Netflix’s Below opens with the ingredients of an addictive coastal mystery: an isolated Newfoundland fishing town, a troubled family, a strange threat beneath the water, and a community fighting to keep its home. But some early reviews suggest the series’ biggest challenge is sustaining that opening momentum. The show’s mix of creature horror, family drama, local humor, and climate anxiety gives it a distinctive identity—while also creating competing storylines that do not always build toward the same payoff.
The criticism is not simply that Below is slow. Its first episodes establish a compelling setting and several mysteries, but the story later asks viewers to invest in monster mythology, a threatened fishing economy, family conflict, corporate pressure, and environmental themes at once. For some viewers, that ambition makes the series richer; for others, it makes the central threat feel less focused.
Why Below’s opening works so well
The show’s strongest early asset is its setting. Snook’s Arm is presented as a close-knit Newfoundland fishing community facing a difficult future even before the sea begins delivering its horrors. Calvin Penney, played by Hartnett, is not a conventional action hero: he is a local fisherman carrying old grief and trying to keep his family connected while the town’s way of life comes under pressure.
That grounding matters. The coastline, boats, fishing gear, and strained local relationships give the supernatural story something tangible to threaten. Netflix’s official interview with Hartnett notes that the actor spent time with local fishermen, learned to tie fishing nets, listened to a Newfoundland radio show, and worked with local actors to understand the region’s history and dialect.
The result is a first impression built on atmosphere rather than constant jump scares. The ocean feels vast and unpredictable, while the town’s economic uncertainty makes the danger personal. Viewers who like slow-burn horror have plenty to latch onto in these early episodes.
Where the momentum begins to slip
The central question for a creature thriller is simple: what is happening, why does it matter, and what will the characters do next? Below keeps widening that question. The mystery beneath the water is linked to the town’s past, its future, the Penney family’s trauma, and a larger dispute over whether residents should leave their land.
Those threads can complement one another, but they also compete for screen time. When a scene moves from creature suspense to family tension and then to town politics, the shift may feel layered—or it may interrupt the forward pull that brought viewers to the show in the first place.
Reviews reflect that divide in tone. The Guardian’s review found the series’ horror, comedy, and environmental ambitions unevenly balanced, arguing that the more outrageous creature elements often overwhelm its ecological ideas. The Daily Beast was also critical of the execution, describing a promising premise that loses its way as the story develops. Those are critical judgments, not proof that every audience member reacts the same way, but they help explain why the show can be divisive.
The monster is not the only story—and that may be the problem
On paper, Below has more than one source of horror. There is the creature in the water, but there is also the fear of losing a home, the collapse of a traditional livelihood, and the possibility that powerful outsiders can decide a community’s fate. The environmental theme is woven into the story rather than confined to a speech about climate change.
That thematic depth is one reason the series may work for viewers who enjoy stories about place and community as much as monster action. But it can frustrate viewers expecting a tightly paced survival thriller. Every added layer needs to sharpen the main conflict. If a subplot feels like a detour, suspense can drain away even when the underlying idea is strong.
The same tension applies to the show’s humor. Newfoundland’s eccentric characters and local rhythms give the series personality, but tonal shifts can make a frightening sequence feel less urgent. Some viewers will welcome the strange blend; others may prefer the series to commit more firmly to horror.
What Josh Hartnett brings to the series
Hartnett gives Calvin a guarded, weathered presence that fits a man shaped by work, family responsibility, and old loss. His performance helps connect the supernatural premise to ordinary stakes: the safety of his children and the survival of the community he knows.
His preparation also contributes to the show’s sense of place. In the official Tudum interview, Hartnett describes learning from local people and hearing firsthand accounts of Newfoundland’s fishing history. That background makes Calvin more than a generic fisherman facing a generic sea monster.
Still, a strong lead performance cannot solve every structural issue. If the story’s middle stretch feels crowded or the creature’s threat becomes less immediate, the character work may keep viewers invested without fully restoring the momentum of the opening.
Watch the official Below trailer
The trailer captures the show’s core appeal: a remote coastal community, a family under pressure, and a mystery that seems to be rising from the ocean itself.
Is Below worth finishing if it loses momentum?
If the opening hooked you with its isolated setting, family drama, and slow-building mystery, there is a reasonable case for continuing: the show is trying to connect its creature story to the fate of a real kind of community, not just deliver a sequence of scares. If you primarily want escalating suspense and a clearly focused monster plot, the later shifts between horror, humor, and social commentary may be less satisfying.
The most useful way to understand the mixed reaction is not that Below suddenly becomes a different show. Rather, it keeps asking viewers to care about several different kinds of danger. Whether that feels ambitious or unfocused depends on which part of the opening drew you in.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some viewers say Below starts strong but loses them?
Some reviews argue that the series’ creature horror, family drama, comedy, and environmental themes do not always work together smoothly. That can make the middle episodes feel less focused than the atmospheric opening.
Is Below a slow-burn horror series?
Yes, it uses a gradual build, local history, and community tensions alongside its supernatural threat. Viewers looking for nonstop action may find its shifts in tone frustrating.
What is Below about?
The Netflix thriller follows Newfoundland fisherman Calvin Penney, played by Josh Hartnett, as a mysterious sea creature threatens his town and the community’s way of life.
Where can I watch Below?
Below is available through Netflix’s official series page.
Sources
- Netflix Tudum: Josh Hartnett interview
- The Guardian: Below review
- The Daily Beast: Below review
- Reuters: Below cast on Newfoundland and the show’s themes
By Shivam Das
