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While Widow's Bay has become one of the best horror shows of 2026, Netflix will soon be releasing its own small-town horror series that could replace the Apple TV masterpiece. Premiering in April 2026, the comedy horror series Widow's Bay brought viewers to the titular isolated New England island, which was revealed to be terrorized by a centuries-old curse that afflicted the island and its residents with various supernatural evils.It garnered critical acclaim, raising hopes for Netflix's similar upcoming offering, Below.
Created by Katie Dippold (Parks and Recreation), Widow's Bay's immense success has already brought a second season renewal to the series. It has captured horror fans' attention, spelling good news for Netflix's Below. The upcoming miniseries from Jesse McKeown (The Umbrella Academy) stars a similarly talented cast and explores a similar storyline set in a remote Newfoundland town.
Netflix's Below Will Terrorize a Newfoundland Town in October
Scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 8, 2026, Below is a six-episode limited series from Jesse McKeown and Jessica Rhoades (Black Mirror). The series will focus on the residents of a small Canadian town that must find the strength to fight back against a mysterious sea creature terrorizing them and threatening their way of life.
Speaking to Tudum in July 2026, creator McKeown revealed exactly why he wanted to set this epic story in a small fishing town in Newfoundland. "I’ve been coming to Newfoundland for many years," McKeown explained. "I just always felt like I wanted to set something here... It’s such a unique landscape and such a rugged, dangerous, isolated, scary place in a lot of ways."
Below will combine the underlying fear of its isolated setting with a true sense of community thanks to its immense cast, led by Josh Hartnett (Oppenheimer) as stubborn fisherman Calvin Penney. He fights a terrifying sea creature while uncovering the truth about the island.
Hartnett is joined by Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things) as Calvin's son, Wade, and Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire) as marine biologist Fonda Howander, as well as Natasha Henstridge (Diggstown), Joshua Close (Wayward), Rohan Campbell (The Monkey), Ruby Stokes (Bridgerton), and Mary Walsh (Resident Alien). This formidable cast will make Below one of Netflix's must-watch miniseries and one of the platform's most star-studded new shows. Its thrilling concept has already been proven to work.
Below and Widow's Bay Share Many Striking Similarities
Below will combine local legends and myths, thrilling moments of suspense and horror, and heartfelt, well-placed humor to deliver its story of the residents of a small town being terrorized by a strange, unidentified creature. Sound familiar? Apple TV's Widow's Bay perfected the balance between comedy and horror to deliver its very similar storyline, as the residents of the small New England island town are terrorized by an unseen entity that has cursed the island.
Both shows feature a strong and determined protagonist in a leadership position. Below's Calvin Penney is a well-respected fisherman in his Newfoundland town, while Widow's Bay mayor Tom Loftis (Rhys) is a fantastic protagonist in the Apple TV series. Both also set out to protect their sons, and both are aided by a more knowledgeable sidekick.
Both Widow's Bay and the small Newfoundland town in Below are also terrorized by threats connected directly to the water surrounding them. The curse on Widow's Bay traps those born on the island by not allowing them to pass a line in the ocean around the town, while also terrorizing residents with strange fog rolling in over the waves and even a terrifying Sea Hag. Below will pit its town's residents against an unidentified sea creature, connecting it more overtly to fishermen lore.
While the Netflix miniseries will focus heavily on local myth and psychological suspense, it also blends heartfelt humor with its terror, much like the critically acclaimed comedy horror balancing act of Widow's Bay. While we wait for Widow's Bay Season 2, Netflix's Below will be the perfect replacement show, though it could easily be overshadowed by its successful Apple TV cousin.
