Is Below on Netflix Good? Critics Weigh In on Josh Hartnett's Monster Series
Critics mostly say Josh Hartnett's six-episode Netflix creature horror Below is worth a watch, though some find its story stretched thin and its accents divisive.
Josh Hartnett's new Netflix series Below is drawing a mostly positive response from critics, which explains the surge in searches asking whether it is worth watching. The short version: most reviewers recommend it as a creature feature with atmosphere, though several think it runs out of steam.
Key facts
- Below is a six-episode Netflix limited series starring Josh Hartnett as Newfoundland fisherman Calvin Penney.
- Rotten Tomatoes' first-reviews roundup calls it a monster horror "worth watching."
- Critics praise the setting, cinematography and Hartnett; complaints focus on pacing, accents and padded plot.
- Slate describes it as Netflix's new No. 1 show.
What Below is about
The series opens with a scene based on real history. In the 1960s, the Canadian government paid Newfoundlanders in remote villages to move to larger towns, and some houses were towed across the water. In Below, a family doing this sees something rise from the deep, and young Calvin cuts the tow rope as his father is trapped in the sinking house.
In the present day, Calvin (Hartnett) lives in the town of Snook's Arm with his youngest son Wade, played by Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton. Calvin fishes for icebergs to sell to a local vodka distillery. When a buyer rejects one as impure, a scientist friend, played by Mackenzie Davis, retests it and finds something odd.
From there, Slate says, the show becomes part climate fiction, part creature feature and part family story, as Calvin's other children come home.
What critics are saying
Rotten Tomatoes says most critics agree the show brings a fresh thrill to the genre and offers pointed commentary on resettlement and climate change. Variety called it "a captivating ride" that centers the climate crisis. RogerEbert.com praised its lush, eerie cinematography and the performances of Hartnett and Heaton.
The Hollywood Reporter said the series "charges along" on solid set pieces, a few twists and a score by Mark Korven. Decider liked Hartnett's "charmingly ragged" performance and the supporting cast.
Not everyone is sold. The Age found the first half the most intriguing before promising elements, including David Wenham's shadowy researcher, fail to thrill. Fish Jelly Film Reviews felt the idea would suit a 90-minute film better than six episodes. Another review quoted by Rotten Tomatoes argued that weaker plot elements and extra side characters were added to fill the runtime.
The accent debate
Accents are the most divisive point. Rotten Tomatoes notes that some critics disapprove of Hartnett's Newfoundland accent. Slate reports that commenters on the r/newfoundland subreddit found the accents passable, though Hartnett's least so, and some sounded "too Irish." Slate's critic still enjoyed the dialect and suggests most viewers will need subtitles.
How it compares to Widow's Bay
Headlines have compared Below to Widow's Bay. Slate says Below is no Widow's Bay, which it calls singular, and finds Hartnett's Calvin more standard-issue. It still says Below is a lot of fun.
What it means for you
If you like creature horror with a moody coastal setting, critics suggest Below is a reasonable pick for spooky season. Expect a stronger first half and some stretched plotting later. If accents distract you, turn on subtitles. At six episodes, it is a short commitment.
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Quick answers
Is Below worth watching?
According to Rotten Tomatoes' roundup of first reviews, most critics say yes, with caveats about pacing and a weaker second half.
Who stars in Below?
Josh Hartnett leads, with Mackenzie Davis, Natasha Henstridge, Joshua Close and Charlie Heaton, plus David Wenham as a researcher.
Where was Below filmed?
Slate says the fictional town of Snook's Arm is played by Brigus South, a real town in Newfoundland.
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