Apple TV’s new horror series is scarier because it’s also hilarious

Key Points:

• Kate O’Flynn, star of the horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay, sees comedy and horror as closely related genres that rely on surprise to create strong emotional reactions, making their combination effective.
• Widow’s Bay, streaming on Apple TV from April 29, is set on a haunted New England island with a curse preventing residents from leaving alive, and follows the mayor’s efforts to turn it into a tourist spot despite ominous signs.
• Created by Katie Dippold, known for comedy writing, the show aims to blend horror and comedy without undermining the story’s tension, with each episode exploring different horror subgenres while maintaining truthful character reactions.
• The cast approaches the hybrid genre by focusing on authentic characters and situations rather than separating comedy and horror, allowing the audience to engage with the story’s reality.
• Dippold highlights that a background in comedy can enhance horror storytelling, as both genres seek visceral audience reactions, and crafting a good horror scene shares a similar energy to writing a well-constructed joke.