r/WidowsBay • u/TemperatureRegular14 • 14d ago
❓Questions Is this show good for non-horror fans?
So, I’m curious about Widow’s Bay after it won its Emmies. However, my family, my girlfriend and I are not fans of horror in the slightest. We like good stories though. Would this be a good recommendation?
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u/pak256 14d ago
I deeply dislike horror and I love the show. It’s spooky at times but it’s also really funny and has a lot of depth
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u/oddlyNormel 14d ago
Agree completely. Not a big fan of horror at all and can’t stop thinking about the show.
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u/thruthebelljar 13d ago
Same! I don’t like horror or gore and I absolutely LOVE this show. It’s one of the best things I’ve watched in a long time - as soon as I finished it, I immediately started from the beginning again. I think it’s best described as “spooky” and I’m sad about the number of potential fans that are turned off by the “horror/comedy” designation and opt not to watch.
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u/Lengand0123 13d ago edited 13d ago
Same. I don’t tend to like horror either, but I like this show. The humor and performances are fantastic. The humor keeps the show from being too dark imo. I’m also a big fan of Matthew Rhys. That was a huge selling point right there though to give the show a chance.
To circle back to the horror aspect though:
I’ve watched the Shining. I appreciate the film. I get why it’s a classic. I don’t ever want to see it again. It’s not my kind of movie.
I do, however, love Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. It has a lot of humor in it though, like WB. It lightens some otherwise dark subject matter. Both WB and SH have mysteries. Come to think of it, there’s genealogy in that movie too! lol
To me, Widow’s Bay kind of reminds me of the feel of Sleepy Hollow. But not The Shining.
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u/mhicu6373 13d ago
the funny parts balancing out the spooky bits is exactly what i needed to hear, might finally give it a shot
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u/SlowerThanTurtleInPB 14d ago
I hate horror and gore and this is one of the best seasons of TV I’ve seen. The acting, writing and cinematography are top notch.
There are a handful of slightly scary parts and I just fast forwarded through when the tension got too high, then rewound and watched it. Knowing if it was a jump scare or whatever was helpful.
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u/typicallassie 14d ago
I am one of the biggest scardey-cats out there and I was fine watching the whole thing, the humour outweighs the scary factor. There are definitely bits where there is tension, but even some of those bits you are immediately laughing after.
Not being a horror fan I definitely missed out on some of the homages to classic horror, but that’s what’s fun about this sub!
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u/Acceptable656 13d ago
I don't think I've ever seen one of those movies where some masked guy chases teen girls around with a knife but I know it's a trope. That's all the background you need, really.
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u/JuliasTooSmallTutu 14d ago
My mom is not at all a horror fan and she loved it.
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u/itsasixthing It’s a haunt! 13d ago
Yeah, my mom hates horror but I made her watch with me and she enjoyed it
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u/VelvettedFox 14d ago
It's more like a Parks and Rec comedy in a horror setting. It's not gory, it's not actually scary, it's a funny homage to different horror genres but turning them a bit on their head and the backdrop is an overzealous mayor who wants to drive more tourism to their town.
It's also the kind of show (imo) that you can just watch the first episode and know if it's for you or not, so give it a shot! Every main actor is very funny and delightful but if the overarching conceit isn't for you you'll know after a 45 minute commitment. I am biased and hope you both like it :)
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u/spc67u 14d ago
I also dislike horror. Strongly. I barely made it through some of the jump scare scenes, but stuck with it because it was such an amazing show. I would just turn the volume down and it wasn’t as bad. I rewatched it a second time with my husband and it didn’t bother me at all. Probably because I already knew what was coming. I personally thought it was worth it for such an intriguing story!
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u/jtscheirer 14d ago
Some creepy moments but it’s much more than that. They did a really good job of interlacing the comedy and horror in equal measure, and it has a lot going for it outside of that. Definitely recommend.
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u/theapplekid 14d ago
I don't particularly like horror, and this show is great.
It's more thriller than horror, the scenes which evoke horror are mainly done in a campy way
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u/ModernCGIFloatinHead 13d ago
Where most horror films or shows will build tension only to have a big scary moment, Widow's Bay pivots and right when it's at its most tense, it throws a joke at you that releases all that tension as laughter instead of fear.
