10 Best Horror Shows Like Widow's Bay to Watch Next
If you have finished Widow’s Bay and want another place where the locals know something the visitor does not, the best follow-up depends on what hooked you. Was it the isolated island and its curse? The nervous mayor trying to make tourism work? Or the way a genuinely unsettling story can stop for a perfectly timed joke before the danger returns?
Created by Katie Dippold, the Apple TV series takes place on a small New England island whose residents have long believed their community is cursed. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) hopes to revive the town by attracting tourists and creating a better future for his son. As visitors begin arriving, old stories that once sounded like superstition start to seem much harder to dismiss. The result blends supernatural horror with character-driven comedy and a town full of people who do not always agree on what to do next.
There is no exact substitute for that combination. Our ten recommendations share different parts of it: cursed or isolated places, outsiders investigating local secrets, supernatural threats treated with humour, and communities whose personalities matter as much as the mystery. Some are much darker than Widow’s Bay; others are gentler or more overtly comic. We make those differences clear so you can choose the mood you actually want.
The ranking considers how closely each show matches the island series' mixture of eerie setting, local relationships, mystery and humour, alongside story strength and rewatch value. It counts down from number 10 to our strongest match at number 1. Two lighter entries are supernatural comedies rather than full horror dramas, but earn their places because their ensembles and comic approach may appeal to the same audience.
Widow’s Bay itself is available on Apple TV in the UK. The notes below were checked in October 2026; streaming rights and individual seasons can change, so check the linked listing before subscribing or buying. Descriptions avoid major endings. Let’s get into it
Support That Love Podcast
Enjoying the recommendations? If you enjoy our entertainment coverage, you can help support That Love Podcast and keep independent articles and original audio stories coming.Donate to That Love Podcast.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. If you sign up or make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, That Love Podcast may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
10. Ghosts (2019–2023)
Image source:British Comedy Guide· Image credit: BBC
Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) inherits Button House, a crumbling country estate, and moves in with her husband Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe). The couple hope to repair the property and turn it into a business, but after an accident Alison discovers she can see and hear the ghosts already living there. The spirits come from different historical periods, have strong opinions about their home and do not necessarily welcome the couple's plans. Mike cannot see them, leaving Alison to negotiate between the living and the dead while the bills and renovation problems continue.
Ghosts is a supernatural sitcom rather than a horror show, and it is much warmer and less frightening than Widow’s Bay. Its connection lies in the ensemble: a group of eccentric residents has a long relationship with a place that newcomers hope to turn into a viable business. Alison and Mike's plans depend on understanding people whose attachment to the property is more complicated than a commercial calculation.
The ghosts' different eras provide a steady source of misunderstandings, while their shared confinement makes them an unusual community. Characters such as Pat, Kitty, Julian and the Captain can be selfish, irritating and unexpectedly supportive. The comedy becomes more rewarding as their histories and relationships come into focus.
If your favourite part of Widow’s Bay is the interplay between local personalities, this is a comforting change of pace. If you want an active curse and frequent scares, it will feel considerably gentler. The contrast is worth knowing before you press play.
Why it ranks here:Ghosts earns tenth for its supernatural ensemble and conflict over a place, but its affectionate sitcom tone is much less horror-led than the shows above it.
Best for:Viewers who want eccentric characters and supernatural comedy without sustained terror.
Where to watch in the UK:BBC iPlayer and Sky Go have listed the original British series; check Ghosts on JustWatch.
Listen to That Love Podcast
Need something to listen to after your binge? Discover original romantic audio dramas, comedies and stories from That Love Podcast.Listen to the episodes.
9. Wellington Paranormal (2018–2022)
Officers Minogue (Mike Minogue) and O'Leary (Karen O'Leary) work for the Wellington police and are assigned to investigate events that do not fit ordinary explanations. Under Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), they encounter demons, ghosts and other supernatural disturbances while trying to conduct themselves like sensible officers. Their investigations rarely give them the reassurance of a normal procedure, but they approach each new problem with the calm, practical manner of people who still have paperwork to finish.
The mockumentary format turns official seriousness into a comic tool. The officers interview witnesses and assess scenes as though the impossible events in front of them can be handled with routine police work. Their confidence does not always match their understanding, and that gap is where many of the jokes land.
