Netflix’s Below: Josh Hartnett Faces a Terrifying Mystery Beneath the Waves

For decades, the ocean has represented one of humanity’s deepest fears. It is vast, unpredictable, and filled with mysteries that remain unexplored. From the legendary terror created by Jaws to modern survival thrillers that turn nature itself into the enemy, filmmakers have long understood one simple truth: what we cannot see is often what scares us the most.

Now, Netflix is preparing to return audiences to those terrifying waters with Below, a six-part thriller starring Josh Hartnett that is already attracting attention after the release of its first teaser. The series immediately sparked comparisons to Steven Spielberg’s iconic shark thriller Jaws, not because it appears to be copying that classic formula, but because it understands the same basic fear — the horror of knowing something is moving beneath the surface, while having no idea when it will strike.

The first teaser wastes no time creating an atmosphere of unease. At the beginning, everything seems ordinary. A quiet coastal community. Calm waters. Familiar routines. Nothing suggests danger.

Then something changes.

A movement beneath the waves. A strange disturbance. A sense that the ocean is hiding something impossible to explain.

And suddenly, the water that once represented peace becomes the greatest threat imaginable.

Netflix’s upcoming thriller follows Calvin Penney, played by Josh Hartnett, a stubborn but compassionate fisherman living in a small Newfoundland community. For years, Calvin has carried the weight of unanswered questions surrounding his father’s mysterious death. The past has never truly disappeared, and the secrets surrounding his family have remained buried beneath the surface.

But when an unidentified creature begins appearing in the waters surrounding the town, Calvin’s life changes forever.

The danger is not only physical. The arrival of the mysterious sea creature forces the community to confront old wounds, hidden truths, and forgotten events that many people hoped would remain buried forever.

With his son Wade, portrayed by Charlie Heaton, facing increasing danger, Calvin must work alongside a visiting marine researcher, played by Mackenzie Davis, to uncover the truth behind the creature and find a way to protect everyone before it is too late.

What makes Below stand out is that it appears to be combining classic creature-feature suspense with a deeper emotional mystery. Instead of focusing only on survival, the series explores family relationships, generational trauma, and the secrets that can haunt a community for decades.

The creature itself remains largely hidden in the teaser, and that decision may be the key to the show’s terrifying appeal.

Rather than immediately revealing the monster, Netflix appears to understand that imagination can often be more frightening than the reality. A dark shape beneath the ocean. A sudden movement in the distance. A silence that feels unnatural.

Every moment creates the same question:

What is actually down there?

That slow-building tension is what made Jaws such a cultural phenomenon. The fear did not come only from seeing the shark. It came from waiting. From watching characters stare at the water and wondering when something would appear.

Below seems ready to explore that same psychological fear, but with a much larger mystery surrounding it.

The comparison to Jaws is already unavoidable, but the new Netflix series appears to be taking the concept in a different direction. While Jaws focused on a predator threatening a summer beach town, Below seems to combine supernatural suspense, family drama, and a mystery that stretches back generations.

The ocean is not simply the location of the story.

It may be the source of the secrets.

Josh Hartnett’s involvement adds another layer of excitement to the project. After years of impressive performances across film and television, Hartnett has become known for choosing complex characters who are often carrying emotional burdens beneath the surface.

His role as Calvin Penney appears to continue that pattern.

Rather than playing a traditional action hero, Hartnett seems to portray a man dealing with regret, unresolved grief, and the responsibility of protecting the people he loves. The creature may be the visible threat, but Calvin’s personal history appears to be just as important to the story.

The supporting cast also brings significant attention to the series.

Charlie Heaton, known for his role in Stranger Things, joins Hartnett as Wade, Calvin’s son. Their relationship appears to be central to the emotional foundation of the thriller, especially as the growing danger forces them to confront issues they may have avoided for years.

Mackenzie Davis takes on the role of a marine researcher who arrives with scientific knowledge that may help explain the impossible events happening in the water. Her character could become the bridge between the world of science and the terrifying unknown.

The series also features Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, Rohan Campbell, and Willow Kean, adding to the ensemble of characters caught in the growing mystery.

Behind the scenes, Below comes from creator and showrunner Jesse McKeown, who serves as executive producer alongside Josh Hartnett. Jessica Rhoades also executive produces through Pacesetter, with additional producers including Chris Hatcher, Jamie Childs, Louise Sutton, and Sharon Hall.

The production has also benefited from filming in Newfoundland, Canada — a location known for its dramatic coastlines, remote landscapes, and unpredictable waters.

That setting could become one of the series’ greatest strengths.

Unlike many fictional coastal thrillers that rely on artificial environments, Below appears to use the isolation and natural beauty of Newfoundland to create a more realistic sense of danger. The endless ocean, rocky shorelines, and small-town atmosphere provide the perfect backdrop for a story about something unknown hiding just beyond human reach.

The teaser’s greatest success is how effectively it creates fear without revealing too much.

There is no need for constant action.

There is no need for endless monster shots.

Instead, the series builds suspense through atmosphere.

A quiet ocean.

A strange sound.

A community realizing something is wrong.

A man forced to face a danger connected to both his future and his past.

That approach has already generated excitement among thriller fans who are looking for something beyond a simple creature attack story.

The six-episode format could also allow Below to explore its mystery in a way that a traditional movie cannot. With more time, the series can develop its characters, reveal clues slowly, and create a larger mythology around the creature and the secrets surrounding the town.

The biggest question remains unanswered:

What exactly is beneath the water?

Netflix has intentionally kept many details hidden, allowing speculation to grow. Is the creature a previously unknown species? Something connected to local legends? Or is there a darker explanation waiting to be uncovered?

Whatever the answer may be, the series appears determined to make audiences fear the ocean again.

For many viewers, the most frightening part of the teaser is not what appears.

It is what does not.

The empty water.

The unexplained movement.

The feeling that something is watching from below.

Those small details are enough to create the same uncomfortable feeling that made generations afraid to enter the sea after watching Jaws.

But Below appears to be more than a creature thriller. At its heart, it is a story about family, memory, and the consequences of secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

Calvin Penney is not simply fighting a monster.

He is confronting everything his community has tried to forget.

And as the waters around Newfoundland grow more dangerous, one terrifying possibility becomes impossible to ignore:

The greatest threat may have been waiting beneath the surface all along.

Below will make its world premiere during the Primetime program at the Toronto International Film Festival 2026 on September 10 before arriving on Netflix on October 8.

Six episodes.

One mysterious creature.

A community surrounded by secrets.

And an ocean that may never look safe again.