Horror Master Guillermo del Toro Just Confirmed That Apple TV’s “Best Streaming Series” Is Worth the Hype

Widow’s Bay premiered on Apple TV back in April and has already quickly become one of the streamer’s most talked-about shows. The incredibly unique series is a blend of both horror and comedy, so you’ll find yourself covering your eyes in between hysterically laughing. Created by Katie Dippold, the show follows the story of a New England town called Widow’s Bay that just so happens to be cursed. Each episode dives further into an aspect of the curse, offering new terrifying horror elements. Matthew Rhys plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of Widow’s Bay, who is desperately trying to make the island a tourist destination — that is, before he starts becoming a target of the curse himself. Critics and viewers alike have been lauding Widow’s Bay as a must-watch, but now one horror legend has deemed the show worthy of a shout-out.

Iconic Director Guillermo del Toro Has Piled on Praise for ‘Widow’s Bay’

The king of horror, Guillermo del Toro, knows a thing or two about the genre. So, when he tweets some applause for a current television show, you better believe it’s worth watching. On May 30, he said: “If I may — in my estimation— #WidowsBay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time…and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.” Del Toro has landed eight Oscar nominations and three wins (Best Picture and Best Director for 2018’s The Shape of Water and Best Animated Film for 2023’s Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio), so one can assume that he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to high-quality projects. Del Toro’s works are always entirely original and stem from his quirky, altogether special creativity, so it makes sense that he would be drawn to a show like Widow’s Bay that can’t really be compared directly to any show we’ve seen before.

‘Widow’s Bay’ Dovetails Perfectly With Guillermo del Toro’s Own Body of Work

There is definitely some common ground found between del Toro’s legacy of work and Widow’s Bay’s episodes. In the series, there are a plethora of frightening elements, such as a mysterious, deadly fog; creepy ghosts; and a nearly lethal witch’s spell that grabs hold of the townspeople. All of these aspects would fit right at home in del Toro’s oeuvre, which includes his 2007 fantastical film, Pan’s Labyrinth. Just like in that movie, there are subtle twists on scary forces so that the story unfolds in a wholly original way. Del Toro has always been able to utilize masterful cinematography in his work, and Widow’s Bay also leans on sweeping ocean views and changes in the color schemes of particular scenes to help the narrative feel even more suspenseful and captivating.

Despite the inclusion of terrifying monsters and villains, both del Toro and Dippold manage to dive further into character development than what’s typically seen in more traditional horror fare. We care about what happens to these characters because we’re able to explore more of what’s underneath. The more we get to know Tom, the more we appreciate that his straight-laced manner is because of grief that he has yet to properly deal with. This is also akin to del Toro’s 2025 version of Frankenstein, which allowed us to fully understand these familiar characters and their inner workings. Episode 6 of Widow’s Bay also aligns with Frankenstein’s Gothic vibes with the series’ flashback episode, set in colonial America, where the birth of the island’s curse actually occurs. Connections to the horror maestro can be found throughout Widow’s Bay’s episodes so far, including the masterful blend of light and dark forces at play in the world. Del Toro also had his hand in one of the best horror television shows in FX’s The Strain in 2014, so he knows what it takes to master this type of storytelling format.

By saying he’s impressed with the “narrative prestidigitation,” the director points out that Widow’s Bay is nailing the sleight of hand that makes you forget you’re not watching these events unfold in real life. The true magic is making the town of Widow’s Bay feel like an actual place, just like del Toro does with his brilliant projects. It’s always exciting to see what our favorite filmmakers are watching and recommending, and this shout-out from del Toro just solidifies what we already knew — Widow’s Bay is one of the cleverest horror shows on television right now.