Widow’s Bay also finds comedy in local authorities trying to manage circumstances much stranger than their job descriptions suggest. Mayor Tom wants to keep a community functioning and presentable, while Minogue and O'Leary want to do their duty. Neither situation becomes less absurd simply because the people in charge are trying to remain professional.
Wellington Paranormal is more episodic and more interested in laughs than in a single town-wide mystery. Individual cases make it easy to sample, though viewers seeking a long-running curse may miss the cumulative tension of Widow’s Bay. Its monsters and effects are part of the fun, rather than a promise of relentless scares.
Why it ranks here:It takes ninth for its supernatural investigations and deadpan officials. It rises above Ghosts for its more overt horror elements, but its case-by-case structure is a looser match for the island's continuing story.
Best for:Viewers who want short paranormal cases, mockumentary humour and unflappable police officers.
Where to watch in the UK:Digital purchase has been listed; check Wellington Paranormal on JustWatch.
8. Castle Rock (2018–2019)
Image credit:Hulu
Henry Deaver (André Holland) returns to Castle Rock, Maine, after a mysterious young man is discovered imprisoned beneath Shawshank. Henry has a complicated history with the town: he disappeared there as a child and grew up under the shadow of unanswered questions about his adoptive father. As he tries to understand the prisoner's situation, he encounters people whose memories and secrets suggest that Castle Rock's problems reach beyond a single case.
The series draws on places and ideas associated with Stephen King's fiction, but it tells its own story rather than requiring viewers to know every reference. Castle Rock is a community where an institution, a family history and an apparently impossible discovery all feed the same sense of unease. Henry's return makes the investigation personal because the town is not simply a place he can observe from a safe distance.
Widow’s Bay viewers who liked the feeling that a town has been living with old trouble may find a similar pull here. Castle Rock is considerably darker and less comic, and its mystery is rooted in Maine rather than an island tourism campaign. Both ask how much a place's history can influence the people who remain there.
The first season is the most direct recommendation for Henry's return and the strange prisoner; the second follows a different central story in the same broader setting. The slow release of information can be absorbing, though viewers looking for the regular jokes of Widow’s Bay should expect a more sombre experience.
Why it ranks here:Castle Rock earns eighth for its small-town history and outsider-returning-home mystery. It beats Wellington Paranormal for sustained atmosphere, but its heavier tone makes it a less complete match than the horror-comedies above it.
Best for:Fans of Stephen King-inspired settings, family secrets and slow-building dread.
Where to watch in the UK:Digital purchase has been listed; check Castle Rock on JustWatch.
7. What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024)
Image credit:FX
Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) share a home on Staten Island while navigating the practical frustrations of vampire life. Nandor's human familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) handles much of the work and hopes that his loyalty might one day be rewarded. A documentary crew follows the household as ancient habits collide with modern neighbours, supernatural politics and the difficulty of keeping a home functioning.
The series is a horror-comedy rather than a frightening mystery. Its vampires are dangerous in principle, but they are also petty, vain and frequently baffled by ordinary responsibilities. Guillermo often becomes the person who must deal with the consequences of their decisions, giving the household a human perspective on their extravagant self-image.
The link to Widow’s Bay is tonal. Both find humour in the distance between how people want to appear and the strange realities they must manage. Where Tom Loftis wants to present a cursed island as a desirable tourist destination, the vampires would like to maintain their own grand view of themselves while coping with much less glamorous problems.
There is no central town curse to solve, and the mockumentary format produces a more overtly comic experience. The supernatural ensemble and sharply defined personalities nevertheless make it a good choice if the jokes are what you most want to carry over from Widow’s Bay.
Why it ranks here:What We Do in the Shadows takes seventh for its excellent supernatural ensemble and comic confidence. It sits above Castle Rock for tonal similarity, though its household setting and lighter scares keep it below the closer community mysteries.
Best for:Viewers who want vampire comedy, eccentric housemates and a long-running ensemble.
Where to watch in the UK:Disney+ and BBC iPlayer have listed the series; check current seasons.
6. From (2022–)
Image credit:MGM+
The Matthews family is travelling in an RV when a blocked road leads them into a small town they cannot leave. Every attempt to drive away brings them back, and local sheriff Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau) explains the rules that have kept some residents alive. At night, creatures emerge and try to lure people outside or into opening their homes. The newcomers must find shelter, understand a community built around survival and work out whether there is any route back to the lives they left behind.
