6 Comedy Horror Shows Like Apple TV's Widow's Bay

These six horror-comedy TV shows are the perfect follow-up to Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay, sharing similar styles of comedy and horror elements. Matthew Rhys’ new horror-comedy has become an absolute hit, thanks to its unique approach to horror-comedy.

From a character standpoint, Widow’s Bay feels like a cousin to Parks and Recreation. Both shows center on quirky characters in an unusual town, and the main character is a member of the local government who is trying, against all odds, to better the town. There’s a very sitcom feel to Widow’s Bay. At the same time, the horror side of things feels like Stephen King or M. Night Shyamalan wrote it. There’s a folksy vibe that’s rooted in the New England lore. When the horror sets in, it hits hard.

The laugh-out-loud moments are just as impactful as the terrifying creatures. No other show feels exactly the same. Even these six TV shows won’t feel identical to the nearly perfect Widow’s Bay. However, they share many traits and bring a similar ambiance. As such, they’re great choices to watch in between episodes or after the series is done, as they will scratch the same itch.

6

Shining Vale

The 2-season STARZ show Shining Vale follows an erotica writer, Pat, who moves her family to a home in suburban Connecticut that, unfortunately, was the location of many atrocities. Strange things begin occurring all around Pat, but none of her family can see the demons disturbing the house. In many ways, Widow’s Bay and Shining Vale feel connected. They both feature quirky characters in a haunted setting, blending horror with sitcom-style humor.

However, Shining Vale flips the script. In Widow’s Bay, all the townspeople except for Mayor Loftis believes that the town is filled with supernatural occurrences. In Shining Vale, Pat is the only one who believes anything paranormal is happening. In both situations, it creates a hilarious scenario in which the isolated individual tries to convince the others that they are right.

On top of that, both main characters are unexpectedly immersed in a supernatural environment. In the second episode of Widow’s Bay involves Mayor Loftis staying in the haunted Breakwater Inn. He doesn’t expect to have any abnormal experiences, but he’s surprised to find that the town is, in fact, a supernatural death trap. Shining Vale starts out with a very similar feeling, except that Pat has no clue ahead of time that she’ll be subjected to the paranormal.

5

What We Do In The Shadows

What We Do In The Shadows is as hilarious and unique as Widow’s Bay. The show follows four centuries-old vampires who live together in a Staten Island apartment. They must try to navigate the uncomfortable big-city environment and the modern world. They are accompanied by Guillermo, a familiar who dreams of becoming a vampire despite being a descendant of Van Helsing.

The premise might sound nothing like Widow’s Bay, but both shows possess “fish out of water” comedy. Mayor Tom Loftis isn’t originally from the small town, only visiting there in the summers as a child. As such, much of the comedy comes from him experiencing a new environment that’s unpredictable. Similarly, the vampires in What We Do In The Shadows are from an entirely different era, and the comedy is rooted in the culture clash.

What’s more, both shows feel like they’re rooted in other popular comedy shows. Widow’s Bay feels like a spooky version of Parks and Recreation. Meanwhile, What We Do in the Shadows feels like a vampy version of Friends. This means they lean more heavily into comedy tropes than other horror-comedies.

4

Stan Against Evil

The TV show Stan Against Evil, starring John C. McGinley, is absolute comedy gold. The show follows an old sheriff named Stanley Miller who has to team up with a young sheriff named Evie Barret to fight off a horde of angry witch spirits that have returned to exact vengeance on their small New Hampshire town, centuries after the witches were burned at the stake.

Anyone who loves the small-town New England feeling of Widow’s Bay is in for a treat with Stan Against Evil. The show carries that same ambiance. On top of that, the Apple TV show is rooted in folk horror. The demons in Stan Against Evil aren’t rooted in folklore, but they still bring a folk-horror feeling in the way that they physically present themselves.

Similarly, both Widow’s Bay and Stan Against Evil are led by actors who are masters of their facial expressions. Both Matthew Rhys and John C. McGinley make laugh-out-loud expressions that enhance the comedy of their respective shows. However, Stan actually engages with the spirits with insulting, zippy one-liners, while Mayor Loftis is pretty helpless against the supernatural entities. This difference sets the two main characters apart.

3

Ash Vs. Evil Dead

Ash looking up in horror in Ash vs Evil Dead — Ash vs Evil Dead the main trio looking on in horror.

The Evil Dead is one of the most beloved horror-comedy franchises out there, and the TV show Ash Vs. Evil Dead continues the story. After 30 years, the chainsaw-handed Ash Williams once again has to go up against the Deadiites, who want to destroy humanity. Except this time, Ash has an “I’m too old for this sh*t” attitude.

Ash Vs. The Evil Dead is definitely the horror-comedy TV show that will seem the most out of place on this list, but hear me out. Neither Ash vs. The Evil Dead nor Widow’s Bay treats horror too seriously, embracing the campiness and over-the-top elements of the genre. At the same time, they have well-written scripts and high production values that feel cinematic. In this way, both shows blend together elements of genre TV and prestige TV.

Each show also has a hilarious and chaotic energy because of the idea that anything can happen at any time. Both shows also have quirky main characters. Their comedy is also rooted in a relatable main character getting into increasingly ridiculous situations. For these reasons, Ash vs. The Evil Dead will scratch the same itch as Widow’s Bay, even though the stories and pacing are truly nothing alike.

2

Archie’s Weird Mysteries

Dilton and Archie scream in Archie's Weird Mysteries — Dilton and Archie scream in Archie’s Weird Mysteries

Archie’s Weird Mysteries ran from 1999 to 2000, putting a supernatural horror twist on the Archie Comics. After a physics lab goes horribly wrong, Riverdale becomes a magnet for monsters and supernatural beings. The town also has a curiosity shop with magical artifacts that create issues for Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, and the other teens at Riverdale High.

Archie’s Weird Mysteries feels like the middle point between Scooby Doo and Widow’s Bay. Much like Mayor Loftis in Widow’s Bay, the main characters face a different paranormal entity every episode. It has a small-town ambiance. Both Widow’s Bay and Riverdale almost feel insular.

The story also leans into the mystery of the supernatural entities. The characters are just as quirky and comedic as those in Widow’s Bay. On top of that, the monsters are only a problem for the main characters because they’re in Riverdale. It’s the town that is the root cause, not the characters. Ultimately, Archie’s Weird Mysteries is a great choice for viewers who want a show that feels like Widow’s Bay but can be watched with children.

1

Ghosts

Like Shining Vale, the British TV show Ghosts is another haunted house horror-comedy that is perfect for fans of Widow’s Bay. The show centers on Alison, a woman who inherits a haunted mansion. She and her husband move in, not knowing that they’re walking into a house that’s packed with ghosts from different generations, all of whom died there. Instead of trying to get rid of them, she decides to find a way to live alongside them.

Ghosts has the same sitcom dynamic as Widow’s Bay, rather than feeling like an ordinary horror-comedy. Ghost’s British humor feels very similar to Widow’s Bay’s gallows humor. Both stories also have supernatural entities connected to a specific location. In the case of Widow’s Bay, it’s an island instead of a mansion.

What’s more, there seems to be no real way to get rid of the paranormal beings, so the characters in both locations decide to cohabitate with them. The townsfolk know that Widow’s Bay is filled with folk horrors, but they would rather stay and be superstitious than leave. The tension between oddball characters also contributes to the comedy in both Ghosts and Widow’s Bay. Ultimately, Ghosts may not have the folk horror element of Widow’s Bay, but it’s still a great follow-up.