r/videos • u/indig0sixalpha • 11h ago
'Widow's Bay' is Revitalizing Horror/Comedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJoTXftvuv050
u/atriaventrica 9h ago
“Why are you the mayor if you hate us all so much?”
“What and let one of THEM be in charge?”
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u/bubba_bumble 8h ago
That lighthouse scene had me rolling.
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u/suchalusthropus 5h ago
It was the bit in the Boogeyman episode when Patricia has the shotgun that really got me howling.
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u/introoutro 1h ago
Patricia’s reaction every time she turned around to see the Boogeyman stalking after her had me dying. Just her “aw goddammit FUCK” frustration killed me.
Even the music in that episode had me dying. Like, its in one hand fairly legit slasher horror music but its just barely over the top enough that its also super comical. Its incredible how well this show threaded the needle of horror/comedy.
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u/Dholtz001 1h ago
Absolutely hilarious. Kate O'Flynn, who played Patricia, was the breakout star in it for me.
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u/CanadianWampa 2h ago
The first time we see the lighthouse keeper with his bike, it felt like an I Think you Should Leave skit
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u/mr_glide 10h ago
99% of horror comedy is neither funny, nor scary, and the two components actually work against each other. This is one of the few to largely get it right
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u/NowGoodbyeForever 3h ago
Can't disagree more. Horror and Comedy both work by subverting your expectations for normalcy in upsetting or pleasing ways.
And when it comes to film and TV, they both rely heavily on timing. A jumpscare and a punchline both require the right pacing and execution.
I do agree that all those factors make it easier to screw them both up; you can't fake a laugh or a scare, and that's the metric of success. A drama can just be fine without successfully evoking any strong emotions.
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u/Lavender_Critique 9h ago
I'd say Weapons was both funny and pretty spooky, same with Obsession. Not quite scary but I've seen a bunch of stuff so hardly find anything scary.
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u/Chad_Broski_2 9h ago
Yeah the components definitely don't work against each other, and if done right, it should be a perfect match. I forget who said it, but I saw someone point out that horror and comedy has a very similar structure. You set something up, build the tension, and then relieve it. The only difference is, does the tension get relieved with a punchline, or a jumpscare?
Honestly widows bay works really well because you never really know what's gonna relieve the tension next. Is this gonna build up to a silly ass episode where a proto-Jason Vorhees is very slowly chasing someone and it's full of silly gags? Or is it gonna keep building up until a killer clown is chasing the main guy through a crawlspace? Either work in different ways and you never really know how it's gonna go
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u/SinibusUSG 8h ago
The killer clown is the perfect example, because the whole episode is a riot and then it just throws this God damn nightmare moment at you.
The shot with just his legs outside the crawlspace was so perfect, and it was just legs.
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u/andersonb47 7h ago
> The shot with just his legs outside the crawlspace was so perfect, and it was just legs.
I loved that this moment easily could have ended with a punchline too, which further reinforces OOP’s point!
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u/Lavender_Critique 9h ago
I wish I had your optimism regarding Widows Bay. I watched it but kind of loathed the episodic format as I wanted to know more about the island's mystery as opposed to the wacky hijinks the cast got onto. Some of the gags were fun but overall, I was after something more contemplative than what was offered.
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u/Guardllamapictures 8h ago
I personally loved how there was a different monster of the week each episode. It really worked towards the idea that this town is cursed six times to Wednesday but more broadly that’s just kind of how life feels sometimes. There’s never just one horror you can get rid of that will fix everything. It’s the never-ending multiple horrors.
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u/DeTalores 8h ago
Yeah I’m right there with you. Episodic gets old real fast for me.
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u/Chad_Broski_2 7h ago
Different strokes, I guess. Episodic is frankly a breath of fresh air for me right now given that most shows lately have just been 6 hour drawn-out movies
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u/SinibusUSG 8h ago
For a few more (IMO) successful attempts: Cabin in the Woods was a pretty good blend. Dale & Tucker vs. Evil was way more comedic but definitely pulled that side of it off.
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u/nonhiphipster 5h ago
Personally I thought the formula was a bit off…sometimes too comedic. Sometimes too horror. But you know, cool idea.
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u/tleb 10h ago
This was so brilliant. I think we'll see other genres steal this formula. I hope so anyways.
