Is 'Widow's Bay' Connected To Stephen King? The Apple TV Series' Inspiration, Explained
Familiar with Stephen King's massive body of work? If so, you probably booted up Widow's Bay, got five minutes in, then thought to yourself, "Wait, is this a King story?" After all, there's something so very King about small New England towns steeped in thick fog and supernatural mystery.
The short answer is no: Widow's Bay is not a direct Stephen King adaptation. However, that doesn't mean the famous horror author played no role in its creation. In fact, showrunner Katie Dippold has been quite outspoken about how King helped inspire the new Apple TV series.
'Widow's Bay' Isn't A Stephen King Adaptation, But He Is An Inspiration
As a Maine native, King sets the majority of his books in the Pine Tree State, particularly in the fictional towns of Derry, Castle Rock, and Jerusalem's Lot. However, he also occasionally travels south to Massachusetts for his settings—think Cell (2016) and parts of 11.22.63 (2016). Widow's Bay shares King's small-town New England vibes, taking place on an island reminiscent of Massachusetts's Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket.
"I really wanted to tap into that Stephen King atmosphere," Dippold told The Boston Globe. She cited a particularly cozy, nautical diner located in Marblehead, MA, called the Driftwood, as further inspiration. "It was very cozy and very lived in, and I just never wanted to leave. It was out of a Stephen King book," she continued.
Funny enough, King isn't the only notable Stephen—or, in this case, Steven—to influence Widow's Bay. Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975), also set in a fictional New England town but shot in Martha's Vineyard, played a role in Dippold capturing the town's panic and the skeptical dismissal of Matthew Rhys' mayor.
How A Haunted House Also Inspired 'Widow's Baby'
In addition to the Stephen King and Jaws inspiration, Dippold recounted her experience with a haunted house growing up. "As a kid in New Jersey in the '80s, there was a haunted house that I would always go to with my family… And I've always wanted a place like this to actually exist. Like, I want to go to this island. I want to go to the weird inn, and I want to go to the Salty Whale," she told Gizmodo.
Watch even one episode of Widow's Bay, and you'll see that Dippold brought this exact thing to life. The fictional town feels both "cozy" and "lived in." The residents are quirky but real. And, of course, the supernatural mystery permeating the whole thing is the cherry on top.
Why To Watch 'Widow's Bay'
Billed as a horror comedy, Widow's Bay very much delivers on that premise. Obviously, if you're a fan of Stephen King, you'll love this. It reminds me most of Dolores Claiborne (1995), with a little Storm of the Century (1999) thrown in for good measure. Widow's Bay Season, 1, Episode 1, particularly, also reminded me of John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), and there is something oddly quirky that feels a little like David Lynch's Twin Peaks (1990) at times, too.
Perhaps what I appreciate most about Widow's Bay, though, is the way it subverts horror tropes and expectations. Although Rhys' Tom can be frustrating with his dismissiveness, none of the characters are stupid. The humor is sharp, and Dippold proves she understands how to craft good horror. I promise you'll be questioning everything as you make your way through each episode, making Widow's Bay the perfect watch for people who like mystery with their scares.
