Widow's Bay

Widow’s Peak is rich and wonderful. Grownup, funny, scary, true – Mare of Easttown meets Schitt’s Creek, but with something else that makes it singular.

Widow’s Bay plays like a mixtape of the Master of the Macabre’s work, compiling stock horror archetypes and scenarios before running them through a mondo bizarro filter.

A charmingly ghoulish saga about a locale beset by the sins of the past. It’s also, to date, the best new show of the year.

This is a comedy that would sink or swim based on its lead performances. And it’s owing to Rhys that this ends up being such a buoyant show.

It doesn’t aim for the grandiose allegory or psychological character development that defines so much “elevated horror,” nor does it chasten its sense of humor to appeal to a wide-ranging audience. Instead, like any good vacation spot, it focuses on simply giving its guests a good time.

At first, you might not be so sure that you've chosen the right travel destination, but Widow's Bay becomes a haunting, deeply rewarding, and oddly charming series if you stick with it.

The failure to flesh out the population of Widow’s Bay beyond a handful of characters doesn’t just undermine its sense of place. It deprives the show of something every good horror story needs: victims. Although the season grows eerier as Tom discovers more of the island’s dreadful backstory, it’s rare that anything terrible happens to anyone we truly care about.

So few shows feel new, and Widow's Bay manages to clear that threshold from the jump. Rhys again cements his acting ability, in his best role since the Americans. Stephen Root shines as the local sailor and harbinger of local lore. Unsure if they will be able to tie up the various spooky plots but its appointment viewing for me.

I believe every good horror story needs a tiny bit of comedic relief. How much? I assumed a safe dash. I’m so glad that Widows Bay proved me wrong by giving us a bit more, not too much, but a hearty taste that truly works. The seamless blend of horror and comedy is unlike anything else on TV. Better yet, the drops of clues and lore woven throughout the episodes make the island feel truly three-dimensional and make the series fun to rewatch. On second and third watches, I’ve caught things I completely missed the first time. The writer, just like the makeup and music departments along with the actors, has proven they really know ball.

Amazing and underrated everything about this tv series is unique the acting .the atmosphere .the comedy and horror I love it

This is so good. Just watch it. It's like if Flanagan and Lynch had a child. Apple TV is on fire!

It is probably a decently made show - always like Mathew Rhys. This kind of creepy ghost-like stuff - just isnt' my cup of tea.