Horror fans are scouring the web for their next watch, and some have already settled on their favorites among the releases so far. Two series connected to popular intellectual properties, Carrie and Crystal Lake, have emerged as notable contenders. Another title that continues to surface in conversations and recommendations is Below. With a mystery lurking beneath the waters of a small fishing town, the series presents an intriguing question: does it have the oomph to stand alongside the genre’s other heavy hitters?
Currently streaming on Netflix, Below is a 2026 horror series created by Jesse McKeown. The seven-episode production, with installments averaging approximately 40 minutes, centers on a mystery unfolding in a small fishing town.
Icy Hook
The story opens with an excellent hook, a tragedy of immense proportions that leaves an enduring scar on the minds of those who survive the unimaginable. As the narrative progresses, viewers begin to understand that, despite the passage of years, the thing lurking beneath the water remains. Whatever terror it unleashed in the past, it has not become any less vicious.
Much of the series is devoted to uncovering the mystery, with obstacles along the way that steadily raise the stakes. There is also sufficient gore to satisfy viewers who enjoy a more visceral approach to horror. The revelation of the threat, however, arrives well before the series reaches its climax and begins its descent toward the conclusion. This is where the experience begins to change.
From creature feature to environmental message
What initially feels terrifying gradually shifts in tone. A story that promises a fight for survival against a monstrous force beneath the water becomes increasingly centered on environmental protection. The change is not necessarily a problem in itself. Horror has long found ways to explore larger social and environmental concerns. The challenge is making those elements work together without diminishing the very fear that brought audiences into the story.
Below begins with the promise of a terror reminiscent of the great white shark that menaced the waters in the 1970s classic Jaws. There is an unmistakable sense of danger, an unsettling mystery, and the expectation that something vicious is waiting just beyond the reach of the characters. Yet as the series progresses, that initial intensity begins to dissipate. What starts with a bang is gradually reduced to a faint spark.
Genre blending is hardly uncommon in the entertainment industry. Horror can complement environmental commentary, and the two can make for a compelling combination. In this instance, however, the contrast feels too pronounced. Rather than strengthening the narrative, the shift works against the series’ initial promise.
Is Below worth the watch?
For viewers seeking intense psychological or supernatural horror, Below may not be the desired destination. Those looking for nightmare-inducing material might be better served elsewhere. But audiences who appreciate a more restrained, horror-leaning story with environmental sentiment at its center may find something worthwhile here.
For me, the ending does a disservice to the beginning, particularly when considering the series’ horror classification. The opening establishes a frightening premise with the potential to deliver something genuinely unsettling. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, however, that promise has been softened by a shift in focus that leaves the horror feeling less potent.
Below may still find an audience, but its early promise raises expectations that the final stretch struggles to fulfill.
