Widow’s Bay

What’s it about?

A horror-comedy about a mayor who is trying to boost tourism on his island, despite the fact it might legitimately be cursed.

The facts

• Written and created by Katie Dippold (Parks and Recreation)
• Directed by Hiro Murai (Station Eleven)
• Starring Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me), Stephen Root (Barry), Kate O’Flynn (Landscapers), and Kevin Carroll (The Walking Dead)
• English language
• Runtime: Ten episodes approximately 48 minutes each

Why did it get this rating?

This series was self-rated by Apple TV. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Content that may disturb

There are a number of jump scares as well as more prolonged spooky scenes, including atmospheric, foggy, dark settings. Much of the horror includes “folk horror”-type characters such as a scary clown, a boogieman, and a sea hag, and these can be frightening in appearance. There is reference to human sacrifices.

Violence

A horror-style character is set alight and shot with bullets. This character carries a knife and tries – sometimes successfully – to stab and slash people. Only some blood is seen.

Offensive language

When characters are surprised or stressed, they sometimes use offensive language, which includes “f*ck”, “sh*t”, “Jesus Christ”, and “ass”. The slur “r*tard” is used once.

Domestic violence

A character is depicted in a rage and strangling his wife with his hands. She manages to escape.

Drug use

Teenage characters smoke cannabis. Another character mistakenly takes a hallucinogenic drug and spends the episode disorientated and unable to keep track of time and reality.

Suicide

We see a minor character after they have hung themself.

Sexual violence themes

One of the supernatural characters climbs between a man’s legs and attempts to sit on his face to kill him.

There is a brief reference to child grooming in one episode. Historical inter-sibling incest is also mentioned.

Sexual references

There are mild sexual references (“he made a pass”) and flirting, usually for comic effect.

When content stays with you

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?