If You Liked ‘Widow’s Bay’ & ‘Jaws’, This Netflix Horror Series Is For You
There's something alluring about a spooky nautical-themed series like Widow's Bay (2026) or a seaworthy creature feature like Jaws (1975). It could be the colorful characters, the mystery, or the fact that we know so little about what is under the surface. Netflix's Below (2026) is a series that aims to keep this mystery alive with a new story.
Premiering on October 8th, 2026, on Netflix and starring Josh Hartnett, Below isn't as funny as Widow's Bay or as cinematic as Jaws, but it captures the best of both properties to give us a story that's both scary and exciting, and is a perfect series to watch this spooky season.
What Is ‘Below’ About?
Set in Canada, Below is about a small fishing community that is plagued by a violent threat that exists in the ocean and by the glaciers. There are no hints as to what this creature is, but it draws the attention of a marine biologist named Fonda Howander, played by Mackenzie Davis.
Along with another fisherman named Calvin Penney, played by Hartnett, the two try to uncover the mystery of what creature is stalking the waters of their town. However, there's an even stranger element as the fisherman's son begins to have strange symptoms tied to the ocean around them.
The trailer for Below has done a great job of building a mystery without giving us any hints. In fact, it's downright scary as it makes us feel like we know exactly what kind of show this is, but there's a deeper secret that has yet to be uncovered.
How Does ‘Below’ Stand Out From Similar Movies and Shows?
Widow's Bay may be a recent show, but part of why it has blown up in popularity is because of its ability to balance so many supernatural elements and still be equal parts scary and funny. Set in an isolated fishing village, we see a curse unfold that is nautical in inspiration but also hides a deeper, Lovecraftian truth we have yet to see.
Meanwhile, Jaws is a movie that leans on its shark and the efforts of a sheriff trying to gather enough people to hunt it down and kill it. It doesn't need the supernatural to be scary, just the understanding that in the ocean, we aren't at the top of the food chain.
What makes Below stand out is that while it's clearly inspired by these properties, it's focusing more on trying to make the sea creature a symptom of a larger mystery. We don't know what is going on or, more importantly, why it's happening, but the trailer proves these characters may be in over their heads. With that in mind, it feels more dangerous and does well to not reveal any supernatural elements or even a monster, selling itself on tone alone.
How Does ’Below’ Build on Similar Past Successes?
Below isn't trying to be an homage or successor to other similar projects. That said, it is inherently building on the successes of those projects. For example, Widow's Bay has already primed audiences for shows with a similar aesthetic, while Jaws' over 50-year success proves that everyone loves an underwater creature feature.
However, that's where the similarities end. Below is building on timing and tried-and-true popular tropes to tell a totally new story in a realm that feels familiar. It can help get newcomers invested in this subgenre while also proving there are still new ways to tell familiar stories for longtime viewers. Below is a series with potential that leans on the past to surprise us, and as creepy as the trailer already is, there's a lot to get excited about.
