Something terrifying is stirring beneath the waters of Newfoundland in BELOW, a new eight-episode Netflix limited series from Canadian writer and creator Jesse McKeown. Making its World Premiere at TIFF 2026, the suspenseful series combines family drama, small-town tensions and deep-sea horror against the rugged backdrop of Canada’s Atlantic coast.
Starring Josh Hartnett and Mackenzie Davis, Below explores what happens when a close-knit coastal community is confronted with something that may have been hiding beneath the ocean for far longer than anyone realizes.
Below
- Director: Jesse McKeown
- Starring: Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton, Rohan Campbell, Kaleb Horn, Willow Kean, Ruby Stokes
- Genre: Mystery
- Runtime: 45 mins
Plot
In a small coastal community in Newfoundland, life has always revolved around the sea.
For Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett), fishing and harvesting icebergs that drift into the bay aren’t simply ways of making a living. They are part of a family tradition that he hopes to preserve for his children.
But Calvin’s family is changing.
His children have followed increasingly different paths. Wade (Charlie Heaton) is struggling to find his direction; Mary (Ruby Stokes) is adventurous and independent; while Jay (Ruby Stokes) has returned home from Calgary after finding success with his business.
Their reunion takes place at an already uncertain moment for the community.
The local population is preparing to vote on a government relocation initiative that would offer residents money to leave the area. For some, the proposal represents a chance at a better life. For others, leaving their home is unimaginable.
Then something strange begins happening around the harbour.
Ice harvested from nearby waters begins giving off a mysterious and unpleasant odour, while two tourists seemingly disappear without explanation.
As concern spreads throughout the community, Calvin turns to Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis), a marine biologist who may be able to explain what is happening beneath the surface.
But investigating the strange occurrences also forces Calvin to confront parts of his own history, and suggests that the danger lurking in the water may be connected to the community in ways nobody expected.
A Newfoundland Setting Becomes Part of the Horror
One of the most intriguing aspects of BELOW is its setting.
Rather than placing its monster story in an anonymous coastal location, the series is deeply connected to Newfoundland’s maritime culture and landscape. The ocean is simultaneously the community’s livelihood, its history and its greatest source of mystery.
That gives the series an opportunity to build horror from something that is already an unavoidable part of everyday life.
Fishing boats, icebergs, isolated waters and a remote harbour become increasingly unsettling as the story develops. The very environment that sustains the community may also be hiding something monstrous.
Family Drama Meets Marine Horror
While BELOW has a strong creature-feature premise, the series isn’t simply about what’s lurking beneath the waves.
At its center is the Penney family and Calvin’s determination to keep his family connected to their home and traditions.
The different attitudes of his children reflect the larger conflict taking place throughout the community. Some residents want to remain where their families have lived for generations, while others see relocation as an opportunity to start again.
That conflict gives the supernatural mystery an emotional foundation. As the community debates whether its future belongs on the island, something from the surrounding waters appears determined to make that future even more uncertain.
The Cast of BELOW
The Netflix limited series features a strong Canadian and international cast.
Josh Hartnett as Calvin Penney
Hartnett stars as Calvin, a Newfoundland fisherman and family man deeply connected to his community and its traditions. The actor has recently appeared in projects including Trap and brings a grounded presence to the series’ central character.
Mackenzie Davis as Fonda Howander
Davis plays Fonda Howander, a marine biologist who becomes involved in investigating the mysterious events taking place around the harbour.
The role gives Davis an opportunity to return to the type of atmospheric genre storytelling audiences saw in Station Eleven.
Charlie Heaton as Wade Penney
Heaton portrays Calvin’s wayward son Wade, who is forced to reconsider his relationship with his family and hometown as strange events begin unfolding.
Ruby Stokes as Mary Penney
Stokes plays Mary, Calvin’s adventurous daughter, who is also caught between her family’s traditions and the possibility of a different future.
Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney
Campbell portrays Jay, an entrepreneurial member of the Penney family who returns home from Calgary.
Additional Cast
The series also stars:
- Kaleb Horn as Noah
- Ruby Stokes as Mary Penney
Jesse McKeown Creates BELOW
BELOW was created by Canadian screenwriter Jesse McKeown, whose previous credits include work on Netflix’s acclaimed superhero series The Umbrella Academy.
The series represents an exciting opportunity to combine distinctly Canadian storytelling with the traditions of creature horror and mystery.
Its Newfoundland setting also gives the series a strong sense of place, allowing the landscape and local culture to become as important to the story as the supernatural threat itself.
BELOW at TIFF 2026
BELOW will have its World Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.
The series arrives at TIFF as an eight-episode limited series, offering festival audiences an early look at what could be one of Netflix’s more atmospheric genre productions.
BELOW
Title: BELOW
Platform: Netflix
Creator: Jesse McKeown
Country: Canada
Year: 2026
Episodes: 8
Runtime: 80 minutes
Language: English
Genre: Horror / Thriller / Mystery / Drama
Premiere: World Premiere – TIFF 2026
Where to get tickets: TIFF.NET