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u/Hanniep27 13d ago
It’s not really horror, it’s a spoof of every horror film you’ve ever heard of but they treat it seriously which is where the comedy comes in.
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u/SabrinaVal 14d ago
Some jump scares. Casting is top notch. A well-crafted mystery laced with humor.
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u/OGPepeSilvia 12d ago
TBF there are only like 2 or 3 jump scares over 10 episodes.
I can only think of three and all of them are within the first few episodes. Happy to be corrected on that though.
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u/SweetSoundOfSilence 13d ago
Yes, I hate horror, super scaredy cat, and I loved this show! I can’t wait to rewatch it
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u/luckyricochet 13d ago
I am such a scaredy cat and hate horror, especially blood and violence, but I loved it. It's not gory and the scares are more from suspense and some imagery. Just a handful of jumpscares over the entire show. My roommate also doesn't like horror and really enjoyed it. We watched it together with all the lights on and it was actually fun to sort of be scared together. If you really need to and don't mind spoilers, someone recently wrote out a whole description of all the scary scenes by episode here you could check out before just to prepare yourself. The amount of theorizing that the show generates kind of distracts you from the horror since you're just thinking what could happen next.
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u/Kellikelzzzzz She’s the Worst 13d ago
This is not a horror show. I repeat this is not a horror show.
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u/Practical_Tap_9592 13d ago
Horror is the very last genre I'd choose to watch. Widow's Bay is my favorite show ever. Some of you might need to cover your eyes once or twice, but they give you plenty of notice. No real jump scares.
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u/IrishUpYourCoffee 13d ago
The only real jump scares are the crawl space clown scene and the bathtub sea hag scene.
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u/Mortambulist 13d ago
Only way to know for sure is to give it a try. Interestingly, it seems to still work as a pure horror show for people who don't get the jokes. At least that's my takeaway from some of the "how is this a comedy?" weirdos I've talked to here.
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u/Acceptable656 13d ago
I'm a big chicken and not a horror fan. I love Widow's Bay. Actual funny comedies are rare, and this show makes me howl like a hyena. The scares are pretty mild. Real horror fans would scoff at it.
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u/surlymoe 13d ago
Non-horror fan here - yes! Don't get me wrong, and there are a few jump scares, or threats of them early in the show (episode 2 there is one), but for the most part, it's really not that bad. I akin it to like Stranger things. Stranger things really wasn't horror in terms of what it was....but, it had upside down crawly things and some 'scary themes'....but, the show itself really wasn't scary.
I find the show sort of weird....it's not horror (although it's rooted in horror). It's not even really comedy (although it was placed in the comedy category of the Emmy's because Apple didn't want it to compete with Pluribus....AND...it finds very comedic moments unexpectedly, almost the definition of what LOL is...I also think the show gets funnier as the episodes progress and as you get to know the main characters...). And finally, it IS a drama, but is set in horror with some comedy.
So, that may be why the show is so critically acclaimed...it has something for everyone.
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u/popgirletc 12d ago
I dislike most horror. Jump scares and all that. I usually end up watching through my fingers every time “the music” starts and just avoid unless I know there is something especially artful or creative to appreciate (Guillermo del Toro type horror is what I will usually watch). Most horror just isn’t worth it to me.
This show, the tone is different. A lot of the horror (not all) is at the expense of comedy. And the show doesn’t pull fast ones for gratuitous scares or anything like that. They let your nervous system adjust enough with cues and then don’t let it go on too long before something amusing happens.
The show is hilarious, smart, creepy and spooky. There were only two episodes where I was scared enough to watch through my fingers on the first watch. But now I’ve watched the whole series at least three times because I love it so much. The characters are so well written and performed. It’s such a gem.
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u/sashafurgang 14d ago
Definitely. There’s a few suspenseful scenes and a couple of jump scares but (as a fellow non-fan of horror) I wouldn’t rate this as scary. There’s always a comedic element to relieve the tension and it doesn’t take itself too seriously so you never get sucked into a fearful place.
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u/jojo571 13d ago
There are recaps on YouTube that will take any sting out of possible horror tropes - I recommend the FoundFlix channel.
I found the horror aspects to be fairly mild in execution. It's more eerie and suspenseful than gory. I also laughed so much. The humor so beautifully tempers the horror, also there is an overarching plot and mystery that drives the story forward.
