CABLE | Matthew Rhys Welcomes You to 'Widow's Bay' on Apple TV

"The only way out is through."

Chum Films / Spooky Tree Productions

Widow's Bay, comedy screenwriter Katie Dippold's superb new original series, stars the wonderful Welsh actor Matthew Rhys as the exasperated, initially skeptical mayor of the seemingly cursed, titular New England island town desperate for tourism. As a welcoming but weird folk horror-comedy mashup clearly inspired by the many works of Stephen King, its supernaturally mythic small-town elements only heighten its dryly deadpan humour.

Mostly under the direction of the talented Hiro Murai, the eerie mood of foggy East Coast moors is established early and often. Co-starring standout British actress Kate O'Flynn as Rhys' delightfully offbeat assistant, her comically straightforward but committed performance anchors the strange town's happenings sublimely. Both Kevin Carroll and Stephen Root provide sober veteran character actor presences, acting as voices of reason in the roles of the unsure town sheriff and the area's one true believer.

Each of Widow's Bay's episodes deftly balances being both funny and scary at the same time. This impressive feat is achieved through its sharply knowing original material and dramatic performances that effortlessly elevate the frightening yet absurd circumstances of its characters. Dippold peppers in so many carefully haunting details about an isolated community's daily lives to enhance the tension, from its quirky personalities, the island's lack of wi-fi signal, no cell reception, and the usual town gossip or lore, it's all gravy for the highly entertaining series.

Widow's Bay's ten-episode season is available to stream weekly on Apple TV.


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