From makes the town itself a trap. Residents have developed routines, rules and disagreements over how to survive, but nobody can offer the Matthews family a simple account of why the place works as it does. Boyd's authority matters because the danger is immediate: an argument over whether to follow a rule can have consequences before morning.
Widow’s Bay fans will recognise the appeal of a place where local warnings deserve more respect than an outsider initially gives them. From is far more frightening and violent, with much less comic relief. Its residents are not trying to attract tourists; they are trying to stay alive and escape. The comparison is strongest for the town-wide mystery and the tension between newcomers and established local knowledge.
Perrineau gives Boyd a compelling burden as someone expected to lead without possessing complete answers. The series can be frustrating if you prefer mysteries that resolve quickly, because new questions accumulate over time. For viewers who enjoy discussing theories and following a community under pressure, that uncertainty is part of the attraction.
Why it ranks here:From places sixth for its dangerous town, local rules and community leader. It outranks the vampire comedy for sustained mystery, but its severe tone is further from Widow’s Bay's blend of scares and laughs than the top five.
Best for:Horror fans who want a frightening trapped-town mystery and can tolerate graphic danger.
Where to watch in the UK:Sky Go and NOW have listed the show; check From on JustWatch.
You May Also Like
For more supernatural stories and unsettling mysteries:
5. The Third Day (2020)
Image source:Bulles de Culture· Image credit: HBO / Sky
Sam (Jude Law) travels to Osea, an island connected to the British mainland by a causeway that can only be crossed at certain times. The residents are preparing for a festival, and their customs become increasingly unsettling to a visitor who does not understand the island's history. In another part of the story, Helen (Naomie Harris) arrives with her children seeking a break, only to encounter the community from a different and increasingly difficult position. Both visitors must decide whom to trust when the tide and local traditions limit their choices.
The causeway makes isolation a practical problem rather than merely a mood. A visitor who wants to leave cannot assume the road will be available, and the residents' knowledge of the place gives them an advantage. The island's ceremonies and stories create questions about whether the threat comes from belief, human behaviour or something harder to explain.
That combination should appeal to viewers who enjoyed Widow’s Bay's island setting and old local legends. The Third Day is much more sombre and deliberately disorienting; its humour is not the main attraction. It asks you to sit with grief and ritual rather than offering a mayor whose attempts to manage the community regularly invite a laugh.
The divided narrative gives the island more than one perspective, with Helen's arrival changing how earlier events can be understood. Some viewers may find the structure demanding, but it gives the setting a sense of history beyond a single visitor's experience.
Why it ranks here:The Third Day enters the top five for its island geography, local rituals and outsider perspective. It ranks above From for its folk-horror atmosphere, though its seriousness makes it a less complete tonal match than the top four.
Best for:Viewers who want eerie island traditions and slow-building psychological tension.
Where to watch in the UK:Sky Go has listed the series; check The Third Day on JustWatch.
4. Midnight Mass (2021)
Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford) returns to Crockett Island after serving time for a fatal accident, hoping to rebuild a relationship with his family and find a place in the community he left. Around the same time, Father Paul (Hamish Linklater) arrives to lead the island's church. When residents begin experiencing apparent miracles, hope spreads quickly, but Riley, Erin Greene (Kate Siegel), Sheriff Hassan (Rahul Kohli) and others notice troubling changes. The islanders must decide what to believe as events threaten to divide people who depend on one another.
Crockett Island shares Widow’s Bay's sense of a community whose isolation shapes every decision. A ferry, a church and a limited number of neighbours make the consequences of a strange event difficult to contain. The island is not simply a backdrop for horror: it determines who has authority, who is believed and how quickly a new story can become a shared conviction.
Father Paul's arrival gives the mystery a compelling human centre. Linklater plays a man whose warmth and urgency can make his message attractive, even as the audience is invited to question what he understands about the events around him. Riley's scepticism comes from a different set of experiences, and the tension between their perspectives gives the series much of its force.
Midnight Mass is far more reflective and less comic than Widow’s Bay. Mike Flanagan's limited series spends time on grief, guilt and faith, with long conversations before some of its most frightening developments. That pace is rewarding if you want emotional depth, but it is not a direct replacement for a fast-moving horror-comedy.
Why it ranks here:Midnight Mass takes fourth for its island community, persuasive central figure and growing supernatural danger. It beats The Third Day for its richly developed ensemble, while the three shows above come closer to Widow’s Bay's mixture of mystery and humour.
