Some streaming shows come and go, and you never hear about them again. Others become major hits, win a ton of awards, and gain a massive following once people see how popular they are. For me, that’s Widow’s Bay.
I honestly only started watching it ages later because so many people recommended it. When I did, I totally understood why this Apple TV show was so well received. But while season 2 for this series certainly isn't coming anytime soon, this time of year — Halloween — is the perfect time to watch this horror-comedy.
And truthfully, Widow’s Bay is a campy horror show that's rare these days, and we need far more of them.
Widow’s Bay tells a compelling story with horror elements
When I first started watching this show, I didn’t know it would be horror-adjacent, and it really is. It’s not necessarily scary. The main premise is that the mayor of a struggling island wants to boost tourism, but strange supernatural events keep happening, causing mishaps, mayhem, and more.
Each episode is really more of a dedication to the horror genre, which is what makes it good. But you’re not really watching for the horror; you’re watching for the story and hoping that the townspeople make it out of some scary situation. You're hoping the mayor, Tom (Matthew Rhys), can pull off a scheme while keeping his son happy back home.
It's about small-town dynamics and how a power shift can make people act differently, with a touch of horror. It takes place on a New England island, which, to me, always makes shows like this that much cozier, even with horror. However, the horror we do see is expertly done — and hilarious.
The horror is campy but lands at the perfect moments
I don’t want to spoil too many moments in Widow’s Bay if you haven’t seen it. I truly believe that if you've watched a movie like Beetlejuice or even the first Halloween film, you’ll likely enjoy this show because it has scarier moments, but they lean into the comedy more than scares.
Often, the comedic moments are meant to break the tension of the drama that’s really happening. It only gets much darker toward the end of the season, when certain choices have to be made without revealing too much. Most of the time, though, it’s campy horror at its finest. There are jump scares, sure, but they aren’t necessarily bad.
It also pays homage to certain past movies and shows. One of my personal favorites happens later in the season, when one character interacts with someone who looks a lot like Michael Myers from the Halloween films. Without revealing what happens, it’s tense but also hilarious, which is exactly what campy horror should be.
In the modern streaming landscape, Widow's Bay is the type of show we need way more of.
Widow’s Bay bridges horror lovers and non-horror lovers
Today, horror has become a huge genre. Whether it’s horror books, TV shows, or movies, many people like it because it lets creators get super creative with plotlines and more. Some people (like my partner) despise it. Widow’s Bay is the perfect mix of horror and hilarity, and it draws people together.
Some people don’t understand why people like horror, but Widow’s Bay is the kind of TV show where someone who isn’t normally a big fan of horror can still watch and enjoy the comedy or the storytelling. If they get a little creeped out later, they can turn away.
That’s what makes Widow’s Bay such a great series. There are so many fantastic scary TV shows I love, but I can’t really watch them with a lot of my close friends because they aren’t as into horror as I am. But this show I can. And it makes me wonder why we don’t have more of these shows out there.
We have countless horror TV shows like American Horror Story, Welcome to Derry, Below, and anything else truly terrifying. Still, we don’t have hybrids like Widow’s Bay. This kind of show is perfect for this time of year because it brings together lovers of all genres. You get some good acting, great set pieces, and a quirky jump scare or two. What more could you want?
I hope the show's success leads to more horror-comedy TV shows. Yes, we have some great horror-comedy movies, but I’d love for this to become just as big on TV, if not for the campiness.
You can watch the first season of Widow’s Bay on Apple TV. Season 2 is coming soon!
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