‘Widow’s Bay’ Is Apple TV’s New Hit That’s John Carpenter Meets ‘Parks and Rec’

Genre-blending shows aren’t new. Some of my favorites include Paradise, which combines a political thriller with post-apocalyptic drama, and The Afterparty, which presents each episode in a different genre style, from psychological thriller to romantic comedy. However, there’s a new Apple TV series that hits the nail on the head in a unique way. While the comedy-horror genre is common, Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay masterfully mixes workplace comedy with horror in a way that I haven’t seen any other show do.

Having watched lots of John Carpenter movies as well as workplace comedies, I could see these elements in the plot and tone of Widow’s Bay. It draws inspiration from both Carpenter’s signature style, along with classic 1980s horror movies, and the modern-day workplace comedy dynamic in a way that comes across as fresh, exciting, and different from any other show I’ve seen recently.

‘Widow’s Bay’ Pays Homage to Classic Horror

Matthew Rhys lies on a sofa in Widow's Bay

Widow’s Bay, already a streaming hit, slowly tiptoes towards horror in each episode. The deeper it seeps into this genre, the more it feels like a workplace comedy wrapped up in a classic John Carpenter movie. You’ll feel like you’re watching scenes from some of Carpenter’s best movies, like the Halloween franchise, The Fog, The Thing, and Christine.

Perhaps the most obvious comparison is The Fog, which takes place in a small coastal town and involves fishermen, ghosts, a lighthouse, and a creepy fog that brings forth supernatural dangers. In Widow’s Bay, residents plead with Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) not to bring in tourists because the town is supposedly cursed, and evil supposedly lurks beneath. However, he wants to ignore them. It’s his job to make it into a place worth visiting (the next Martha’s Vineyard!), and prove he’s not a pushover or a coward. While he thinks they’re just superstitions, they’re not. The element of suspense and surprise experienced by an everyman character is also a signature of Carpenter’s work. It’s no accident that the town of Widow’s Bay has no Wi-Fi and spotty cellular coverage, which gives it a retro town feel in the same vein as iconic shows like Twin Peaks.

The battle between Tom’s job and supernatural forces culminates in the first major horror twist when Tom encounters both a killer clown and a sea hag. Episode 4, “Beach Reads,” screams Carpenter with a dash of Stephen King. The episode shines a light on Tom’s socially awkward outcast assistant, Patricia (Kate O’Flynn), and has traditional ’80s sci-fi horror and Carrie vibes.

‘Widow’s Bay’ Gives Off ‘Parks and Recreation’ Vibes

Patricia and Dale drinking coffee and talking in the office in Widow's Bay.

While supernatural threats bubble up in the background, on the surface, Widow’s Bay is a traditional workplace comedy that centers around Tom’s dealings at the office. As the mayor of a small town that no one ever visits and where most residents stick to their routines, there’s really not much to do. Tom’s staff is far from driven and hard-working. You’ll find this quirky bunch in any other workplace comedy. However, thanks to Tom’s public service position, Parks and Recreation is the one show that most comes to mind for a comparison.

There’s a similar tone of friendship meets community meets cynicism about what these public servants can actually accomplish, despite Tom’s best efforts. Tom’s elderly secretary, Ruth (K Callan), barely shows up to work and flubs the simplest tasks or simply doesn’t do them. Rosemary (Dale Dickey) is either smoking cigarettes or coughing up a lung, and Dale (Jeff Hiller) puts his head down and gets his work done, but would clearly rather be anywhere else. Patricia is Tom’s shining star, and her eccentricities would fit right in with a show like Parks and Recreation.

There are many other hilarious interactions outside this core staff, too. Tom tries to steer the local museum guide away from explaining the more unsavory parts of the town’s history to a journalist. He desperately tries to get lighthouse custodian Garrett’s attention so he’ll actually do what he needs them to do faster than at a snail’s pace, which will have you in stitches. Tom’s exasperated sighs and frustrated, defeated facial expressions confirm he knows nothing will ever change, and there’s no point in trying. He’s the Leslie Knope of Widow’s Bay, with a hint of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) from Arrested Development.

As a comedic thriller, Widow’s Bay leans into two distinct genres, but tells a cohesive story. The series accurately depicts small-town life with the usual mundane, day-to-day office happenings. Outside office doors, the story brings supernatural elements into play, as if we’re metaphorically leaving a 2020s office building and stepping into a 1980s Carpenter sci-fi horror flick. With its modern workplace-comedy tone that lightens the intensity, Widow’s Bay is tough to define. However, you’ll be drawn into it once you see that it masterfully brings these two worlds together.