Best for:Viewers who want slow-building island horror and a story about belief and grief.
Where to watch in the UK:Netflix; check Midnight Mass availability.
3. Twin Peaks (1990–1991)
Image credit:ABC
FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) arrives in the logging town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of teenager Laura Palmer. Working with local sheriff Harry Truman (Michael Ontkean), he meets residents whose relationships, businesses and secrets make the apparently peaceful community much more complicated than it first appears. As Cooper follows the evidence, dreams and uncanny experiences begin to influence the investigation, raising the possibility that the town's darkness cannot be understood through conventional police work alone.
Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, Twin Peaks combines a murder mystery with humour, melodrama and supernatural unease. Cooper is an outsider, but his curiosity and unusual methods make him more open to the town's strangeness than a conventional investigator might be. The local characters can be funny, guarded and deeply troubled, sometimes within the same scene.
Widow’s Bay shares the appeal of an apparently picturesque place whose public image cannot contain its secrets. Both allow comedy and horror to exist together, though Twin Peaks is more surreal and often more disturbing. Its central crime also gives the mystery a different emotional weight: Laura's death affects a network of people whose grief and secrets do not all fit one explanation.
The original series has tonal shifts and a second season that some viewers find uneven. Its influence and distinctive atmosphere remain substantial, but it asks for patience with detours. A later revival exists separately; the linked listing covers the original run, so check the exact title and season before starting.
Why it ranks here:Twin Peaks reaches third because its eccentric town, investigation and mixture of humour and dread are a strong match. It sits above Midnight Mass for tonal range, while the top two offer a more direct small-town supernatural-adventure structure.
Best for:Viewers who enjoy surreal mysteries, memorable local characters and unsettling humour.
Where to watch in the UK:Paramount+, MUBI and Prime Video have listed the original series; check Twin Peaks on JustWatch.
2. Haven (2010–2015)
Image source:Serienjunkies· Image credit: Syfy
FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) arrives in the coastal town of Haven, Maine, to investigate a suspicious death. What appears to be a routine assignment draws her into a community where some residents experience dangerous supernatural afflictions known as the Troubles. Local officer Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) and businessman Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour) each have their own connection to the town, and Audrey's investigation begins to uncover questions about her own past as well as Haven's secrets.
Haven offers a particularly close setting match for Widow’s Bay. It is a small coastal community with local knowledge that an outsider has to earn, and the strange events affecting residents are tied to the town's history. The community is not merely frightened by an occasional supernatural visitor; it has developed ways of living with a problem that returns and changes people's lives.
Audrey's perspective makes the show accessible to viewers who like discovering the rules alongside a newcomer. Nathan's local experience and Duke's less official position give her different sources of information, while their relationships help carry the series across individual cases. The Troubles create a recurring mystery without requiring every episode to use the same threat.
Haven is more of a supernatural procedural than a full horror-comedy. It has humour and eccentric townspeople, but its emotional engine is Audrey's search for answers and the consequences of the afflictions. Five seasons make it a larger commitment than a short limited series, and the case-by-case approach may appeal more to viewers who enjoy spending time in one fictional town.
Why it ranks here:Haven takes second for its New England coastal setting, recurring supernatural troubles and outsider-local relationships. It edges out Twin Peaks as a direct follow-up to Widow’s Bay's community premise, while our top pick matches the comedy-horror balance more closely.
Best for:Viewers who want a longer supernatural town mystery with an investigator and recurring local characters.
Where to watch in the UK:The listing checked includes a Lionsgate subscription channel and digital purchase; verify Haven on JustWatch.
1. Stan Against Evil (2016–2018)
Stan Miller (John C. McGinley) is a bad-tempered former sheriff who has lost his job in a small New Hampshire town. His replacement, Evie Barret (Janet Varney), discovers that the community is troubled by demons and a history connected to witchcraft. Stan knows more about the local danger than his attitude initially suggests, so the two form a reluctant partnership: Evie needs help confronting threats that do not fit ordinary police work, while Stan has to accept that someone else now holds the position he used to occupy.
The premise brings together the main pleasures of Widow’s Bay: a small New England community, supernatural trouble rooted in local history and an authority figure who cannot solve everything by appearing confident. Stan's irritation and Evie's determination give the show a comic engine even when the threat in front of them is dangerous. Their partnership also prevents the town's strange history from becoming a collection of disconnected monster appearances.