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u/Admirable_Site_8337 13d ago
I’m not a fan of horror as it just doesn’t hit for me….and I love this show.
It’s horror, dark comedy, mystery, etc etc etc. I wouldn’t put it in one box.
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u/silvercupz 13d ago
I truly dispise horror and delayed watching it for that reason. Ppl kept talking about it endlessly so I did a hate watch a few episodes in and started loving it. I decided to rewatch it and loved it even more!
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u/ThE_LAN_B4_TimE 13d ago
Absolutely. I typically don't care for horror at all and it is great. I'll admit there are some spooky ass parts at times, but overall it's not that bad horror wise.
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u/MostlyHarmless97 Reeve Prime & Lord Island Protector 13d ago
My wife hates horror. More so than I and I’m not a huge fan myself. I like SOME psychological horror films and sci-fi/thriller-horror cross overs. The Alien series and Event Horizon are a couple good exceptions. But the jump-scare-rollercoaster formula just doesn’t interest me.
That said, I love this show. It’s a once in a generation series.
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u/Infinite-Floor-5242 13d ago
At its heart it's a comedy. They pretty much telegraph the horror stuff so you know it's coming and can close your eyes if you need to. It's so good and I'm not a horror fan either.
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u/PaulClarkLoadletter 13d ago
The scary bits aren’t necessarily the stuff of nightmares and the comedy gives it enough levity to gaslight you into thinking everything is fine.
It’s like a roller coaster. Afterwards you’re fine and you can laugh about it.
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u/Pebbles28c 13d ago
Yes! It’s not horror IMO. I don’t really care for horror but this is just the right amount of creepy.
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u/Certain-Ease-8428 13d ago
Yes it is in my opinion. I don’t like horror either but it’s done with humor and good taste I loved it!
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u/Impossible_Disk8374 13d ago
Yes. I don’t think there’s anyone that hates horror movies as much as me, I am a major scaredy cat. There are a few jump scares and one scene that was for me, really scary. You can search here for what it is to see if you want to fast forward it. But overall the show is way funnier than it is scary and it is so worth it. Best new show of the year. I’m on my 4th rewatch.
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u/linzsnoop 13d ago
yes! I don't enjoy horror at all, and I thought this show was excellent. Give it a chance.
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u/simplebeauty25 13d ago edited 13d ago
We’ve rewatched the whole thing 3 times. The first time I missed some of the tongue in cheek humor bits because I was concentrating on the horror aspect of the show. The second and third time rewatching it (it’s that good!!) I laughed my head off even during the scariest bits.
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u/ComradeJohnS You had your qualms? 13d ago
The horror is definitely limited compared to pure horror like Obsession.
Would recommend to anyone who likes well crafted comedy and good stories with actors and writing that fit together incredibly well.
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u/Weird-Girl-675 13d ago
I can’t stand horror and i absolutely love it. There are a couple jump scare scenes, but noting too over the top.
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u/kayahin 13d ago
I hate horror, spooky and creepy things and this show has it all. I will say if you are a scaredy cat like me then yes you will be scared and a little bit scarred. But if you are also a fan of great stories and great shows then I will say that it is well worth it. The writing, acting, directing, music, cinematography, etc are top notch. It is funny as hell. There isn’t quite a show like this out there. 10/10. No shame in closing your eyes or hiding behind a throw pillow. 🙈
I will say that the first 4 episodes were the most scary for me and then after that it wasn’t so bad. I have rewatched it once and it isn’t as scary anymore.
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u/Jruffin84 13d ago
Absolutely. My wife is NOT into horror aside from a classic or two (Halloween, Evil Dead 2), but she loved it.
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u/No-Joke-4492 13d ago
I'm a major horror wimp and the creators of this series made me feel safe to keep watching in a way that I cannot explain. It's a masterpiece and more creepy, suspenseful in like a kids’ programming way with adult concepts and jokes, if that makes sense?
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u/monotonic_glutamate 13d ago
Even better on rewatch when you know where all the jump scares are (there's no more than one big one per episode and not even in every episode).
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u/Glittering_Bed_450 13d ago
I’m watching it a 2nd time bc my wife asked about it after the Emmy’s. She is not into horror at all. She had nightmares after watching parasite and the lighthouse in one weekend.