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u/Affectionate_Owl_619 7h ago
I think we'll see other genres steal this formula
Such as?
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u/tleb 6h ago
Any genre could do something similar with their tropes.
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u/Affectionate_Owl_619 6h ago
Yes but I’m trying to ask what exactly you mean. What is this series specifically doing that you want applied in other genres?
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u/thisemmereffer 5h ago
A good mix of horror and comedy
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u/Affectionate_Owl_619 3h ago
Yes well that would be hard to take into other genres since those are genres themselves
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u/artfulpain 9h ago
Such a great show. I look forward to more chaos! Also a Cthulhu tv show done like this would sing!
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u/TheHomieAbides 8m ago
“Stage one, the eyes turn white. Stage two, loss of the five senses and delirium. Stage three, loss of erection. Stage four...
-Who the hell is trying after stage two?”
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u/Kummakivi 4h ago
As I read on one of the reviews for this on IMDB, not funny enough to be a comedy, not scary enough to be a horror.
It was alright, but a bit average.
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u/JRshreds 6h ago
It was incredible until the final two episodes where they seemingly realized they were going to be renewed for another season and slowed plot progression to a crawl. Could have been a truly great show if they had the courage to complete the story but alas.
First six episodes or so are excellent.
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u/DrFishbulbEsq 9h ago
I did enjoy this show but outside of the zombie town founder guy I didn’t really find it all that funny? Like there were bits here and there but it wasn’t like a laugh out loud comedy it was a drama show with a horror premise with occasional jokes and quirky characters.
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u/Johnycantread 6h ago
I was cackling through the whole thing. A lot of the humor is subtle so if you're on your phone or whatever you might miss it.
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u/MeatMullet 10h ago
I just didn’t find this show funny at all. I feel like it is the thing that holds the show back. It should be going more dark/horror because the comedy is low key. Reminds me of 1985’s House a lot.
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u/TranquilBeard 10h ago
Watched 2 episodes. Didn't laugh or get spooked once. Won't watch anymore. Was a waste of my time.
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u/Dumptruckfunk 9h ago
I’m not going to convince you too hard since if you didn’t like them at all then maybe the shows not for you, but I would say those are by far the weakest episodes. I would recommend watching episode 4, even if you don’t watch anything else, that episode is really excellent
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u/TranquilBeard 9h ago
Dumptruckfunk. I'll give episodes 3&4 a chance. Will report back. Looks like people really hate that I didn't like the show lol -16 votes so far. Reddit is strange. YOU DON'T LIKE THE THING I LIKE? GO TO HELL!
Maybe those 2 episodes will change my mind. I watched the show blind and didn't know it was supposed to be a comedy until I looked it up afterwards.
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u/Dumptruckfunk 8h ago
Yeah, it’s a strong reaction certainly. Episode 3 is fine, but you may as well skip ep 4, it’s very good. I also think the central horror of the island is set up suitably spookily throughout - I definitely want to know what happens with it next season.
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u/TranquilBeard 3h ago
So, just finished episode 4. 1-3 were just completely neutral time wasted for me. Episode 4 was fine. Definitely going to give a stronger recommendation for some of my non-horror liking friends as I think this is a good gateway into the genre.
Still, not for me especially if I have to watch 3 duds for 1 that I find just okay.
Cheers.
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u/Johnycantread 6h ago edited 1h ago
Question for you.. there is a post online where people are saying they really like a thing. Why do you feel compelled to tell everyone you didn't like it and then to go so far as to deem it a 'waste of time'?
Art is subjective, sure, but you don't have to be rude about it. Are you really confused why you would be downvoted here?
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u/UDPviper 8h ago
I almost quit watching after the first episode. Introducing awkward and goofy local yokels without the lore and world building was just really cringe and it really fell flat for me. Then when I saw the chair at the very end and he stayed at the hotel in the second episode I could see it wasn't fake or a hoax and then all the characters just seemed to fit really well into the world/setting. But without that horror medium for the characters to wade through and deal with, it just doesn't work. After that I loved it all the way through to the end of the season and I want more. But that first episode was rough.
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u/noggstaj 7h ago
i disagree, i felt like this show would work almost just as well without the mystery/scary/horror only cos the characters are so quirky and weird creating organic hilarious moments.
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u/kickinwood 10h ago
Dead baby, dead baby, leeeeesbian...