09/18/2026
Some of the most unsettling horror stories begin with something that actually happened.
Netflix’s new supernatural horror series ‘Below’ is drawing inspiration from real history in Newfoundland, with showrunner Jesse McKeown and producer Jessica Rhoades revealing how the region’s past helped shape the frightening elements of the series.
Rather than creating a completely fictional foundation for its supernatural scares, the series looks to Newfoundland’s history and the stories connected to the region as a source of inspiration. That real-world foundation gives the horror an additional layer, because the unsettling events onscreen are connected to a place with its own history, traditions and stories.
For the filmmakers, the goal wasn't simply to recreate historical events. Instead, real Newfoundland history became a starting point for building the supernatural mythology and atmosphere of the series.
That approach can make a horror story feel considerably more grounded. When supernatural elements are placed against recognizable locations and historical details, the fictional scares can feel as though they are emerging from something that existed long before the characters arrived.
McKeown and Rhoades have discussed how that history became part of the creative process behind ‘Below,’ helping shape the show's darker atmosphere and the mysteries surrounding its supernatural elements.
The result is a series that isn't relying solely on fictional monsters or conventional horror tropes. The past itself becomes part of the horror.
For viewers unfamiliar with Newfoundland history, the series could also offer an unexpected introduction to some of the real stories and cultural influences that helped inspire its fictional world.
Sometimes, the scariest part of a horror story isn't knowing that something supernatural exists.
It's realizing that the story may have been inspired by something that happened long before anyone started telling it as fiction.
Would you watch ‘Below’ knowing that real Newfoundland history helped inspire its scares?
