'Below' Review: An Intriguing, But Underwhelming Snooze
Creator Jesse McKeown aims to deliver Netflix’s next phenomenon with his new mystery series Below. However, though this sea monster tale starts strong and fascinating, it quickly becomes an underwhelming snooze.
‘Below’ takes place in a small, tranquil remote town and centers on a fisherman named Calvin Penny (Josh Hartnett) who must fight to protect his family, his peaceful town and his entire way of life when a vicious sea creature rears its head and terrorizes the community. Joining Hartnett in this impressive cast is Charlie Heaton, Mackenzie Davis, Ruby Stokes, Rohan Campbell, Kaleb Horn and Willow Kean. Unfortunately, this talented cast are left stranded with characters and material that simply don’t meet them at their level.
McKeown chose the perfect leading man to spearhead his series in Hartnett, an actor who has not only wonderfully returned to the limelight, but continues to deliver some of the strongest work of his career. Hartnett, sporting a quirky Newfoundland accent like the rest of his supporting cast, is able to make Penny a likable, magnetic character despite the underwritten material he’s mostly saddled with. The series does a terrific job establishing his childhood trauma and Hartnett is able to convey the lingering aftershocks of the event that shaped him into the father and man he’s become. His relationships with his children are some of the series’ most emotionally compelling material, his connections with each of them varied and inconsistent. Utilizing the sea creature’s presence to be the catalyst to smooth over friction between him and his children was an inspired choice, even if it works to varying degrees of success on screen.
The supporting cast has some standouts as well. Heaton, most notably known for his work on Netflix’s hit series ‘Stranger Things’ is by far and away the show’s most emotionally engaging character. Heaton delivers a lively, emotionally charged performance as Wade, one of Calvin’s children who he is overly protective of. It’s abundantly clear that his talents have been severely underutilized, making Wade a character that may be difficult to root for, but one that is consistently magnetic and fascinating to watch. His relationship with Calvin becomes one of the series’ strongest focal points, Hartnett and Heaton having palpable chemistry as they make their father and son dynamic feel raw and authentic, especially as their situation becomes increasingly more dire and Calvin becomes more and more fiercely protective.
The series also sports an incredibly immersive and enveloping atmosphere, making great use of its remote location and scenic locale. From the opening scene alone, it’s not only able to establish its stakes and atmosphere, but jumpstart an intriguing mystery to boot. The cinematography throughout its six episodes is luscious and inviting, an effective contrast in comparison to what the series’ central characters are facing on their homeland. Speaking of the sea creature itself, McKeown and his creative team make the smart decision to build up its lore, intrigue and ferocity without overtly showing it too soon. Not only is the CGI of the creature top notch, but the way those effects naturally integrate with and interact with the surrounding environment makes each and every one of its appearances tactile and terrifying. The series also does an admirable and effective job showcasing how the creature’s presence affects the town and its people in all sorts of confounding ways.
However, as colorful and eclectic as the characters may be with an intimidating and horrifying creature in tow, it’s never able to follow through on the promise of its central mystery or supporting characters. Over the course of its six episodes, it slowly and glacially unfurls its mystery and reveals, lacking any sense of urgency or narrative propulsion. The setups and early developments, especially as the creature’s threat begins to loom large, are consistently exciting, but the follow through lacks considerably. As the series explores the effects the creature has on this remote town, it does very little with its supporting characters to make the promise of those developments worthwhile. Aside from Heaton, the supporting cast is poorly used and implemented into the overarching story, virtually none of them given the depth and pathos they so desperately need. Davis’ talents are immensely wasted in particular as Dr. Fonda Howander, a local scientist who attempts to understand the creature and get to the bottom of what’s going on in town. Though she delivers a quirky and charmingly awkward performance, she’s given very little to do other than be a mouthpiece for exposition.
‘Below’ is a series filled to the brim with promise and consistent intrigue, but though it places compelling pieces on the board, it never truly knows what to do with them. Despite some game performances from its talented cast and some scattered thrills, this mystery series is far too sluggish and listless for its own good, unable to deliver the visceral and exciting storytelling it easily could’ve. Whether this series remains standalone fare remains to be seen, but if it does return for a second helping, this machine is going to need some considerable WD-40 to become the well-oiled machine it absolutely has the potential to be.