With its isolated Newfoundland setting, slow-building tension and close-knit community, Below brings together atmospheric horror and human drama. For viewers looking to continue in that vein, the 1975 film Jaws is a natural next pick.
Why Jaws feels like a companion to Below
Set on the island community of Amity, Jaws follows police chief Martin Brody as he tries to protect residents and visitors from a shark. The town's reliance on tourism complicates his efforts, while a small team heads out to confront the threat. Like Below, the film uses its ocean setting and a community under pressure to build suspense.
Several other films offer related themes. The Bay (2012) centres on a coastal town facing a waterborne crisis, while South Korean film The Host (2006) follows a family confronting a creature near the Han River. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, Dagon (2001) explores a remote village and the cost of its choices. John Carpenter's The Fog (1980) and Offseason (2021) lean into the unease of isolated seaside towns and dangers hidden from view.
Together, these films show how coastal landscapes can become powerful storytelling spaces, a creative approach likely to keep shaping atmospheric horror for audiences to come.
