“Widow’s Bay” Review

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Apple

Entering into the world of “Widow’s Bay” from Apple TV+ is a whirlwind. The two episode premiere was April 29th, but I’ve had the opportunity to see the show. I won’t be giving any spoilers, but this is a Matthew Rhys vehicle you shouldn’t miss.

Normally, horror isn’t in my wheel house, but that’s how impressed I am with “Widow’s Bay” and writing my thoughts on the first three episodes. It’s a comedy horror and those elements blends in brilliantly. We have Matthew Rhys leading the cast as Tom Loftis, the mayor of Widow’s Bay. He’s residing over this small New England town that is spoiler alert: cursed? That’s for you to figure out.

However, Mayor Loftis isn’t going to succumb to the beliefs of the town being cursed. Instead our Mayor is determined to bring tourism to Widow’s Bay by a visiting New York Times Reporter and is determined to get Widow’s Bay on the map. However, this small town has a a thick fog arrives and that is to trigger the arrival of the island waking up and Mayor Loftis is urged to shut the town by residents. What does all lead to though? The first episode ends with Shep Clark going missing, to be then found but leads to Mayor Loftis being attacked by Shep before he dies. That leaves a bit of a spook into our next episode.

In the second episode “Lodging” we have Widow’s Bay being excited in preparation for the expected flood of tourists du to the New York Times article that highlights the town. However, the ringing of the church bell strikes and it’s not supposed to. However, we see Revernd Bryce scrambling to figure out how to handle this situation since its never occurred.

Now, Wyck (played by Stephen Root) who was already warning Mayor Loftis about the supersitutions of this town is here again, but this time is warned by Rhy’s Loftis to not close the Breakwater Inn because it’s deemed haunted. However, its reverted back Loftis to stay overnight on a dare to actually see its haunted. We see Loftis willing to stay overnight, but not without his camcorder but that leads to an encounter with Willy the killer crown. Now when morning arrives we see that Loftis doesn’t have any proof that Willy the killer clown was there. The only thing that we see left is black mold in the suite, but Loftis is still refusing to close the town overall.

Now “Widow’s Bay” third episode is titled “Inaugural Swim” and it’s a hell of a journey. I recommend the series as its picks up stamina and it blends the comedy genre heavier than the horror. There’s an overall ten episodes and I’ll be checking in our midpoint and and finale, but there’s a really strong through line that gets build out due to director and executive producer Hiro Murai who films the first three episodes and the last two of the series. Each episode spans within a 37 to 43 minute mark and will live you more satisfied than the next. Katie Dippold who showruns the series is able to create an overall fun vibes with a spooky delight. Rounded out by a stellar cast of Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, Kingston Rumi and Stephen Root. Additionally, there’s some wonderful guest spots you’ll be pleasantly surprised by.

I’ll check back in after episode five and ten to have further debrief but get prepared for a stellar yet haunting ride!