McGinley's performance makes Stan's complaints part of the entertainment, but the character's knowledge and history give Evie a reason to keep working with him. Varney's Evie has to handle the practical responsibilities of the job while deciding how much she can trust a former sheriff who is not naturally cooperative. The comedy grows from their different responses to the same impossible situation.
The show is more openly ridiculous and episodic than Widow’s Bay, with shorter episodes and creature encounters that often favour broad horror-comedy. It does not reproduce the island's tourism storyline or its exact ensemble. What it shares is the pleasure of watching local officials and residents deal with an old supernatural problem while their personalities make cooperation difficult.
Why it ranks first:Stan Against Evil combines a cursed New England town, local authority figures, supernatural threats and sustained comic conflict more closely than the other recommendations. It edges out Haven because its horror-comedy tone is a better match for Widow’s Bay's blend of scares and laughs.
Best for:Viewers who want short episodes, demons, an irritable former sheriff and a reluctant crime-fighting partnership.
Where to watch in the UK:Prime Video and ITVX have listed the series; check Stan Against Evil on JustWatch.
Which Show Should You Watch First?
For the closest horror-comedy match, start with Stan Against Evil. If the coastal setting and a town with recurring supernatural trouble matter most, choose Haven. Twin Peaks offers an influential, more surreal blend of mystery and humour, while Midnight Mass and The Third Day take the island setting in darker, slower directions.
Choose What We Do in the Shadows or Ghosts when you want the supernatural ensemble with fewer scares. Pick From when the dangerous town and survival rules are the main attraction. Check the current service listing and available seasons before subscribing or buying.
Want to Reach Entertainment Fans?
If you are a brand, author, publisher, streaming company, entertainment business or creator looking to reach an engaged audience, That Love Podcast offers advertising opportunities across the website, podcast and newsletter.Find out more about advertising.
Final Thoughts
The best shows like Widow’s Bay understand that a strange place becomes more interesting when the people who live there have their own competing priorities. A mayor may want visitors, a sheriff may want order and a newcomer may simply want to leave. A supernatural threat makes those ordinary goals harder—and sometimes much funnier.
Stan Against Evil is our closest tonal match, with Haven a strong choice for a longer coastal-town mystery. For a more serious island experience, Midnight Mass is the pick. Which one would you watch next?
You May Also Like
Continue with more crime and mystery guides:
Support and Listen
Help us continue independent entertainment coverage and original audio storytelling bydonating to That Love Podcast. You can also listen to our latest episodes.
You May Also Like
Explore more thriller and detective recommendations:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Widow’s Bay about?
Mayor Tom Loftis tries to bring tourists to an isolated New England island, despite local warnings that the town is cursed. As visitors arrive, old supernatural stories begin to appear dangerously real.
Where can I watch Widow’s Bay in the UK?
The series is available on Apple TV. Check the current listing and subscription terms before watching.
Which show is most like Widow’s Bay?
Our closest match is Stan Against Evil, which combines a small New England town, supernatural threats, local officials and comedy.
Which recommendation has a similar coastal setting?
Haven follows an FBI agent investigating strange events in a Maine coastal town. The Third Day and Midnight Mass also use isolated islands as important parts of their stories.
Which show is funniest?
What We Do in the Shadows and Wellington Paranormal are overt comedies. Stan Against Evil combines broad humour with demons and a small-town curse.
Which show is the scariest?
From, Midnight Mass and parts of Castle Rock are considerably darker or more frightening than the lighter supernatural comedies on this list. Check content guidance before choosing.
Is Ghosts a horror show?
The original British Ghosts is primarily a supernatural sitcom. It is included for viewers who enjoyed Widow’s Bay's eccentric ensemble and humour, not because it offers the same level of horror.
Is Twin Peaks connected to Widow’s Bay?
No. They are separate shows, but both combine a small community, mystery, eccentric characters and moments of humour and unease.
Which recommendation is a limited series?
Midnight Mass and The Third Day are limited series. They are useful choices if you want a shorter commitment than Haven or From.
Are these shows suitable for children?
Several contain graphic violence, disturbing imagery or adult themes. Ghosts is gentler than many of the others, but families should check each show's current age rating and content guidance.
Sources and Viewing
Join the Newsletter
Visit That Love Podcast to join the newsletter for entertainment recommendations and new stories.
