Below Review
Below is Netflix’s go at a “What if Jaws but…” type of story set in Newfoundland starring Josh Hartnett that starts off with a promising hook and closes with a hole-y, disappointing end.
Below, a new drama/horror series available on Netflix, follows the story of Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett), a man haunted by his family's past. The town of Snook's Arm, where Calvin lives, is suddenly confronted with a mysterious sea threat. The series draws comparisons to Widow's Bay, another show from the same year that explored similar themes.
Hartnett's portrayal of Calvin in a thick Newfoundland accent is one of the show's strongest points. However, the six-episode series struggles to maintain its momentum in the final third, tying up the story in a messy and sometimes ridiculous manner. Hartnett's performance is commendable, but he struggles to carry the weight of the series, especially during the weaker episodes.
The show briefly touches on themes like climate change and capitalism, but it fails to delve deeper into these subjects, instead providing broad gestures and superficial commentary. The first half of Below is relatively solid, but the back half fails to live up to the promising hook set up in the beginning. While the series attempts to blend elements of science and mysticism to explain the mysterious occurrences, it ultimately relies on a more scientific explanation or the greed of capitalism to provide answers.
Overall, Below tries to tackle complex themes, but fails to deliver a satisfying and well-rounded narrative.
Written by urgent.news from IGN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
