Katarzyna Petru
Kevin Williamson – the guy who gave us Scream and The Vampire Diaries – is back after years with the most personal and dark series of his career. This time it's not about high school dramas or teen horror. The Waterfront draws us into the world of a smuggling family of fishermen from the southern USA, where every decision is a fight for survival, and morality sinks faster than a boat with contraband. Sounds like a new Ozark? Definitely. But here everything happens… really close to the life of the creator himself.
It grabs you like Yellowstone, it hurts like Breaking Bad, and the atmosphere? Sticky, humid, and thick like the southern air of North Carolina. Netflix has something again that could flip the series rankings upside down.
Plot and Cast
The Buckley family are fishermen from the seaside Havenport (filmed in Wilmington and Southport, NC). When the business collapses, they turn to drug smuggling. Starring:
Holt McCallany – tough patriarch Harlan, playing a Southern fisherman on the brink of bankruptcy
Maria Bello as Belle – his composed yet struggling wife.
Melissa Benoist – their daughter Bree, who has pulled herself together after addiction.
Jake Weary – son Cane, torn between family and obligations.
Topher Grace – charismatic and unpredictable smuggler Grady, created specifically for the actor
The rest of the cast: Rafael Silva, Danielle Campbell and Brady Hepner, along with guest appearances – including Topher Grace and characters from The Vampire Diaries.
Behind the Scenes of The Waterfront – What Does It All Look Like from a Technical Perspective?
The shooting for The Waterfront began in the summer of 2024 and continued into late autumn, mainly taking place in the picturesque locations of North Carolina – in Wilmington and Southport. These are not random choices: Kevin Williamson knows these areas like the back of his hand, and their raw, coastal aesthetic fits perfectly with the story of a declining fishing empire. Filming took place in authentic settings – on wooden piers, in old beach houses by the bay, in atmospheric restaurants where you can feel the salt in the air and a sense of nostalgia.
The musical score is provided by John Frizzell – known for his work on Alien: Resurrection and The Following. This time he created a soundtrack that is unobtrusive but perfectly captures the oppressive atmosphere of coastal towns and the internal tensions among the characters. There’s a bit of southern blues, a touch of unease, and plenty of emotional space.
When it comes to the image itself – The Waterfront aims for realism but doesn't shy away from a cinematic sensibility. The frames are wide, often relying on natural light – plenty of golden hours, long shadows, and misty mornings by the water. Critics from Vulture described the editing as “sharp but not overly complicated,” and the colour palette as “warm, organic, beautifully capturing the essence of this tale.”
The final effect? The series looks more like an independent film than a typical TV production. And although there are no Hollywood-style special effects here, The Waterfront stands out with its atmosphere, authenticity, and excellent camera work.
Viewership and Reception
The official Netflix data has not yet been released, but the series has immediately secured a spot in the top 10 across various countries. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has 60% from critics and sits at 60th place in the rankings of series. Reviewers praise the fantastic atmosphere and acting, although they sometimes critique a lack of narrative cohesion.
The Waterfront is an adult version of Dawson’s Creek – without the pastel sentimentality, but with moral dilemmas, crime, and the values of the southern U.S. coast. Williamson returns to his roots, telling his own story – intense, dark, and rooted in authentic memories. It's worth watching if you value: a strong family tale, the atmosphere of the American South, and the visible sadness of a fading fishing tradition.
