capture the real life setting. Hartnett and Heaton also immersed themselves in the local culture, with Heaton spending time in bars outside the capital.
Critics who caught an early look seem intrigued. One preview argued that there is not enough original horror on Netflix and that ‘Below’ stands out because it feels reverent rather than recycled. If you have been craving a creature feature with real regional character, this one looks built for you, and we would love to hear whether you think a flamingo, a fisherman and a sea monster make the strangest perfect mix for a Newfoundland horror story.