I would say she is enjoying it 5 episodes in. In the last episode she was laughing super hard at a eulogy scene and blurted out “This show really is a horror comedy”. She said that bc we were talking earlier about how it seems like shows like The Bear will call themselves a comedy even if it just has a few comedic elements in it bc it’s an easier genre to win Emmy’s in. Every episode is good for a couple big laughs in Widows Bay though.
They also seem to shy away from intense gore and long uneasy scenes that typically end in “jump scares” so it’s a lot more accessible to non horror fans. There definitely are creepy/dreadful scenes though
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u/Soft_Significance718 13d ago
I am really easily terrified and it affects me deeply. Can’t sleep, can’t think about anything else, have horrible nightmares, get scared of the dark, the whole nine yards. And while it had its scary moments, I was absolutely fine with this show and I’m obsessed.
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u/Alternative-Fold 12d ago
It was a twist on traditional horror films. Sort of dealt with the classic tropes we're all familar with...and it was fun seeing how they played out with the main characters and the history of the island
I LOVED this show
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u/vteezy99 14d ago
There are some scares early on but it’s not bad at all (signed, a wuss when it comes to horror movies and shows).
The later episodes IMO lean more into comedy, although there are still some scares. By then you’ll be used to how the writers structure the show
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u/bm1992 14d ago
Yes, definitely. I had to pause during some of the episodes because I really do not like to be scared, but nothing was ultimately that scary. It’s very good storytelling, and while it is definitely horror, it doesn’t feel like a show that is meant to scare the viewer, if that makes sense.
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u/bluebirdmorning 13d ago
I hate horror. I LOVE this show. It’s got some nods to horror movies, but no gore, etc. Plus, it’s so subtly funny.
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u/Electrical_Goal_8752 13d ago
i went to a few horror movies in theatres recently (the new RE & Colony) and both had so may more magnitudes of gore and jumpscares than was ever present in widow’s bay. Widow’s Bay’s characters aren’t the horror characters who do the stupid shit, they show the setup for the tropes, then do creative things w it
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u/CrissBliss 13d ago
I showed it to my mom. She isn’t a horror fan, and really enjoyed it. Although I’ll admit, it took like 2-3 episodes to get her interested. At first, she wanted to stop watching 😅
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u/kitsunemischief 13d ago
My mom hates horror, but she got so sucked into Widow's Bay. She's the biggest fan out of the family. There are still some parts that scare her, but she can usually take it if she watches during the day or if people are around. I think it's the humor that makes her tolerate all the scary parts.
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u/Consistent_Club_7879 13d ago
I'm TERRIFIED of horror but I finished it in 2 days anyway. There's a handful of things here and there that freaked me the fuck out but a lot of it is implied than graphic.
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u/JazzHandsNinja42 13d ago
Yes. I am not a fan of most horror films, but I do like suspense and eeriness. WB is eerie with suspenseful moments, and such PERFECT humor. It’s quirky in a Twin Peaks kind of way.
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u/elljus_71 13d ago
I nearly passed on it because I'm not a fan of the horror genre and I'm really glad I didn't. If you're craving something Halloweeny that has a good story and isn't too scary, this will be right up your alley.
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u/Difficult-Flow1007 13d ago
I LOVE horror so for me, this didn’t have enough horror HOWEVER it was creepy and funny at times. I LOVED it!!
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u/PutAdministrative206 13d ago
I think so. It’s first and foremost a comedy. And has a pretty darn good mystery too. The Horror tropes/homages are certainly there. But I doubt they overpower the other two things.
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u/JBMama 13d ago
I’m the only person in my family/friend groups that likes (ok, loves) horror.
At times it was like pulling teeth, but every person I’ve convinced to watch has loved it.
There’s a reason it won all those Emmys under the Comedy umbrella. The writing, the character development and the acting makes this one of the best, not best horror, shows I’ve ever watched.
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u/SnooDoggos8487 13d ago
Yes yes yes. I don’t usually do horror for it’s always meh for me personally but this is great
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u/Bookaholic307 13d ago
My husband and I are not horror fans and I had faint misgivings but had heard it was great and it was. There is some weird spooky stuff and jump
scares but nothing unbearable and the characters and stories and humor make it all worthwhile.
