Claustrophobic 105-Minute War Horror Classic 'Below' Now Streaming Free

Netflix's Below has become a global sensation, topping charts and receiving excellent reviews since its debut this weekend. Starring Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, and Charlie Heaton, this Certified Fresh supernatural thriller follows a fisherman and a marine biologist who join forces to protect the isolated and struggling Newfoundland town of Snook's Arm, which is haunted by a mysterious sea creature. The dark miniseries, also described as creature-feature horror, comprises six episodes that are easy to binge in one go and leave viewers thoroughly excited.

More than twenty years before Netflix's Below premiered, another film with the same title was made, though it had a completely different plot. Nonetheless, both are prime examples of nautical psychological horror. Released in 2002, Below was directed by David Twohy, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Darren Aronofsky and Lucas Sussman. This war horror film had a limited theatrical run with minimal advertising that ultimately affected its performance. Now, twenty-four years later, it streams for free on Pluto TV, where it joined the platform on October 1, 2026.

Is 'Below' Worth Watching?

Set during World War II, Below follows the U.S. Navy submarine, USS Tiger Shark, as it encounters supernatural phenomena while on patrol in the Atlantic in 1943. During a routine rescue mission, the Tiger Shark rescues three survivors from the British hospital ship Fort James, which had been sunk. One survivor is revealed to be a German prisoner-of-war, whom Lieutenant Brice, the commanding officer, confronts and shoots dead. Afterward, the crew begins to hear disembodied voices and experience other unsettling events. At the same time, strange mechanical failures cause the submarine to lose control, leading to accidents in which crew members are trapped and die at a disturbing rate.

Below features a star-studded cast including Bruce Greenwood, Olivia Williams, Matthew Davis, Holt McCallany, Scott Foley, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Flemyng, and Dexter Fletcher. The film was a commercial and critical disappointment, earning only $2.6 million on a $40 million budget. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently has a 65% Tomatometer score and a 45% audience score, with a few critics and viewers praising its claustrophobic atmosphere, detailed submarine sets, and strong cast. However, many felt the story lacked a satisfying culmination and relied on generic ghost-story tropes. Over time, it developed a small cult following through home video releases.