This new show is better than people realize…
After various YouTube shorts and folks telling me I “NEED TO WATCH” Widows Bay on AppleTV, I sat down and watched the first 3 episodes, and so far, all of those folks were right, this show is amazing!! If you love the same kind of suspense/thrillers I do, this one is right up your alley!
Why I’m Hooked (My Take So Far)
There’s something about coastal / nautical horror that just hits different, and Widow’s Bay leans hard into that vibe. It sits right in that niche space alongside things like The Lighthouse and Midnight Mass, where isolation becomes just as important as the horror itself.
The setting does a ton of heavy lifting here. A secluded island and tight-knit coastal towns naturally create tension, and this show uses that isolation perfectly. You feel like there’s nowhere to run when things start going sideways—and that’s exactly the point.
There’s also a really strong Lovecraftian undercurrent to everything. Not in an overt, tentacle-monster kind of way (at least not yet), but in the creeping sense that something ancient, unknowable, and bigger than everyone involved is lurking just beneath the surface.
On top of that, the casting has been phenomenal, with familiar faces like Matthew Rhys, Stephen Root, and Dale Dickey to name a few, this shows characters stand out and stick with you. The performances feel grounded even when the story starts to drift into the surreal, which keeps everything believable in the best way.
The writing has been strong so far, striking a great balance between mystery, dread, and character-driven moments. It doesn’t rush things, which makes the tension build naturally instead of forcing it.
And honestly? I didn’t even realize the show was still actively releasing when I started watching. I burned through Episode 3, expecting to roll right into the next one—only for Apple TV to kick me over to Ted Lasso.
I was immediately like:
“Dude… put my show back on.”
That’s when it hit me—Episode 4 wasn’t out yet. IT COMES OUT TODAY!!!
I haven’t felt that kind of “I need the next episode right now” frustration in a minute. Probably not since “From” had me hooked trying to piece together what the hell was going on.
Final Thoughts
If you’re into slow-burn horror, eerie New England coastal settings, and mysteries that unravel piece by piece, Widow’s Bay is absolutely worth your time.
It’s weird, it’s atmospheric, and it’s quickly shaping up to be one of those shows where the real hook isn’t just what’s happening—it’s why it’s happening.
If you have seen it, let me know what you think, I’m loving it so far! If youre new to the genre/niche of nautical/coastal or even lovecraftian horror, i have some recommendations for you:
Games
Dredge (This game is so slept on, resource management based fishing game with a sinister twist and undertone of this cool coastal horror and lovecraftian themes)
Sinking City
Alan Wake (doesnt QUITE fit the coastal theme but this series NAILS the small town thriller aethetic)
Movies/Shows
Midnight Mass
The Lighthouse
Cold Skin
Dagon (Cheesy movie but super fun and based on the HP Lovecraft book of the same name)
Books
Shadows over Innsmouth (THE classic HPL story)
The Mist (Classic by Stephen King, This one isnt 100% on the mark of coastal horror but again like Alan Wake, hits the small town/existential horror elements very well)
The Fisherman by John Langan (This one ive just started checking out, so far its been a very fun slow burn book with a lot of these same themes mixed with some cosmic horror.
