Netflix Drops ‘Below’ Trailer Ahead of October Release Josh Hartnett Faces Sea Monster

Josh Hartnett has been quietly crafting an intriguing late-career trajectory in Hollywood, moving between prestigious projects like ‘Oppenheimer’ and genre films such as M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap.’ After a relatively subdued period, the actor is preparing for a busy fall filled with high-profile releases across various platforms.

Before Hartnett hits theaters for the Colleen Hoover adaptation ‘Verity’ alongside Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, he’s diving into the chilling waters of Newfoundland for a much darker and unsettling project. The full trailer for this series has now been released, providing fans with their clearest glimpse yet of what to expect.

The series is ‘Below,’ a six-episode limited thriller set to premiere on Netflix on October 8. Fans of the genre are already calling it a spiritual successor to the atmospheric, creature-driven horror popularized by filmmakers like John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg. Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a “big-hearted but stubborn” fisherman haunted by his father’s mysterious death from years ago. His quiet life is disrupted when an unidentified sea creature starts terrorizing his small coastal town.

Determined to protect his son Wade, portrayed by ‘Stranger Things’ actor Charlie Heaton, and the rest of his fractured family, Calvin teams up with visiting marine researcher Fonda, played by Mackenzie Davis. Together, they confront the creature and uncover the island’s buried secrets before it’s too late. The supporting cast features Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, Rohan Campbell, and Willow Kean, rounding out the increasingly panicked community.

Hartnett has shared what initially attracted him to the project. “I read the first two scripts so quickly, in less than an hour,” Hartnett told Netflix’s Tudum. “The voice was so clear, the concept was so engaging, and the character was fantastic. I’d never read anything like it before.”

Davis echoed that excitement while discussing her experience filming alongside Hartnett. “Josh and I were like two buddy cops solving a mystery,” Davis said. “I’ve never done that in anything else… I like being in that world so much.” She noted that she specifically seeks out projects that blend humor, scares, and genuine intelligence, calling that combination “rarer than you might think.”

The choice of Newfoundland as the setting was intentional. Creator and showrunner Jesse McKeown, known for his work on ‘The Umbrella Academy,’ explained that the location holds personal significance for him, describing years of visiting the area and being captivated by its striking contrast between rugged isolation and the warmth of its people.

This blend of tone is reflected in the show’s premise as well, with Netflix describing it as a suspenseful mystery rooted in family drama rather than a straightforward supernatural creature feature, despite the ominous marketing surrounding its underwater threat. The series was filmed on location in St. John’s, Newfoundland, providing an authentic backdrop that several early reviewers have already likened to the small-town dread of Apple TV’s ‘Widow’s Bay.’

Before ‘Below’ makes its Netflix debut, the series will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, giving early audiences the first opportunity to see how Hartnett’s latest genre venture plays out on the big screen. With McKeown’s genre experience, a cast filled with recognizable young talent, and Hartnett fully committed as both star and executive producer, ‘Below’ is shaping up to be one of Netflix’s more ambitious attempts at prestige horror this fall.

Given the streamer’s recent success with limited genre series attracting massive viewership, ‘Below’ has the potential to become another word-of-mouth hit when it finally arrives this October.

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