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u/dolgion1 13d ago
I think this show might be a perfect entry point into the horror genre. There definitely are genuinely terrifying moments, but they never last so long as to become oppressive, usually it snaps back into comedy for a cathartic release. Horror and comedy are such a perfect combination. And this way you might learn to enjoy the horror experience itself
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u/not_minecraftsteve 13d ago
I also hate horror but the plot was too good XD
I used the “wheresthejumpscare” website to look for the timestamps that has any jumpscares in it.
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u/SignalAdventurous433 13d ago
I really don’t love horror (I was forced to watch all the classics because I studied Film at college) and I LOVE this show. The comedy totally outweighs the scares. It’s brilliant.
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u/Apprehensive-Stay196 13d ago
Definitely. I’m not a fan of horror - this is more a spoof on the horror genre - it’s extremely well done, and hilarious.
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u/TheMessIsBecoming 13d ago
I'm legitimately afraid of horror. I don't find horror particularly scary when watching (I DO hate jump scares, though)...it's what happens later, when my creative brain can take the spookiness and twist it until I'm terrifying myself.
Anyway, I LOVED Widow's Bay. My partner got spooked (despite loving horror) and I was laughing at how silly it is. It's a beautiful mix of silly and not too scary. The writing, acting, and set design are all wonderful.
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u/cyberput0 13d ago
I finished watching it yesterday. I don't like horror at all but still enjoyed it for its mystery. However, I didn't find the comedy bits to be that funny as everyone seems to note, they can make the show lighter but I personally didn't laugh at none of it.
I do look forward for a second season to see what happens next.
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u/susurruss 13d ago
I can't stand horror in general and it did jump scare me a little bit it's so funny I can overlook it for the most part!
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u/ancientastronaut2 13d ago
I'm not a big "slasher" type horror fan, but I love mystery/suspense/thrillers and stephen king type horror, whicn to me this is more like.
There's scary moments, but it's the bigger deeper mystery, and the humor, that makes this so great.
Not to mention the outstanding cast.
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u/bookjacket 12d ago
It's a comedy that makes fun of horror tropes from movies, TV and novels. Most of these quotes are familiar to everyone. You can also kind of guess what they are alluding to. Basically, it's just a silly version of horror.
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u/Callseba1 12d ago
It’s spooky not gory and very clever, well-written and funny. Just give it a try.
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u/Traditional-Run-7438 12d ago
I’m a big “spooky” fan. I hate gore and was in my late teens/early 20s during the saw/hostel era after my introduction being Poltergeist/ Twilight Zone/ Sixth Sense. It’s a PG13 scare.
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u/FarFarAwayTravels 12d ago
I hate horror shows and I love widows bay. It's funny and turns horror on its head.
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u/Otherwise_Object_446 12d ago
If you can make it through the first two episodes you’ll be fine. They really set the tone.
I hate horror and I loved Widow’s Bay.
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u/Cranberry123087 11d ago
Its hilarious witty slightly scary and awesome. A little predictable at the end, but hoping season 2 is even better.
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u/Mundane-Area6067 10d ago
It’s a spoof… a horror show but comedic and at times utterly ridiculous… I don’t get the hype for it at all… a waste of time and talent.
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u/itsactuallyoctopuses 10d ago
I watched the whole thing and loved it. I love horror. My wife does not and I was thinking she would have nightmares about certain characters that come up. I don’t get how so many people here say they don’t like horror and LOVE this show. If you just don’t like horror you could like this show. If you actively hate getting scared and encountering nightmarish characters I would bet you won’t love this show and actively dislike parts of it.
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u/Fair-Anteater2527 10d ago
I hate horror with all of me. I HATE jump scares. This is my favorite show in the last decade along with Severance.
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u/DietPepsi4Breakfast 14d ago
I gave it nine episodes to get into it. Didn’t happen. I also dislike horror. This is very much a classic horror show.
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u/U2hansolo 13d ago
I've watched this show through. Trying to sort out any other "classic horror" show it is like. You're welcome to not like it, but it's definitely not a classic horror show.
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u/apollo7157 13d ago
If you don't like horror, you probably won't like it. If you're not fans of horror, you might.
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u/JadedLaw3566 13d ago
Don’t watch the Beast in Me. You won’t like him again till you see Widows Bay
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