Quick answer: Josh Hartnett’s Newfoundland accent in Netflix’s Below has become one of the show’s most talked-about details because the performance is aiming for a very specific regional voice—not a generic Canadian or Irish sound. Hartnett prepared by listening to local radio and working with a dialect coach, but some viewers, including people who say they grew up in Newfoundland, think the accent sometimes leans too Irish or shifts from scene to scene.
Below is built around a monstrous mystery beneath the water, but for some viewers, the first thing that sounds unusual is above the surface: the way Calvin Penney talks. The Netflix thriller is set in a fictional Newfoundland fishing community, and its dialect is part of the world-building. That is also why the debate is more complicated than simply asking whether Hartnett “got it right.”
Why Josh Hartnett’s accent is getting so much attention
Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a stubborn fisherman whose ties to his hometown run deep. In a story so closely connected to family, local identity, and a threatened way of life, the voice matters. A regional accent is not just a handful of distinctive vowels; it carries the rhythms, vocabulary, humor, and social signals of a place.
That makes Newfoundland English a particularly demanding target. The province’s speech patterns have been shaped by its own history and by Irish and English settlement, but there is no single, uniform “Newfoundland accent.” Voices can differ from one community to another, and the way someone speaks in a rural outport may not sound exactly like a speaker from St. John’s. A performance can feel recognizable to one listener and off-key to another.
Netflix’s own behind-the-scenes feature on Below says Hartnett listened regularly to a local radio station featuring fishermen and worked with a dialect coach. The cast also practiced together so the Penney family would sound as though its members belonged to the same place. That is a serious preparation process, even if the final result does not convince every viewer.
What fans are saying about the Newfoundland dialect
Online reactions have been mixed rather than unanimous. In a discussion on Reddit’s r/blankies, viewers debated whether Hartnett sounds convincing, with some commenters describing the accent as too Irish in places and others arguing that it is not the worst screen attempt they have heard. A separate horror-community thread also noted that the accent initially sounded like a blend of Canadian and Irish speech to some viewers.
Those posts are examples of audience reaction, not a scientific poll or a representative survey of Newfoundland residents. Still, they show why the performance is drawing attention: viewers who know the region bring different expectations from people hearing the dialect for the first time.
“Below: Josh Hartnett vs Newfoundland accent” — a viewer discussion on Reddit.
Some commenters who identify as Newfoundlanders are especially focused on consistency. Their criticism is not simply that Hartnett has an accent; it is that particular lines can sound more convincing than others. That distinction matters in a drama where Calvin is supposed to be a lifelong local, not an outsider trying to fit in.
Hartnett did more than imitate a few sounds
According to Netflix Tudum, Hartnett listened to local radio as part of his preparation and worked with the dialect coach. The goal was not just to reproduce isolated pronunciations. The actors wanted to sound like a family whose members had grown up around the same people, in the same place, over many years.
Charlie Heaton, who plays Wade, has described the process as challenging, noting that the accent was difficult to hear and that the cast worked on it together. Heaton also spent time around locals, including in bars outside St. John’s, to absorb the culture and cadence. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the actors discussed learning the dialect as a group and relying on a voice coach and local performers.
There is an important difference between research and a perfect result. An actor can prepare carefully and still make choices that sound exaggerated to some listeners. Conversely, an accent that seems unfamiliar to viewers outside the region may be more plausible to others. Without treating every online comment as a verdict, the discussion is a reminder that regional dialects are specific and personal.
Does the accent hurt Below?
For most viewers, it likely depends on how sensitive they are to dialect work. If you are watching primarily for the eerie iceberg, the sea-creature mystery, and the town’s struggle to survive, the accent may register as a noticeable detail without ruining the experience. If you grew up in Newfoundland or know the local speech well, inconsistencies may pull you out of scenes that are meant to feel authentic.
The show has more going on than vocal performance. Its Newfoundland setting gives the story a sense of isolation, while the town’s economic anxiety and close-knit relationships make the danger feel personal. The accent is one part of that texture, alongside the landscape, local performers, humor, and the cast’s family dynamics. A debate over the dialect does not automatically mean the whole performance fails.
Why Newfoundland voices are not interchangeable
One reason the debate can become heated is that “Newfoundland accent” sounds like a single category when it actually covers a range of speech patterns. Regional variation, family background, age, and the setting a person grew up in can all influence how they sound. Even people from the same province may disagree about whether a portrayal feels accurate.
That is why the most useful question is not whether Hartnett sounds exactly like every Newfoundlander. No actor could do that. It is whether Calvin’s voice feels consistent with the character and community the series presents—and whether the performance lets viewers stay inside the story. For some audiences, it does. For others, the occasional shift is hard to ignore.
The verdict: a real debate, not a settled backlash
Josh Hartnett’s accent in Below is dividing fans because the show makes regional identity central to its atmosphere, and Newfoundland English is distinctive enough that listeners notice when a performance feels uneven. Hartnett’s preparation is documented, and the mixed reactions online are real, but they should not be inflated into a claim that all viewers—or all Newfoundlanders—dislike the accent.
My take: the conversation is worth having precisely because the series is trying to make its setting feel specific. The accent may not work equally well for everyone, but it gives viewers another way to discuss what authenticity means in a story rooted in a real place. The sea monster may be Below’s biggest threat; the dialect debate is one of its most human talking points.
Frequently asked questions
What accent does Josh Hartnett use in Below?
He uses a version of Newfoundland English for Calvin Penney, the fisherman at the center of the Netflix thriller.
Did Josh Hartnett train for the Newfoundland accent?
Yes. Netflix Tudum reports that he listened to local radio featuring fishermen and worked with a dialect coach while preparing for the role.
Why are some fans criticizing the accent?
Some viewers say it sounds too Irish in places or is inconsistent across scenes. Other viewers are less bothered by it, so reactions are mixed.
Is the accent in Below accurate?
There is no single answer that covers every viewer. Newfoundland speech varies by region and speaker, and online comments reflect individual impressions rather than a definitive linguistic assessment.
Where was Below filmed?
The series was filmed on location in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, according to Netflix’s official series coverage.
Sources and further reading
- Netflix Tudum: Below first look, accent preparation, and filming details
- Los Angeles Times: Josh Hartnett and Charlie Heaton on building the father-son bond
- Reddit: audience discussion of Hartnett’s Newfoundland accent
- Reddit: viewers discuss the series and its regional dialect
By Shivam Das
