Guillermo del Toro is an professional at his craft. His deep love for the medium of animation solely constitutes one side of his astounding artistry, which has additionally manifested in his career-spanning appreciation for monsters. His most up-to-date movie, 2025’s “Frankenstein,” marked the tip of an period for the storyteller as nicely, as his artistic pursuits and priorities are actually shifting.
Having helmed motion pictures starting from “Cronos” to “Pacific Rim,” del Toro definitely is aware of a factor or two about good storytelling, particularly within the realm of horror. The “Pan’s Labyrinth” director even took to Twitter (now formally referred to as X) to make a daring declare in regards to the ongoing Apple TV horror/comedy sequence “Widow’s Bay,” writing:
“If I’ll — in my estimation — ‘Widow’s Bay’ could very nicely be the most effective streaming sequence in a very long time … and fingers down one of the crucial mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.”
Notably, del Toro isn’t any stranger to recommending or amplifying tasks that he deems worthwhile. All the identical, it is a fairly audacious assertion — one which del Toro reiterated by reposting different feedback that specific related sentiments towards the present. A standard thread uniting these posts is reward for Matthew Rhys (“The Individuals,” “Perry Mason”), who performs Tom Loftis, the mayor of Widow’s Bay.
Vital opinions for the Apple TV present are overwhelmingly constructive, too. “Widow’s Bay” is likewise described as an “outlandish horror/comedy that stokes the style’s well-worn tropes to successful impact” on Rotten Tomatoes, the place it sports activities a 97% important ranking on the time of writing.
Does “Widow’s Bay” really reside as much as del Toro’s enthusiastic proclamation? The reply clearly depends upon who you ask, however, as a minimum, it is pleasant sufficient because of its deft mix of humor and horror. Let’s dive deeper into this spooky story.
Widow’s Bay is an pleasant horror/comedy sequence
If the time period “Widow’s Bay” evokes photographs of an eerie small city that belongs in a Stephen King novel, you’d be right. It is a spot with a less-than-ideal historical past of storms, disappearances, and different mishaps, with some rumors pointing to a supernatural factor at play. Matthew Rhys’ Loftis, nonetheless, desires to battle these odds and switch Widow’s Bay right into a quaint vacationer spot. This need is not misplaced, because the island is gorgeous to take a look at and holds enchantment for many who want to disconnect from the chaos of metropolis life for a couple of days. The skeptical Loftis ignores native claims that the island is cursed, however he is in for a impolite awakening as soon as a string of more and more weird occurrences begins happening.
Not everybody likes horror with a facet of comedy, however “Widow’s Bay” manages to hook audiences with an earnest exploration of its idiosyncratic characters. Certainly, the individuals who inhabit the titular island, reminiscent of Loftis’ lonesome assistant, Patricia (Kate O’Flynn), and resident woo-woo believer Wyck (Stephen Root), emerge as fleshed-out people in a setting that feels extremely lived-in. Additionally, the sequence makes glorious use of visitor stars to ship its scariest episode but, which is spectacular for an anthology-style narrative that leans into outlandish humor each time it might probably.
In the meantime, the present’s subversive storytelling (which Guillermo del Toro moreover highlighted) is tempered by its references, together with parts or sequences that evoke “Jaws” or “Halloween.” You may even discover thematic hyperlinks to acclaimed titles like “Midnight Mass” or “The Witch” each time the sequence elects to ramp up the horror with superstition and mythmaking. Briefly: If this all sounds intriguing, then “Widow’s Bay” would possibly simply be up your alley.
“Widow’s Bay” is streaming on Apple TV.
