Stranger Things Star’s Upcoming Netflix Show Can Help Redeem A Forgotten Horror Genre

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As a huge fan, I have to say Stranger Things really took the world by storm, and it’s easy to see why! It was just such a unique show – it felt like a classic 80s adventure, but with this really creepy sci-fi vibe that reminded me of Stephen King’s Firestarter. And let’s be real, the show gave us one of the most memorable monsters ever! It’s been amazing watching the main cast move on to all these cool new roles since then.

Many of the young actors from Stranger Things have starred in critically acclaimed movies and TV shows, which is impressive considering how challenging it can be to grow up in the public eye. Charlie Heaton, who played Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things, gained recognition for his portrayal of Will’s older brother. He’s now involved in a new project featuring a monster, and it has the potential to bring a classic horror style back to life.

A new, currently untitled series is coming to Netflix, filmed in Newfoundland. Josh Hartnett will star in and help produce the show, which is notable because, like Millie Heaton, he also became famous as a young actor. The series is expected to blend the feel of Stranger Things with the suspense of Hartnett’s lesser-known thriller, Trap.

What Charlie Heaton’s Untitled Newfoundland Project Is About

Credit: Netflix

Details about the new Newfoundland-based show have been mostly secret until now, but we know the general storyline and some of the main actors. The six-episode series takes place off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, and centers around a sea monster that’s causing trouble for the people who live and fish there.

Created by Jesse McKeown, a writer for The Umbrella Academy, the show impressed Netflix Canada’s Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury. They shared with Netflix that McKeown’s creative vision is exciting and full of action, while also being a touching story about family. They’re eager to bring viewers to the coast of Newfoundland with this relevant tale of community strength and the ability to overcome challenges.

Josh Hartnett will star as a fisherman dedicated to protecting his town, and Mackenzie Davis (known from Black Mirror) will also be featured. While it’s still unknown what role David Heaton will play, the actors’ combined experience could be crucial to the show’s success, helping it stand out from other horror projects about sea monsters.

Why Other Sea Monster Movies & Shows Have Failed

Sea monster horror is a popular genre, with new films appearing regularly. However, most of these focus on sharks. While a few shark movies, like the 2024 film Under Paris, are surprisingly good, many are just okay – and there’s usually one main reason why.

Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is widely considered the greatest shark movie ever made, and it’s responsible for launching the genre – and even creating a fear of sharks for many people. Almost all other sea monster films have tried to imitate it. Interestingly, the movie’s success was partly due to luck. Spielberg cleverly filmed scenes from the shark’s perspective to hide the fact that the mechanical shark used in filming wasn’t working properly.

The success of Jaws wasn’t about showing the shark constantly; it focused on developing the characters and building suspense. Many films about sea monsters prioritize the creature itself, neglecting the people involved. Without relatable characters, these projects become visually impressive but lack lasting emotional impact.

The effectiveness of a horror TV show’s monster often relies on how human it is. Shows like Siren and Tidelands successfully use monsters that can appear as people, which allows them to explore the monsters’ societies and customs. American Horror Story tried a similar approach, but its split-season format felt hurried and wasn’t well-received by viewers.

Sea monster stories on TV and in movies will probably always be popular, and the Love, Death + Robots episode “Bad Traveling” proved there’s room for truly great new stories. This new project from Newfoundland has the potential to be something special, possibly revitalizing the genre, and the actors involved could be a major part of its success.

How Netflix’s Newfoundland Show Could Redeem The Sea Monster Horror Genre

StillMoving.Net for Netflix

I’m really excited about this new Newfoundland show, but I think the writers should focus on making us care about the characters first and foremost. The sea monster is cool, sure, but it won’t matter if we don’t connect with the people on screen. And honestly, the cast is amazing – Mackenzie Davis, especially! Remember that incredible Black Mirror episode she was in? She built such a strong connection with the audience in just one hour, so I know they’re capable of really bringing these characters to life, even with only six episodes. That’s where the show’s energy should be!

Charlie Heaton did a fantastic job transforming Jonathan Byers from a strange and unsettling character who secretly filmed Nancy into a supportive and emotionally developed friend to Will. Jonathan’s growth was a standout moment in the finale, and the show wisely focused on its characters—even though the monsters were scary enough—which kept the story emotionally resonant.

Okay, so everyone kind of wrote off Trap as M. Night Shyamalan just making a movie for his family, but I thought Ethan Hawke was amazing in it. He played this really complex guy – a dad who clearly loved his kid, but also… a serial killer! It was messed up, but good. Honestly, if Netflix’s new show about the sea monster can give us that same kind of moral gray area and keep things moving quickly, it’ll be a huge win right from the start. I’m really hoping for something with some depth!

Truly great horror shows excel at creating believable and detailed worlds. While The Last of Us featured terrifying creatures, episodes like “Long, Long Time” resonated deeply because of their storytelling. Instead of simply copying Jaws, the new Newfoundland-based project should look to shows like Love, Death + Robots and Stranger Things for inspiration, focusing on adding emotional depth to the sea monster genre.

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2026-02-28 00:11