Forget 'Widow's Bay,' Netflix’s 6-Episode Horror Series Is the Perfect Replacement

Published Oct 15, 2026, 6:58 PM EDT Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Isolated locations are a time-honored setting for supernatural horror. While Apple TV's Widow’s Bay used those themes to create a darkly comedic story, Netflix's Below dives a little deeper. Created by Jesse McKeown, Below revolves around a tight-knit Newfoundland village that's forever changed when a massive iceberg drifts into the harbor, bringing a mysterious deep-sea threat along with it. Yet what's lurking in the water is only the surface of the story. Against an authentic backdrop, Below turns a suspenseful creature mystery into a profoundly resonant narrative about grief, legacy, and community. What Is 'Below' About? Newfoundland fisherman Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett) has been haunted by the traumatic death of his father for decades after his family was forced to relocate from their home in Little Pot Rock. Now a father himself, Cal attempts to keep his family safe as he teams up with marine biologist Dr. Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis) to investigate strange events occurring offshore. Although the terror of what lurks underwater is an entry point, Below also tackles bigger themes of generational strain, climate crisis, and corporate exploitation through forced resettlement. The six-episode thriller draws you in with an incredibly terrifying premise as locals and outsiders come together to defeat a dangerous entity that might not even be the creature itself. Below's creature serves as both a literal and psychological manifestation of the inability to let go. When Calvin's family was forced to pick up and move their home, he had to make the impossible choice to save his mother and sister by severing the towline that connected them to both the house and his father. In that same moment, his encounter with a giant creature beneath the surface changes him forever. With the behemoth's resurgence, Calvin realizes he can't pass on that same curse to the next generation, especially his eldest son, Wade (Charlie Heaton), who remains in Snook's Arm. But what if Calvin and the creature that shares a strange connection to his family are more similar than he realizes? Below successfully balances profound themes with horror twists through two aspects: atmospheric dread and an immersive sense of place. The show's best moments come from the terrified locals of Snook's Arm fighting for survival while trying to hold onto their time-honored traditions and future possibilities. Whether it's watching the town's ice supply take a dangerous psychological and physical toll or a deep-diving submersible coming face to face with the underwater threat, Below maintains a near-perfect sense of tension throughout. 'Below's Greatest Asset Is Its Authenticity A strong setting can help a horror series cross the finish line. In Below, Snook’s Arm feels like a genuine tight-knit community because it's an actual place. McKeown revealed before the series premiere that his own visit to Newfoundland inspired the story, which was born out of real love for the province. “It’s such a unique landscape and so rugged, dangerous, isolated, and scary in a lot of ways. But then there’s also this other side to it — the community is so warm, and the people are so funny, and there are many eccentricities about the place.” As he went on to tell Variety, "We wanted it to feel as real as possible. Newfoundland made that easy because you could just do it. We were on open water. We were out on the island." Below's team surrounded themselves with the culture to capture Newfoundland's true essence onscreen, even supplementing the cast with real locals to strengthen the story. Any newcomers to Snook's Arm like Noah (Kaleb Horn), Calvin's daughter Mary's (Ruby Stokes) boyfriend, will most certainly be required to kiss the fish, successfully balancing even the darkest moments with levity and heart. If you enjoyed the thematically weighty island horror of Midnight Mass and became hooked on the supernatural mythology of Widow’s Bay, binging Below will complete the trifecta. Once you dip your toes in, you’ll be stuck watching until the credits roll on the finale. Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Jesse McKeown Directors Jamie Childs, Stephen Dunn, Helen Shaver Writers Perry Chafe, Jesse McKeown, Karen Walton, Natty Zavitz