Netflix’s latest contender to fill the void left by Stranger Things is Below, and it also appears to be a fantastic tribute to one of the greatest movies ever made. Set in Newfoundland, the series stars Josh Hartnett as a fisherman who fights to protect his family and his community after a sea monster starts lurking in the surrounding waters.

The series’ first trailer was recently released, building even more anticipation ahead of its October 8 debut. As the latest major supernatural Netflix series arriving after the conclusion of Stranger Things, Below carries plenty of expectations. Fortunately, it already seems to be taking inspiration from some very smart sources, which could help turn the series into something truly special.

Below is looking a lot like Jaws in the best ways possible

There are plenty of things about Below that make it an exciting upcoming series. Its Newfoundland setting gives it a distinctive and intriguing backdrop. Hartnett is continuing his crowd-pleasing comeback in the lead role, with Mackenzie Davis and Charlie Heaton among the cast joining him. On top of that, the series is tapping into a genre that remains hugely popular.

It’s nearly impossible for a movie about a deadly creature lurking beneath the water to avoid comparisons to Jaws, and Below is no exception. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made and is credited with becoming the first summer blockbuster, forever changing Hollywood in the process. Its terrifying portrayal of a Great White shark terrorizing a beach community made generations of moviegoers think twice about what could be hiding beneath the surface.

Since Jaws was released, countless films have attempted to recreate the success of its water-based horror story, but few have even come close. That’s an intimidating legacy for Below to live up to. While it may never reach the heights of Jaws, the series appears to be taking several lessons from Spielberg’s classic in an effort to capture some of the same success.

Jaws was more than a monster story

One of the things most often discussed about Jaws is how it maintains the tension and threat of the shark despite having very little screen time. It did so by keeping the audience invested in the story beyond the shark but always reminding us of the danger that was out there.

Below has the latter part perfectly covered with its setting. A small Newfoundland community is ideal for this type of story, with water an inescapable part of where they live. These people live and work on the water, and any danger out there would have a big impact.

This mirrors the struggles of Amity Island in Jaws. The beach community needs the summer tourist season to survive, and some in the community are not too eager to jeopardize that by admitting that there is a shark in the water. The trailer for Below hints at a similar reluctance among the community to let tales of a sea creature ruin their livelihood.

This conflict also gives insights into some of the key characters in Below‘s story, some of whom resemble counterparts in Jaws. Hartnett’s protagonist is seen desperately trying to keep people out of the water, very similar to Jaws‘ Chief Brody (Roy Scheider). He is the dedicated hero who senses the danger before anyone else is ready to accept it.

Another key character in Jaws is Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), the scientist who echoes Brody’s concerns and tries to convince the people of the danger at hand. Below looks to have that character covered as well with Mackenzie Davis’ role.

While some may dismiss these aspects as simply rehashing the archetypes and tropes that Jaws perfected, it also suggests Below understands what many Jaws imitators did not. The shark attacks are scary and intense, but Steven Spielberg elevated the movie beyond a B-level monster movie by creating an atmosphere, characters, and a world that made us invested in the story. That makes us care all the more about what might be hiding in the water.