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It’s been a long time since a Horror series It caught my attention, it really caught my attention. We live in an age where genre programming seems plentiful, but formulaic—where algorithm can trump originality. It’s important to say that, because I’ve discovered a new horror show that, through its familiar aesthetic, feels fresh and original and demands my full attention.
I’m talking about Widow’s Bay Apple TVAnd if this is your first time hearing about the series, the best way I can describe it is to ask, what if Parks and recreation Created by Stephen King? If this question stops you in your tracks, you’ll want to read what I have to say.
This show blends the small-town sensibilities of The Andy Griffith Show with David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. It’s as cute as the beach scenes from Jaws; It’s as terrifying as the shark scenes from Jaws.
Bold statement, take it: It’s the best new horror series on television, and there’s nothing else quite like it.
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Matthew Rhys stars in Widow’s Bay on Apple TV.
Widow’s Bay follows Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the mayor of the struggling coastal town, who works tirelessly to make it the next Martha’s Vineyard. No matter how hard he tried, the fishing village could never live up to the famous tourist attraction. Aside from the conflict and complications that come with working a municipal job like this, Tom’s campaign to successfully rejuvenate the city is overshadowed by local legends of monsters, bogeymen, and other omens stemming from a centuries-old curse.
To delve into these details would be tantamount to spoiling the main story, and since the series is still streaming — new episodes drop on Apple TV every Wednesday — I’d rather not spoil the experience for you. But what I will say is that Widow’s Bay should be a bigger part of the conversation. It’s a real sleeper hit, and the audience needs to wake up and take notice.
If I were to rate Widow’s Bay, I’d say it’s an A Horror comedy. But not in the overt, gore-soaked, wise-cracking way that most horror comedies do. There’s a Twin Peaks/Picket Fences quality to the show that allows the humor to jump out and surprise you in the most unexpected places.
Kate O’Flynn, Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root star in Widow’s Bay on Apple TV.
Although the comedy isn’t very funny – it’s more quirky and weird than anything else – there were a few moments where I guffawed uncontrollably at things on screen. You can tell there’s a deep understanding of the horror genre and its tropes from those working behind the scenes on this show, which leads to smart choices and moments that feel like inside-baseball winks to the audience.
Widow’s Bay is in the joke, and that’s what makes it so good.
The Apple TV series hails from creator and writer Katie Dippold, who cut her teeth on Parks and Recreation, which makes perfect sense when you’re immersed in this show. She enlisted directors like Genre Favorites Ti West and Hiro Murai to contribute their visual sensibilities to the mix.
When it comes down to it, the real standout elements of Widow’s Bay are the cast. Matthew Rhys, who showed his malicious side in The Monster Within is on Netflix Last year, he’s upending expectations and tending to some major underdog energy as mayor. The comedy that arises from his confusion is not overt because his inner conflict stems from the deep pain and denial that accompanies it. This combination, combined with his quest to improve the city, is the right formula to get the viewer hooked and going on this wild ride.
It’s a joy to watch Stephen Root play Wick, the hardened fisherman who carries the island’s history on his back. I mentioned Jaws before, and many items in the series pay homage to the classic film. Root’s performance is one of them as he immerses himself in a world Quint-like quirks Which leads Wyck, and he’s so good here that he’s worth watching the series just for.
Kate O’Flynn stars in Widow’s Bay on Apple TV.
However, it’s Patricia, played by Kate O’Flynn, who steals the show. The eccentric assistant at City Hall serves as the energetic compromise between Tom and Wick, and her work in the series turns the stars. Patricia has layers beneath her angry exterior that dominate the screen – whether she’s hosting a Wiccan death party, running for her life in the middle of the night or holding a gun to the ashes of a burning monster.
Oh, and there are monsters. Widow’s Bay contains a variety of creepy threats from ghosts to killer clowns to the undead hag and the deadly bogeyman I mentioned above.
Reading the sentence above could make this article seem like the show is just throwing an assortment of scary monsters at the screen to see what sticks. Let’s be real: There are moments when we feel this way, but the series sprinkles its lore throughout the episodes, hinting at a deeper curse that has plagued this island for centuries.
Widow’s Bay is a mixture of many genre elements and references to other things, which, if in the wrong hands, could easily become formulaic. But it is not. This is a show that feels familiar but remains fresh. It’s as scary as Stephen King at his best; It’s as scary as a camp ghost story. Through it all, it’s a surprisingly fun ride.